Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital and the biggest city of Mexico. It is also the largest city in North America. The city is very important for culture and money around the world. It sits in the Valley of Mexico on a high plateau, 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level.

The city has 16 areas called boroughs. These boroughs have many smaller parts called neighborhoods. In 2020, the city proper had 9,209,944 people. This makes it the biggest city in Mexico and the second largest city where people speak Spanish, after Lima, Peru.

Mexico City is the oldest capital city in the Americas. It is one of two big cities first built by Indigenous peoples. The city was built on a group of islands in Lake Texcoco by the Mexica around 1325. They called it Tenochtitlan. The city was destroyed in 1521 and then rebuilt by people from Spain. In 1524, the city was named México Tenochtitlán. From 1585 onward, it was called Ciudad de México (Mexico City).

After many years of asking for more control over their city, in 1997 the people of Mexico City were allowed to choose their leader and representatives. Since then, left-wing groups have been in charge. The city has many modern laws. On 29 January 2016, it stopped being called the Federal District (DF) and is now officially Ciudad de México (CDMX). These changes in 2016 gave the city more control over its own rules and leaders.

Nicknames and mottos

Mexico City used to be called "DF," short for Distrito Federal de México. Now it is more commonly known as "CDMX," pronounced "seh-deh-meh-kiss." Sometimes people just call it "México" when talking about the area locally. People from Mexico City are called chilango.

The city has had many nicknames over time. One famous nickname is La Ciudad de los Palacios ("the City of the Palaces"). It was given by Baron Alexander von Humboldt after he visited in the 1800s. He thought the city could match any big city in Europe. The city also had a motto during colonial times. Newer slogans like la Ciudad de la Esperanza ("The City of Hope") and Capital en Movimiento ("Capital in Movement") have been used by recent leaders.

History

Main article: History of Mexico City

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Mexico City.

The oldest signs of human occupation in the area of Mexico City are those of the "Peñón woman" and others found in San Bartolo Atepehuacan (Gustavo A. Madero). They were from a very old time, one of the oldest human remains discovered in the Americas.

The area was where people from the Teochichimecas lived during the 8th and 13th centuries. They were the ones who started the Toltec and Mexica (Aztecs) cultures. The Mexica arrived around the 14th century and settled on the shores of a lake.

Aztec period

Main article: Mexico-Tenochtitlan

The city of Mexico-Tenochtitlan was founded by the Mexica people in 1325 or 1327. It was built on an island in the middle of a lake in the Valley of Mexico. According to legend, their god, Huitzilopochtli, showed them where to build their home by showing them a golden eagle on a prickly pear eating a rattlesnake.

Between 1325 and 1521, Tenochtitlan grew strong and ruled other cities around Lake Texcoco. When the Spaniards came, the Aztec Empire reached much of Mesoamerica.

Spanish conquest

After landing in Veracruz, Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés came to Tenochtitlan with help from other native peoples, arriving there on 8 November 1519. The city's ruler, Moctezuma II, greeted the Spaniards. But soon after, the Aztecs fought against the Spanish. Cortés and his men left, but later they came back and, after a long fight, the city fell in 1521. The Spaniards rebuilt the city and renamed it "Mexico".

Cortés decided to rebuild the city to remove all signs of the old Aztec ways. The city became very important. The Spanish built Catholic churches over old Aztec temples. The city grew and became crowded. There were problems with flooding and health issues, but the city still grew.

Growth of colonial Mexico City

The city had been the capital of the Aztec Empire and in the colonial era, Mexico City became the capital of New Spain. The viceroy of Mexico lived in a big palace. The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral was built. The city grew and had many problems with flooding, but people worked hard to build and protect it. The city became rich from trade.

The idea of nobility was important. Families showed their worth by building big houses and supporting good causes. This made Mexico City famous for its beautiful buildings.

The Grito de Dolores started the fight for Mexico's independence from Spain. After a long war, Mexico became independent in 1821. Agustín de Iturbide became the first emperor of the new country.

The Mexican Federal District was created, and Mexico City became its capital. Before this, Mexico City had been the capital of the State of Mexico.

Battle of Mexico City in the U.S.–Mexican War of 1847

During the 19th century, Mexico City was very important in the country's politics. It was the capital many times and was also where two countries tried to take control. American troops came to Mexico City in 1847 during the Mexican–American War. They fought hard to take the city. The city finally fell after battles, and a treaty was signed to end the war.

Mexican Revolution (1910–1920)

The capital did not see the worst fighting of the Mexican Revolution. In February 1913, there was a big fight in the city called the Decena Trágica. The leader of the government was forced to leave, and later he and his friend were killed. New leaders came to the city, but there was no big fighting.

20th century to present

In the 20th century, Mexico City grew very fast. In 1900, about 500,000 people lived there. The city grew upward and outward. In the 1950s, the Torre Latinoamericana became the city's first tall building.

The city became a center for modern building styles. The Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, home of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, was built in the 1950s. It has beautiful walls with paintings by famous artists.

The 1968 Olympic Games led to the building of big sports places. The city’s subway opened in 1969. The city's population grew very fast, and people moved into areas around the city.

In 1980, many factories were in Mexico City. There were big problems with pollution and sinking ground. The government worked to improve these problems.

On 19 September 1985, a big earthquake hit the city. People had to help each other to rescue and rebuild. In 1987, the old part of the city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its important history and buildings.

Geography

Mexico City is in the Valley of Mexico, also called the Basin of Mexico, within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. It sits at least 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes.

Long ago, much of the valley was covered by Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs built walls to keep fresh water for farming and stop floods. Today, the city sits on the dried lake bed, which is soft and wet clay. This makes the ground sink, especially when water is taken from below. The city has sunk up to nine meters (30 feet) in some places since the 1900s and still sinks about half a meter (20 inches) each year. This can cause flooding, especially in summer.

The city has many parks and green spaces. Chapultepec Park is very famous, with museums, ponds, and the Chapultepec Zoo. Other parks include Alameda Central, Parque México, Parque España, and many smaller parks. There are also larger green areas like Bosque de Tlalpan, Viveros de Coyoacán, and the Xochimilco Ecological Park.

Mexico City has a subtropical highland climate. The temperature usually ranges from 12 to 16 °C (54 to 61 °F). It rains mostly from May through October, with July being the wettest month. Snow is very rare, last falling in 1967. The city has two main seasons: a wet summer and a dry winter.

Mexico City geophysical maps
Topography	Hydrology	Climate patterns

Demographics

The Valley of Mexico, where Mexico City is located, has had many people living there since ancient times. In the early 1800s, the city started to grow. Wealthy families moved to the west and south, creating a divide between richer and poorer areas.

Today, Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world, with around 9.2 million people living in the city and millions more in the surrounding areas. The city is very important for culture, business, and education in Mexico. Many people from different backgrounds live there, including Indigenous groups, people from other parts of Mexico, and many international residents.

Main article: Greater Mexico City

Politics

The Acta Constitutiva de la Federación of 31 January 1824, and the Federal Constitution of 4 October 1824, set up the political and administrative organization of the United Mexican States after the Mexican War of Independence. Section XXVIII of Article 50 gave the new Congress the right to choose where the federal government would be located. The two main cities to become the capital were Mexico City and Querétaro.

Because of the persuasion of representative Servando Teresa de Mier, Mexico City was chosen because it was the center of the country's population and history, even though Queretaro was closer to the center geographically. The choice was official on 18 November 1824, and Congress marked out a surface area of two leagues square (8,800 acres) centered on the Zocalo. This area was then separated from the State of Mexico. This area did not include the population centers of the towns of Coyoacán, Xochimilco, Mexicaltzingo and Tlalpan, all of which remained as part of the State of Mexico.

On 29 January 2016, Mexico City stopped being the Federal District (Spanish: Distrito Federal or D.F.), and was officially renamed "Ciudad de México" (or "CDMX"). On that date, Mexico City began a shift to becoming the country's 32nd federal entity, giving it a level of self-control like that of a state. It will have its own rules and its group of leaders, and its areas will now be led by leaders chosen by the people.

After the political changes in 2016, the city is split for managing purposes into 16 areas, formerly called delegaciones. Leaders of these areas were first chosen by the people in 2000. From 2016, each area is led by a leader chosen by the people, growing their powers to manage local matters.

The Secretariat of Safety of Mexico City manages a group of more than 90,000 workers to watch over public order and safety in the heart of Mexico City. The old part of the city is also watched by police who help visitors, wearing old-style clothes on horses.

Economy

Mexico City is a very important place for Latin America. The city helps make a large part of the country’s gross domestic product. Many people here have money to spend, which is good for businesses that sell special and luxury goods.

The city is important for the country’s economy, especially for services. There are many shops and markets where people can buy food and other items. You can find places to shop like markets, stores, and big shopping malls. The city also has special places for tourists, such as the Historic center of Mexico City and Xochimilco, which welcome many visitors from around the world.

Main article: Barrios Mágicos of Mexico City

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Mexico City

Main article: Tren Suburbano

Main article: Ecobici (Mexico City)

Mexico City has many ways to get around. The city’s main airport is Mexico City International Airport. It is a busy airport with many flights. There is also a second airport called Felipe Ángeles International Airport. It opened in 2022.

The city has a big subway system called the Mexico City Metro. It is the largest in Latin America. The subway has many lines and stations. It helps millions of people travel each day. There are also buses, including fast buses, and bike-sharing programs like Ecobici. These make it easier to ride bicycles around the city.

Culture

Art

Main article: Mexican art

Mexico City has a long and rich art history. One well-known bronze sculpture is El Caballito ("The little horse") by artist Manuel Tolsá. You can find it in Plaza Tolsá near the Palacio de Mineria. The Museo Nacional de Arte (Munal) is right in front of this building.

During the 1800s, the San Carlos Art Academy trained many artists. Some of their works are now in the National Museum of San Carlos. José María Velasco was a famous landscape painter from that time. Later, many large murals were painted in public buildings after the Mexican Revolution. Artists like José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Diego Rivera created these murals. Frida Kahlo, who was Diego Rivera's wife, was also a well-known painter.

Museums

Mexico City has many museums with art from Mexico and other parts of the world. The Museo Tamayo shows international modern art, and the Museo de Arte Moderno focuses on Mexican artists from the 1900s. Other museums include the Carrillo Gil Museum and the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo, which feature modern and avant-garde art. The Museo Soumaya has many sculptures by famous artists like Rodin and Dalí. The Colección Júmex is a contemporary art museum with a large private collection.

Music, theater and entertainment

Further information: Music of Mexico and Regional styles of Mexican music

Mexico City has many places to enjoy music. The city has orchestras like the Mexico City Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra. They perform in beautiful places such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The city is also a center for popular music, with big venues like the National Auditorium hosting concerts by famous artists from around the world.

The city offers many other fun activities, including theaters, dance shows, and movies. Places like the National Center for the Arts and the University Culture Center have many different performances. The Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum with fun activities, and Six Flags México is a large amusement park.

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of Mexico City

Mexico City is well-known for its delicious food. Tacos became popular street food in the 1800s, and today the city has many places to try different kinds of tacos, enchiladas, and other Mexican dishes. The La Nueva Viga Market is one of the world's largest seafood markets.

The city has restaurants with food from all over Mexico and the world. Whether you want fancy dining or a local eatery, Mexico City has something for every taste. The restaurant Pujol, led by chef Enrique Olvera, is considered one of the best in the world.

Media

Mexico City is an important place for newspapers, magazines, and books. Well-known newspapers include El Universal, Excélsior, and La Jornada. The city is also home to big media companies like Televisa and TV Azteca, which make many TV shows and news programs.

Sports

Association football is very popular in Mexico City. The city's big stadiums like Azteca Stadium and Olympic Stadium host top teams and international matches. Mexico City has hosted many important sports events, including the Summer Olympics in 1968, the Pan American Games, and Formula 1 races. Other popular sports in the city include baseball, wrestling, and motorsports.