Greater Mexico City

Greater Mexico City is the big area around Mexico City, officially called the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City. It includes Mexico City itself and 45 nearby areas in the State of Mexico and Hidalgo.

This area is very important for Mexico. It is the center for business, government, and culture. Even though it makes less things now, it still plays a big role in the country’s economy. It helps create a lot of money, about $200 billion, which is a big part of Latin America’s total.

In 2020, about 21 million people lived in Greater Mexico City, making it the biggest city area in North America. It covers a large space of 7,866 square kilometers and is surrounded by high lands that separate it from other big cities nearby.

Definition

The growth of Mexico City into a larger area began in the 1940s. At first, the city was contained within its own borders, but it soon spread into nearby areas. By the 1950s to 1980s, the city had grown to include many surrounding towns, and the number of people living there tripled.

In 2004, officials created the first formal definition of the Greater Mexico City area. This included the main city and many towns in nearby states. In 2020, the name was updated to better reflect that the area is centered on Mexico City.

Subdivisions

The Metropolitan area of Mexico City includes parts of three places: Mexico City itself, the State of Mexico, and Hidalgo. Each of these areas has its own subdivisions that make up the larger city.

Geography and environment

See also: Water management in Greater Mexico City

Greater Mexico City lies in the valley of Mexico, also called the valley of Anáhuac. This valley is 9,560 km² (3,691 sq mi) and sits about 2,240 m (7,349 ft) above sea level. Long ago, many lakes filled this valley, with Lake Texcoco being the largest. Mexico City was built on an island in the middle of this lake. Over time, leaders drained the lake to stop frequent floods. Today, only small parts of those lakes remain in areas like Xochimilco and Tláhuac.

The valley is surrounded by mountains, leaving only a small opening to let air flow in and out. This can trap pollution from the city's many factories and cars. To help reduce pollution, there is a program called Hoy No Circula, which means "One Day without a Car." On certain days, cars with specific ending numbers on their license plates cannot drive. This helps lower pollution and traffic. There are also other programs to monitor air quality and protect the environment.

Political administration

Greater Mexico City is made up of many local areas, each with its own local leaders. These areas follow the rules of the states they belong to. But because Greater Mexico City covers parts of three different areas of government, leaders from each area need to work together on big city projects. Sometimes, the national government helps with these projects, too.

Economy

Greater Mexico City has been an important center for Mexico's economy. From 1940 to 1980, many industries were based there, and lots of people moved to the city for jobs. By 2000, the economy changed to focus more on services like banking, communication, and transportation.

Even though the economy has spread out more, Greater Mexico City still plays a big role in Mexico's overall economy. Mexico City alone creates about $170 billion in economic value, which is a large part of the country's Gross Domestic Product.

Demographics

Greater Mexico City is the largest metropolitan area in Mexico and has the most people living close together. In 2020, about 21 million people lived in this area, with around 9 million in Mexico City itself. Many people from the State of México also live in the surrounding areas of Greater Mexico City.

For many years, Greater Mexico City grew very quickly, but growth has slowed down to help the environment. Some people are moving from the city center to the outer areas. The areas around Mexico City have good living conditions, but there are also places with fewer resources and more challenges.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Mexico City

Greater Mexico City has many ways to get around, including buses, trains, and other public transport options. These help people move easily within the city and its surrounding areas.

Landmarks

Important landmarks of Greater Mexico City include the Historic Center of Mexico City, the floating gardens of Xochimilco, and the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan. All three of these places were named World Heritage sites by UNESCO in 1987. The area also has beautiful parks, like those around Ajusco, Popocatépetl, and Iztaccíhuatl, as well as the Lake Texcoco reserve.

!Acolman

Acolman

!Apatlaco

Apatlaco

!Atepehuacán

Atepehuacán

!Atlalcuihayan

Atlalcuihayan

!Atoyac

Atoyac

!Azcapotzalco

Azcapotzalco

!Aztacalco

Aztacalco

!Aztahuacan

Aztahuacan

!Chalco

Chalco

!Chapultepec

Chapultepec

!Chimalhuacán

Chimalhuacán

!Coacalco

Coacalco

!Colhuacan

Colhuacan

!Coyoacán

Coyoacán

Cuautitlán

!Cuautitlán Izcalli

Cuautitlán Izcalli

!Ecatepec

Ecatepec

!Huitzilopochco

Huitzilopochco

!Ixhuatepec

Ixhuatepec

!Ixtapaluca

Ixtapaluca

!Iztapallapan

Iztapallapan

!Iztacalco

Iztacalco

!Mixcoac

Mixcoac

!Mixiuhca

Mixiuhca

!Nextitla

Nextitla

!Nicolás Romero

Nicolás Romero

!Popotla

Popotla

!Tecámac

Tecámac

!Templo Mayor

Templo Mayor

!Tenōchtitlan

Tenōchtitlan

!Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan

!Tepeyacac

Tepeyacac

!Tepotzotlán

Tepotzotlán

!Texcoco

Texcoco

!Tlacopan

Tlacopan

!Tlalnepantla de Baz

Tlalnepantla de Baz

!Tlalpan

Tlalpan

!Tlatelolco

Tlatelolco

!Tolnáhuac

Tolnáhuac

!Tultitlán

Tultitlán

!Xochimanca

Xochimanca

!Xochimilco

Xochimilco

!Xocotitla

Xocotitla

Map of Greater Mexico City detailing the locations of various pre-Columbian archaeological sites.