History of Mexico City in Timeline

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Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital and largest city of Mexico, holding the title of the most populous city in North America. Recognized as a crucial cultural and financial hub globally, it holds an Alpha world city status. Located in the Valley of Mexico at a high altitude of 2,240 meters, the city comprises 16 boroughs, each divided into distinct neighborhoods.

1900: Population 1900

In 1900, the population of Mexico City was approximately 500,000.

1902: Final adjustments to Mexico City limits

Between 1898 and 1902, the last changes to the limits of Mexico City were made, reducing the area to the current 1,479 km by adjusting the southern border with the state of Morelos.

February 1907: Snow flurries

After the snow flurries of 12 February 1907, the effects of the draining of Lake Texcoco and global warming have greatly reduced snowfalls.

1908: Snow scarcity

Since 1908, snow has only fallen thrice in Mexico City.

February 1913: Decena Trágica

In February 1913, the Decena Trágica ("Ten Tragic Days") occurred, during which forces against the elected government of Francisco I. Madero staged a successful coup, resulting in artillery attacks on the city center and significant civilian casualties.

July 1914: Huerta's ouster

In July 1914, Victoriano Huerta's ouster led to the entry of the armies of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata into Mexico City, though without significant violence.

February 1920: Snow in 1920

In February 1920, snow fell in Mexico City.

1921: 1921 census

According to the 1921 census, 54.78% of Mexico City's population was considered Mestizo (Indigenous mixed with European), 22.79% considered European, and 18.74% considered Indigenous.

1924: Chapultepec Zoo opening

In 1924, Chapultepec Zoo, located in Chapultepec Park, was opened.

1934: Completion of the Palacio de Bellas Artes

The construction of the Palacio de Bellas Artes ended in 1934, after being interrupted by the Mexican Revolution in the 1920s.

March 1940: Snow flurries in 1940

In March 1940, snow flurries occurred in Mexico City.

1940: Leon Trotsky Murdered

In 1940, Leon Trotsky, who had been granted asylum in Coyoacán, was murdered there. His house is located in Coyoacán.

1941: General Anaya borough merged

In 1941, the General Anaya borough was merged with the Central Department, which was then renamed "Mexico City".

1955: Mexico City Hosted Pan American Games

Mexico City hosted the Pan American Games in 1955.

1959: Publication of Mexico City Blues

In 1959, Jack Kerouac wrote his volume of poetry Mexico City Blues in Mexico City.

Mexico City Blues: 242 Choruses
Mexico City Blues: 242 Choruses

February 1960: Lowest temperature at Tacubaya

At the Tacubaya observatory, the lowest temperature ever registered was −4.4 °C (24 °F) on 13 February 1960.

1960: Population growth

In 1960, explosive population growth began in Mexico City, with the population overflowing into the neighboring State of Mexico.

1962: Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix was held from 1962 to 1970.

1964: Zoo San Juan de Aragon opening

In 1964, Zoo San Juan de Aragon opened near San Juan de Aragon Park in Gustavo A. Madero.

January 1967: Snowstorm

On 12 January 1967, 8 centimeters (3 in) of snow fell on Mexico City, the most on record.

1968: 1968 Olympic Games

In 1968, the Olympic Games took place, leading to the construction of large sporting facilities in Mexico City.

1968: Mexico City Hosted Summer Olympics

Mexico City hosted the Summer Olympics in 1968, becoming the first Latin American city to do so.

1968: Repression

Three years later after 1968, a demonstration in the Maestros avenue, organized by former members of the 1968 student movement, was violently repressed by a paramilitary group called "Los Halcones".

1969: Mexico City Metro inauguration

In 1969, the Mexico City Metro was inaugurated.

1970: Mexico City split into four delegaciones

In 1970, Mexico City was split into four different delegaciones: Cuauhtémoc, Miguel Hidalgo, Venustiano Carranza and Benito Juárez, increasing the number of delegaciones to 16.

1970: Mexico Hosted FIFA World Cup

Mexico hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1970, and Azteca Stadium hosted the final.

1970: Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix was held from 1962 to 1970.

1974: ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships

The ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships were hosted here in 1974.

1975: Mexico City Hosted Pan American Games

Mexico City hosted the Pan American Games in 1975, after Santiago and São Paulo withdrew.

1976: Sala Nezahualcóyotl Inaugurated

In 1976, the Sala Nezahualcóyotl, which was the first wrap-around concert hall in the Western Hemisphere, was inaugurated in Mexico City.

1978: Discovery of the Templo Mayor

The Templo Mayor was discovered in 1978 while workers were digging to place underground electric cables.

1979: Closure of the Central Area's Last Streetcar Line

In 1979, the last streetcar line (tramway, or tranvía) in the central area of Mexico City was closed.

1980: Population doubled

Between 1960 and 1980 the city's population more than doubled to nearly 9 million.

1980: Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México

From 1980 to 1981, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted the Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México.

1980: Industrial jobs located in Mexico City

In 1980, half of all the industrial jobs in Mexico were located in Mexico City, leading to problems with services and housing due to the influx of villagers escaping poverty.

1981: Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México

From 1980 to 1981, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted the Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México.

September 1985: 1985 Mexico City earthquake

On September 1985, at 7:19am CST, Mexico City was struck by the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, which exposed the government's bureaucracy and corruption and led to citizen-led rescue efforts.

1986: Mexico Hosted FIFA World Cup

Mexico hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1986, and Azteca Stadium hosted the final.

1986: Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix was held from 1986 to 1992.

1987: First Statute of Government

In 1987 Mexico City elaborated the first Statute of Government and the creation of an assembly of representatives, granting the city a greater degree of autonomy.

1987: UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1987, the Historic Center of Mexico City was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its collection of ancient Aztec and colonial architecture.

1992: Pollution levels

By 2014, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide were at levels about a third of those in 1992 in Mexico City.

1992: Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix was held from 1986 to 1992.

1993: Amendment to the Constitution of Mexico

In 1993, an amendment to the 44th article of the Constitution of Mexico stated that Mexico City and the Federal District were the same entity.

1994: ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships

The ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships were hosted here in 1994.

1995: Migration rate

The net migration rate of Mexico City from 1995 to 2000 was negative.

1997: Right to Elect

In 1997, residents of Mexico City were given the right to elect both a head of government and the representatives of the unicameral Legislative Assembly by election.

1997: Increase in prison population

Since 1997 the prison population has increased by more than 500% in Mexico City.

February 1999: Zoo Los Coyotes inauguration

On February 2, 1999, Zoo Los Coyotes was inaugurated south of Mexico City in Coyoacan.

1999: American population in Mexico City

In 1999, the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs estimated over 440,000 Americans lived in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area.

2000: Crime reports in Mexico City

Between 2000 and 2004 an average of 478 crimes were reported each day in Mexico City.

2000: Net migration rate of Mexico City

From 1995 to 2000, the net migration rate of Mexico City proper was negative, indicating residents were moving to the suburbs or other states.

2000: Local authorities first elected directly

In 2000, local authorities in Mexico City were first elected directly by plurality.

2000: Migration rate

The net migration rate of Mexico City from 1995 to 2000 was negative.

2002: Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México

From 2002 to 2007, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted the Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México.

2002: Human Development Index score

In 2002, Mexico City had a Human Development Index score of 0.915, identical to that of South Korea.

2003: Peñon woman age

In 2003, a study placed the age of the Peñon woman at 12,700 years old (calendar age), making it one of the oldest human remains discovered in the Americas.

2004: Crime reports in Mexico City

Between 2000 and 2004 an average of 478 crimes were reported each day in Mexico City.

2005: NASCAR Nationwide Series Telcel-Motorola México 200

Beginning in 2005, the NASCAR Nationwide Series ran the Telcel-Motorola México 200.

2005: Mexico City Hosted NFL Regular Season Game

In 2005, Mexico City became the first city to host an NFL regular season game outside of the United States, at the Azteca Stadium.

2005: Lowest HDI values of Mexico City

In 2005, the boroughs of Xochimilco, Tláhuac, and Iztapalapa presented the lowest HDI values of Mexico City, with values of 0.8481, 0.8473, and 0.8464, respectively.

2005: Human Development Index report

The Human Development Index report of 2005 shows that Benito Juárez borough had the highest HDI of the country (0.9510), followed by Miguel Hidalgo (0.9189), and Coyoacán (0.9169).

2006: UNAM ranked 74th in the Top 200 World University Ranking

In 2006, UNAM ranked 74th in the Top 200 World University Ranking published by Times Higher Education, making it the highest ranked Spanish-speaking university in the world.

2007: Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México

From 2002 to 2007, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted the Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México.

2007: CCU Cultural Center Branch Inaugurated

In 2007, a branch of the National University's CCU cultural center was inaugurated in the facilities of the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known as Tlatelolco, in north-central Mexico City.

2007: Mean disposable income

In 2007, residents in the top twelve percent of GDP per capita holders in the city had a mean disposable income of US$98,517.

2007: National Auditorium Selected World's Best Venue

In 2007, the National Auditorium was selected as the world's best venue by multiple genre media.

2007: UNAM's main campus declared a World Heritage Site

In 2007, the sprawling main campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), known as Ciudad Universitaria, was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

2008: Population in 2008

In 2008, the population of the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City was approximately 19.8 million inhabitants.

2008: Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo Inaugurated

In late 2008, the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo, designed by Mexican architect Teodoro González de León, was inaugurated in southern Mexico City.

December 2009: Same-sex marriage legalized

In December 2009, the then Federal District became the first city in Latin America and one of very few in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

2009: GDP ranking

According to a 2009 study conducted by PwC, Mexico City had a GDP of $390 billion, ranking it as the eighth richest city in the world and the richest in Latin America.

2009: Races Removed from Series' Schedules

In 2009, both the NASCAR Nationwide Series Telcel-Motorola México 200 and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Mexico City 250 races were removed from their series' schedules.

2009: Largest Crowd for NFL Regular Season Game

In 2009, the crowd of 103,467 people attending a game in Mexico City in 2005 was the largest ever for a regular season game in NFL history until 2009.

2009: Security upgrade in Mexico City

Under policies enacted by Mayor Marcelo Ebrard between 2009 and 2011, Mexico City underwent a major security upgrade with violent and petty crime rates both falling significantly.

2010: Religion in Mexico City

In 2010, the majority (82%) of the residents in Mexico City were Catholic, slightly lower than the national percentage of 87%.

2010: Mexico City's HDI

Mexico City's HDI for the 2010 report was 0.9225 (very high), or (by newer methodology) 0.8307, which was Mexico's highest.

September 2011: Dalai Lama Inaugurates Tibet Exhibit

In September 2011, the Dalai Lama inaugurated an exhibit on Tibet at the Memory and Tolerance Museum.

2011: 2011 GDP

In 2011, Greater Mexico City had a GDP of $411 billion, making it one of the most productive urban areas in the world.

2011: Museo Soumaya Inaugurated New Facility

In 2011, the Museo Soumaya inaugurated a new futuristic-design facility just north of Polanco, while maintaining a smaller facility in Plaza Loreto in southern Mexico City.

2011: Security upgrade in Mexico City

Under policies enacted by Mayor Marcelo Ebrard between 2009 and 2011, Mexico City underwent a major security upgrade with violent and petty crime rates both falling significantly.

September 2013: Ecobici System Comprises 276 Stations

In September 2013, the Ecobici system in Mexico City comprised 276 stations strategically positioned across an expansive area extending from the Historic center to Polanco. Within this network, approximately 4,000 bicycles are available for public use.

2013: Independent country comparison 2013

In 2013, if Mexico City were an independent country, it would be the fifth-largest economy in Latin America.

2013: Abbreviation "CDMX"

Since 2013, the abbreviation "CDMX" (Ciudad de México) has become more common, particularly by the government.

2014: Pollution levels

By 2014, carbon monoxide pollution had dropped drastically in Mexico City, and sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide were at levels about a third of those in 1992.

2015: City government report on violence against women

A 2015 city government report found that two of three women over the age of 15 in the capital suffered some form of violence.

2015: Mexico City joins UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

In 2015, Mexico City joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

2015: Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix Returned

In 2015, the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix returned to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

January 2016: Mexico City renamed Ciudad de México

On 29 January 2016, Mexico City ceased to be the Federal District and was officially renamed "Ciudad de México" (or "CDMX"), beginning a transition to becoming the country's 32nd federal entity.

January 2016: Ciudad de México (CDMX)

On January 29, 2016, the Federal District (DF) ceased to exist and became officially known as Ciudad de México (CDMX). This reform gave the city a greater degree of autonomy.

2016: Boroughs headed by mayors

From 2016, each borough in Mexico City is headed by a mayor, expanding their local government powers.

2016: High Private Car Usage

In 2016, private car usage in Mexico City was estimated at more than 4.5 million.

2016: Incidence of femicides

In 2016, the incidence of femicides in Mexico City was 3.2 per 100 000 inhabitants.

2016: Formula E Mexico City ePrix Hosted

Since 2016, the Formula E Mexico City ePrix has been hosted at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

January 2017: Ratification of the Constitution

As of its ratification on 31 January 2017, Mexico City has a constitution, similar to the states of the Union.

2017: Mexico City designated a "Design City"

In 2017, Mexico City was designated a "Design City".

2017: NBA expressed interest in placing an NBA G League expansion team

In 2017, NBA commissioner Adam Silver expressed interest in placing an NBA G League expansion team in Mexico City as early as 2018.

2018: Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration

During Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration (2018–24) a political slogan was introduced: la Ciudad de la Esperanza (lit. 'The City of Hope').

2018: NBA expressed interest in placing an NBA G League expansion team

In 2017, NBA commissioner Adam Silver expressed interest in placing an NBA G League expansion team in Mexico City as early as 2018.

December 2019: Capitanes de la Ciudad de México Joined G League

On December 12, 2019, commissioner Adam Silver announced that LNBP team, Capitanes de la Ciudad de México will be joining the G League in the 2020–21 season on a five-year agreement.

2019: Sud 777 placed on the list in World's 50 Best Restaurants

In 2019 the restaurant Sud 777 was placed in 58th place on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list as named by the British magazine Restaurant.

2019: New Logo for Sistema de Movilidad Integrada

In 2019, graphic designer Lance Wyman created an integrated map of the multimodal public transportation system and presented a new logo for the Sistema de Movilidad Integrada, describing eight distinct modes of transportation. The head of the government, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced that the branding would be used for a new single payment card to streamline public transportation fare collection.

2020: Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Population

According to the 2020 Census, 2.03% of Mexico City's population identified as Black, Afro-Mexican, or of African descent.

2020: 2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Greater Mexico City has a population of 21,804,515.

2020: Mexico City megalopolis population

In 2020, the Corona regional del centro de México (Mexico City megalopolis) had a population of 33.4 million, which is more than one quarter of the country's population according to the census.

2020: Capitanes de la Ciudad de México Joined G League

On December 12, 2019, commissioner Adam Silver announced that LNBP team, Capitanes de la Ciudad de México will be joining the G League in the 2020–21 season on a five-year agreement.

2020: Boroughs of Mexico City and their populations

The text refers to the boroughs of Mexico City and their 2020 populations.

2022: Felipe Ángeles International Airport Opened

In 2022, the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (IATA Airport Code: NLU) was opened as Mexico City's secondary airport. It was rebuilt from the former Santa Lucía Air Force Base and is located in Zumpango, State of Mexico.

2023: Pujol Ranked 13th in World's 50 Best Restaurants

In 2023, Mexico City ranked 13th best with the Mexican avant-garde restaurant Pujol, owned by Mexican chef Enrique Olvera, in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list as named by the British magazine Restaurant.

May 2024: Highest temperature on record

The highest temperature on record was 34.7 °C (94.5 °F) on 25 May 2024 at the Tacubaya observatory.

2024: GaWC 2024 ranking

In 2024, Mexico City is classified as an Alpha world city according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) ranking.

2024: Seven restaurants receive Michelin stars

In 2024, seven restaurants in Mexico City received Michelin stars.

2025: Ban on Traditional Bullfights

Prior to the 2025 ban on traditional bullfights enacted by Mexico City's Congress, bullfighting was held every Sunday during the season at the 50,000-seat Plaza México, the world's largest bullring.

2026: Mexico City to Host FIFA World Cup

Mexico City will be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.