# Mexico City

> capital and largest city of Mexico

**Wikidata**: [Q1489](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1489)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_City)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mexico-city

## Summary

Mexico City, officially known as Ciudad de México (CDMX), is the capital and largest city of Mexico, serving as the country's federal capital and a distinct federative entity. Located in North America at an elevation of 2,240 meters, it is a megacity situated within the Valley of Mexico, historically replacing the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 9,209,944 and is the political, cultural, and economic center of the nation, administered by a Head of Government.

## Key Facts

*   **Official Name:** Ciudad de México (Spanish); Short name: CDMX.
*   **Location:** North America; Coordinates: 19.353773, -99.13589; Elevation: 2,240 meters.
*   **Area:** 1,485 square kilometres.
*   **Population:** 9,209,944 (2020 census); Male: 4,404,927; Female: 4,805,017.
*   **Inception:** 1325 (as Tenochtitlan); 1521 (founded as Mexico City by Antonio de Mendoza).
*   **Government:** Head of Government Clara Brugada (term starts 2024-10-01); Legislative Body: Legislative Assembly of the Federal District.
*   **Time Zone:** UTC−06:00 (Central Time Zone).
*   **ISO Code:** MX-CMX (formerly MX-DIF).
*   **Demonym:** Capitalino, Chilango, Mexicano.
*   **Patron Saint:** Philip of Jesus.
*   **Motto:** "Muy Noble e Insigne, Muy Leal e Imperial" (Very Noble and Distinguished, Very Loyal and Imperial).

## FAQs

**What is the historical origin of Mexico City?**
The city officially replaced the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, with historical inception dates cited as March 13, 1325 (for Tenochtitlan) and 1521 for the founding of Mexico City. It has served as the capital for New Spain, the First Mexican Empire, the First Mexican Republic, and modern Mexico.

**How is the city administered and divided?**
Mexico City is a federative entity of Mexico containing 16 administrative territorial subdivisions (boroughs), including Álvaro Obregón, Benito Juárez, Coyoacán, and Cuauhtémoc. It shares borders with the State of Mexico and Morelos.

**What languages are spoken in Mexico City?**
While Mexican Spanish is the most frequently used language, the city recognizes various indigenous languages including Nahuatl, Mixtec, Otomi, Mazatlán Mazatec, Tilapa Otomi, and Copala Triqui.

**What international affiliations does Mexico City hold?**
The city is a member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, the League of Historical Cities, and the Creative Cities Network (as a City of Design since 2017). It maintains sister city relationships with major global hubs such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Tokyo.

## Why It Matters

Mexico City acts as the political nerve center of Mexico, serving as the seat of the federal government and the head of the Mexico City megalopolis. It is a primate city and a metropolis of global significance, hosting events such as the 1968 Summer Olympics. Its historical continuity from the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan to a modern megacity makes it a unique cultural locus in the Western Hemisphere. The city's vast infrastructure includes ownership of the Mexibús transit system and serves as a critical hub for North American economics and culture.

## Notable For

*   **Global Megacity:** Classified as the largest city in Mexico and a megacity with over 9 million residents in the city proper (part of Greater Mexico City).
*   **Historical Continuity:** Built directly atop the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan; named a World Heritage site (via the Organization of World Heritage Cities membership).
*   **High Elevation:** Situated at 2,240 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world.
*   **Cultural Designations:** A UNESCO City of Design (2017) and known by the nicknames "La Ciudad de los Palacios" (City of Palaces) and "La Ciudad de la Esperanza" (City of Hope).
*   **Olympics Host:** Hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics.
*   **Vital Records:** The city maintains vital statistics such as a male-to-female population ratio and detailed census data tracking back to 2015.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Mexico City is located in the central part of the country at coordinates 19.353773 latitude and -99.13589 longitude. It encompasses an area of 1,485 square kilometres and features diverse topography, being located in or next to Lake Texcoco. The city is subdivided into 16 boroughs: Álvaro Obregón, Azcapotzalco, Benito Juárez, Coyoacán, Cuajimalpa, Cuauhtémoc, Gustavo A. Madero, Iztacalco, Iztapalapa, La Magdalena Contreras, Miguel Hidalgo, Milpa Alta, Tláhuac, Tlalpan, Venustiano Carranza, and Xochimilco. The local dialing code is 55, and postal codes range from 01000 to 16999.

### Governance and Politics
The city functions as a federative entity within Mexico. The legislative authority is the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District. The executive authority is vested in the Head of Mexico City government. Recent and upcoming leaders include:
*   **Clara Brugada:** Term starting October 1, 2024 (Morena party).
*   **Marti Batres:** Served from June 16, 2023, to September 30, 2024.
*   **Claudia Sheinbaum:** Served from December 5, 2018, to June 16, 2023.
*   **José Ramón Amieva Gálvez:** Served from March 29, 2018, to December 4, 2018.

### Demographics and Society
As of the 2020 census, Mexico City has a population of 9,209,944, with a female majority (4,805,017) compared to 4,404,927 males. An earlier count from 2015 recorded 8,918,653 residents. The primary demonym is "Capitalino," though "Chilango" and "Mexicano" are also used. Mexican Spanish is the dominant language, but the city is home to speakers of Nahuatl, Mixtec, Otomi, and other indigenous languages.

### History and Origins
The city's history traces back to Tenochtitlan, founded on March 13, 1325. Following the Spanish conquest, Mexico City was established in 1521, founded by Antonio de Mendoza. It succeeded Tenochtitlan and served as the capital of New Spain (starting in 1535) and subsequently the First Mexican Empire (starting in 1821). The city has undergone significant events, including the Siege of Mexico City in 1867.

### International Relations and Culture
Mexico City maintains an extensive network of sister city relationships, including Accords with Berlin (since 1993), Buenos Aires (since 2006), Cusco (since 1987), and Los Angeles (since 1969). It is a member of the Creative Cities Network (City of Design) and the League of Historical Cities. Culturally, the city is represented by the logo "CDMX" and features coats of arms and flags distinct from the national symbols. Its patron saint is Philip of Jesus.

### Infrastructure and Identifiers
The city operates the Mexibús transit system. It is identified internationally by various codes, including the UN/LOCODE MXMEX, ISO 3166-2 code MX-CMX (updated in 2016), and HASC code MX.DF. It possesses a significant digital and academic presence with identifiers across platforms like GeoNames, MusicBrainz, and various national libraries.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](http://www.infodf.org.mx/directorio/consulta.php?seleccion=Delegaciones)
3. [Städtepartnerschaft Mexiko-Stadt](https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/staedteverbindungen/mexiko.de.html)
4. [Source](http://www.aatccusco.com/ciudades_hermanas.php)
5. [Documento de declaración de hermanamiento entre la ciudad de Dolores Hidalgo y la Ciudad de México](http://www.comsoc.df.gob.mx/noticias/discursosj.html?id=1844318)
6. [Source](https://old.kyivcity.gov.ua/files/2018/2/15/Mista-pobratymy.pdf)
7. [Source](https://kyivcity.gov.ua/kyiv_ta_miska_vlada/pro_kyiv/mista-pobratimi_z_yakimi_kiyevom_pidpisani_dokumenti_pro_poridnennya_druzhbu_spivrobitnitstvo_partnerstvo/)
8. [México DF, otro hermano para Cádiz](http://www.diariobahiadecadiz.com/detalle-noticia-2264)
9. [Texto de la Conferencia dictada tras la firma del Convenio de Colaboración en el Bicentenario entre la Municipalidad de Rosario, Argentina, y la Ciudad de México](http://www.bi100.df.gob.mx/proyectos_internacionales/index/26)
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. CiNii Research
12. MusicBrainz
13. [Source](https://www.lhc-s.org/member_cities/index.php)
14. [Source](https://www.ovpm.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/liste-villes-en-regle-pour-page-web12-03-2024.pdf)
15. Integrated Authority File
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. FIPS 10-4
18. [Source](http://www.inegi.org.mx/est/contenidos/proyectos/encuestas/hogares/especiales/ei2015/doc/eic_2015_presentacion.pdf)
19. [Source](https://www.inegi.org.mx/programas/ccpv/2020/)
20. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
21. [Diccionario del español de México](https://dem.colmex.mx/Gentilicios)
22. [Source](https://www.academia.org.mx/consultas/consultas-frecuentes/item/gentilicio-de-ciudad-de-mexico)
23. GeoNames
24. [Source](https://mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx/e/basics-for-mexico-city-travel/altitude-sickness/)
25. BabelNet
26. [Source](https://www.sepi.cdmx.gob.mx/lenguas-indigenas)
27. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
28. Enciclopedia Treccani
29. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
30. Dizionario di Storia
31. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
32. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
33. Provenio
34. museum-digital
35. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
36. Best Mexico City Posts - Reddit. Reddit