Top 20 Facts about Mexico City

Photo by Bryan Pelayo on Unsplash

Top 20 Facts about Mexico City

Mexico City is the fifth-largest city in the world and is the most populated city in Latin America. It was once the second most populated city in the world, after Tokyo.

It is home to the biggest football stadium and three top league football clubs in the country.

 The south of the city has canals going through man-made islands in Xochimilco, where there is a floating flower garden. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Other heritage sites include the temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.

Here are some Facts about Mexico City.

1. Mexico City has Women and Children Only Carriages in Metro and Buses

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To curb the rate of harassment and abuse that women faced while using public transport in Mexico City, the city separated carriages in the train for women and children below 12 years while men rode in another separate carriage.

This was first implemented in 2000 and in 2008 Mexico City got pink buses for women only.

This is only available during peak hours and has not reduced abuse and harassment against women.

2. Mexico City Sinks at least 6 inches (ca. 15 cm) a year

Back in the 14th century, the Aztec people had a city called Tenochtitlan which was built on an island on Lake Texcoco. 

The Aztec’s had built a system of canals and dykes that supplied water to the people and also controlled floods.  

Later on, in the 16th century, the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés destroyed the city and took over. From the remains of the city, he built the modern-day Mexico City. 

Unlike the Aztec’s Cortes and his new Spanish occupants opted to drain the lake bed since they found the initial system by the Aztec’s more laborious.

As a result, the city is estimated to be sinking between 6-8 inches (ca. 20 cm) a year. The city has sunk more than nine meters in the last century.

3. Mexico City among the highest in economic growth

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This city is one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Its economic growth is estimated to double each year and is placed among the top 10 developed cities in the world.

Mexico City is estimated to contribute to 17% of the country’s GDP with 20% of the economy happening in the city alone.  

For this, Mexico City is considered as one of the cultural and financial center of the world and south and Central America.

4. The meaning of name Mexico

The Nahuatl, who are the original occupants of Mexico called the current City Tenochtitlan.

Legend has it that Nahuatl coined the word Mexico from Nahuatl language meaning a place at the center of the moon. Other tales say that Mexico means surrounded by water.   

5. Leading in Historical Museums

When it comes to museums, Mexico City is leading coming to a close second to London. It has more museums than any other city in both American continents.

The city has more than 300 museums, with 151 officially recognized as national museums. 

The most visited museums are the Anthropology and history museums, natural history, modern art and the Templo mayor museum.

6. Mexico City has pocket-friendly transport

The subway in the city has 195 stations with 12 lines on a 226 km stretch. It serves over four million people that ride the subway on a daily basis. 

This puts the city’s metro system among the busiest in the world. The first line was built in 1969 and has expanded since to cater to the growing needs of the city.

There was a massive earthquake of 8.1 magnitudes that struck Mexico City in 1985. The damage was extensive to property. This subway survived through it.

7. Mexico City is the Mexican gastronomy central

While in Mexico City and want to sample the best of Mexican cuisine, the city offers the best of the 32 states. 

Being the capital city with 21.3 million people, rest assured that the traditions, culture and  Mexican delicacies are in plenty.  

8. Pilgrimage in Mexico City

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There is a church in the northern part of Mexico City that receives the largest number of Catholic pilgrims from all over the world; second after Vatican City.

The Villa de Guadalupe was built on site that is believed to be where Juan Diego a new convert and a native, saw two visions of the Virgin Mary was commanded to build a church. 

It was at this basilica that Mexico and the United States signed a peace treaty to end the Mexican war.

9. Mexico City is home to many Americans

There are more than 700,000 US Americans living in Mexico City alone. 

This is estimated to be the largest population of Americans outside the US.

Mexico as a whole is home to more than one million American Immigrants.

10. The Oldest City in the continent

Mexico City, then known as Tenochtitlan, has been in existence since the 14th century and has served two empires, the first being the Aztec empire and later on the Spanish. 

The city had a population of at least 300,000 people a high number compared to other cities in the 14th century.

11. Forest Park within a City

Mexico City has the biggest urban park in Latin America. The park is open to the public and does not charge a fee.

Chapultepec park covers 686 hectares of lush land and is also called the green lungs of Mexico City.  

This park is the oldest in Mexico City and has a lot of activities that one can do; visit one or all the nine museums in the park, a zoo, an amusement park, and a number of recreational spaces. 

The park also has dedicated space for famous personalities from Mexican history by installing monuments in the park in their honor.

12. Headquarter to most international firms in Latin America

Mexico City is considered to be the economic engine for most of Latin America.

 It is home to giant financial institutions that keep the economy of Mexico City on top of the charts.

Mexico’s largest banks, insurance firms and many international financial firms have their headquarters in the city’s business district Santa Fe. 

Most of the firms based in Mexico City produce more revenue compared to their other offices in the Latin America region.  

13. The construction industry in Mexico City

Other than tourism which is a big boost to this Mexican City, the other industry that contributes largely to the economy is the construction and production industries.

These industries include iron and steel, cement, textile and yarn production, plastics, and furniture.

These also largely contribute to the employment of the locals in the country.

14. Commonly spoken language in Mexico City 

This is quite obvious that the official language spoken in the city is Spanish. 

No need to worry about the language barrier because English is also understood by the City dwellers.

Indigenous languages such as Nahuatl, Otomi, Mixtec, Zapotec and Mazahuaare are also some commonly spoken language by a majority of the population in the City.

The city is multicultural with lots of English, German, French, Japanese and Korean expats. 

15. Butterfly migration in the City

As winter approaches, the skies in Mexico turn orange with a kaleidoscope of the monarch butterflies migrating to the south escaping the scathing winter up north. 

The sight is quite spectacular and the people have attached a spiritual attachment to this annual migration. 

There is a Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve north-west of the city on a 56,259 ha forest land that the butterflies call home every year.

This reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

16. A religious festival in Mexico City

The citizens of Mexico hold an annual religious festival honoring Mary, the Virgin of Guadalupe. 

The Catholic pilgrims converge at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City to see an image of the Virgin. 

The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe held on the 12th of December is considered to be one of the most important religious festivals in Mexico.

17. Historical towns in the City

A break from the busy city will lead you to a toned-down neighborhood where famous artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo called home. 

The Coyoacan municipality is known for its cobbled streets and beautiful colonial architecture.

There are art galleries and sidewalk cafés that one can relax and catch a drink or enjoy a meal.

18. St. Cecilia Mariachi Music festival

There is an annual music festival held at Mexico City’s mariachi square in honor of St. Cecilia the patron saint of musicians. 

Musicians from the northern part of the country together with mariachis assemble at the Plaza Garibaldi for a concert full of music, dancing, and drinking.

19. Indigenous Mexican cuisine

While in Mexico City, a visit to the market will introduce you to the local delicacies that may not appear on the menus in the cafés.

Some delicacies found in the market are spiders and grasshoppers with a side of guacamole.

20. Mexico City has a six flags theme park

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This theme park located in the Tlalpan forest on the southern edge of Mexico City. 2.5 million visitors visit the park annually. There are exciting activities that all age groups can engage in.