History of Mexico City in Timeline
Mexico City, the capital and largest city of Mexico, holds the title of North America's most populous city. A global hub for culture and finance, it's situated in the Valley of Mexico within the high Mexican central plateau at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 feet). The city's 16 boroughs, known as demarcaciones territoriales, are further subdivided into neighborhoods or colonias.
1900: Population Growth in the Early 20th Century
By 1900, Mexico City had about 500,000 residents, with the city expanding westward and later upwards.
1902: Mexico City's Boundaries Finalized
Between 1898 and 1902, the final adjustments to Mexico City's boundaries were made, reducing its area to the current 1,479 km (571 sq mi).
February 1907: Snowfall in Mexico City
On February 12, 1907, snow fell in Mexico City, one of the last significant snowfalls before the draining of Lake Texcoco.
1908: Reduced Snowfall
Since 1908, after the snow flurries of February 12, 1907, snowfall in Mexico City has significantly reduced due to the draining of Lake Texcoco and global warming.
February 1913: Decena Trágica
During the Mexican Revolution, in February 1913, the "Ten Tragic Days" involved a coup against Francisco I. Madero's government, artillery attacks on the city center, significant civilian casualties, and the eventual murder of Madero and Pino Suarez.
July 1914: Huerta's Ouster and Entry of Villa and Zapata
In July 1914, Victoriano Huerta was ousted, allowing the armies of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata to enter Mexico City without violence.
February 1920: Snowfall in Mexico City
Snow fell in Mexico City on February 14, 1920.
1921: Mexico City Census Demographics
The 1921 census revealed the demographic composition of Mexico City, with 54.78% Mestizo, 22.79% European, and 18.74% Indigenous.
1924: Chapultepec Zoo Opening
The Chapultepec Zoo, located in Chapultepec Park, opened in 1924. It exhibits around 243 specimens of various species.
1934: Completion of Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Palacio de Bellas Artes, a white marble theater and museum, was completed in 1934 after construction was interrupted by the Mexican Revolution.
March 1940: Snow Flurries in Mexico City
Snow flurries occurred in Mexico City on March 14, 1940.
1940: Leon Trotsky's Assassination
Leon Trotsky was assassinated in 1940 in his Coyoacán home, where he had been granted asylum.
1941: Administrative Reorganization of Mexico City
In 1941, General Anaya borough merged with the Central Department, renaming it "Mexico City", and the Federal District comprised twelve delegaciones and Mexico City.
1955: Mexico City Hosts Pan American Games
Mexico City hosted the Pan American Games in 1955.
1959: Jack Kerouac writes "Mexico City Blues"
American author Jack Kerouac wrote his 1959 masterpiece volume of poetry, "Mexico City Blues," during an extended stay in Mexico City.
February 1960: Record Low Temperature
On February 13, 1960, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Mexico City was -4.4 °C (24 °F) at the Tacubaya observatory.
1960: Population Explosion
Mexico City's population began to explode during the 1960's.
1962: Formula 1's First Run
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix for the first time in 1962.
1964: San Juan de Aragon Zoo Opening
The San Juan de Aragon Zoo opened in 1964 near the San Juan de Aragon Park. It houses several endangered species.
January 1967: Record Snowfall in Mexico City
On January 12, 1967, Mexico City experienced its heaviest snowfall on record, with 8 centimeters (3 inches) of snow.
1968: Mexico City Hosts Summer Olympics
In 1968, Mexico City became the first Latin American city to host the Summer Olympic Games.
1968: Repression of Student Movement
In 1968, a demonstration organized by former student movement members was violently suppressed by a paramilitary group called "Los Halcones".
1968: 1968 Olympic Games
The 1968 Olympic Games led to the construction of significant sporting facilities in Mexico City.
1969: Inauguration of Metro
The Mexico City Metro was inaugurated in 1969.
1969: Opening of Mexico City Metro
The first sections of the Mexico City Metro, the largest metro system in Latin America, opened in 1969.
1970: First Era of F1 Ends
1970 marked the end of Formula 1's initial run at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
1970: Mexico City Divided into Delegaciones
In 1970, Mexico City was split into four delegaciones: Cuauhtémoc, Miguel Hidalgo, Venustiano Carranza, and Benito Juárez, bringing the total to 16, leading to the Federal District and Mexico City becoming synonymous.
1970: FIFA World Cup Hosted in Mexico
1974: ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships in Mexico City
The ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships were hosted in Mexico City in 1974.
1975: Mexico City Hosts Pan American Games
Mexico City hosted the Pan American Games in 1975 after Santiago and São Paulo withdrew.
1976: Inauguration of Sala Nezahualcóyotl
In 1976, Sala Nezahualcóyotl, the first wrap-around concert hall in the Western Hemisphere, was inaugurated in Mexico City.
1978: Discovery of Templo Mayor
The Templo Mayor, ancient Aztec temple ruins, was discovered in 1978 during excavations for underground electric cables.
1979: Closure of Last Streetcar Line
The final streetcar line in central Mexico City closed in 1979.
1980: Population Doubles
Between 1960 and 1980, Mexico City's population more than doubled, reaching nearly 9 million and leading to urban sprawl into the State of Mexico.
1980: Industrial Jobs and Urban Growth Challenges
In 1980, half of Mexico's industrial jobs were in Mexico City. The city struggled to provide services due to rapid growth and the influx of villagers escaping poverty, resulting in the creation of large shanty towns.
1980: Champ Car's Arrival
The Champ Car World Series Gran Premio de México began its run at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in 1980.
1981: Champ Car's Short Run
1981 marked the end of Champ Car's initial stint at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
September 1985: 1985 Mexico City Earthquake
On September 19, 1985, a major earthquake struck Mexico City at 7:19 am CST, exposing government paralysis due to bureaucracy and corruption, leading citizens to organize their own rescue and reconstruction efforts.
1986: FIFA World Cup Hosted in Mexico
1986: Formula 1's Revival in Mexico City
The Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix was revived at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in 1986.
1987: Increased Autonomy for Mexico City
In 1987, Mexico City gained increased autonomy with the creation of the first Statute of Government and an assembly of representatives.
1988: Controversial Elections
The 1988 elections were marked by controversy, with Carlos Salinas de Gortari declared the winner despite Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas's initial lead, after a suspicious power outage during vote counting.
1992: Another F1 Era Ends
1992 saw the conclusion of another run for Formula 1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
1992: Pollution in the 1990s
In the 1990s, Mexico City was known as one of the world's most polluted cities; later it made progress in reducing pollution but ozone remained a challenge.
1993: Legal Definition of Mexico City
A 1993 constitutional amendment clarified that Mexico City and the Federal District are the same entity, resolving prior ambiguity.
1994: ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships in Mexico City
The ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships were hosted in Mexico City in 1994.
1995: Negative Net Migration in Mexico City
Between 1995 and 2000, Mexico City experienced a negative net migration rate, indicating residents moving to the suburbs or other states.
1995: Start of Negative Net Migration
From 1995 to 2000, the net migration rate for Mexico City was negative, showing residents moving outwards to the suburbs or other areas.
1997: Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Elected Mayor
Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas became the first elected mayor of Mexico City in 1997, promising a more democratic government and addressing crime, pollution, and other major issues.
1997: First Elected Government
In 1997, residents of Mexico City gained the right to elect their head of government and representatives of the unicameral Legislative Assembly.
1997: Prison Population Increase
Since 1997, the prison population in Mexico City has increased by more than 500%.
February 1999: Los Coyotes Zoo Inauguration
In February 1999, the Los Coyotes Zoo was inaugurated in Coyoacan, south of Mexico City. It houses over 301 specimens of 51 species native to the area.
1999: Cárdenas Resigns
Cárdenas resigned as mayor in 1999 to run for president.
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: High Crime Rates
Between 2000 and 2004, Mexico City reported an average of 478 crimes daily, though the actual number was likely higher due to underreporting.
2000: First Direct Election of Local Authorities
In 2000, local authorities in Mexico City's boroughs were directly elected for the first time.
2000: End of Negative Net Migration
The period of negative net migration for Mexico City ended in 2000.
2002: Economic Hub and Human Development
In 2002, Mexico City had a Human Development Index score of 0.915, comparable to South Korea.
2002: Champ Car's Return
The Champ Car World Series returned to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in 2002.
2003: Discovery of Peñón woman
In 2003, a study estimated the age of the "Peñón woman", one of the oldest human remains in the Americas, to be 12,700 years old.
2004: High Crime Rates
Between 2000 and 2004, Mexico City reported an average of 478 crimes daily, though the actual number was likely higher due to underreporting.
2005: Human Development Index Report (2005)
According to the 2005 Human Development Index report, Mexico City had an HDI of 0.9012 (very high).
2005: First NFL Game Outside US
Mexico City hosted the first NFL regular season game outside the United States in 2005.
2005: Human Development Index in Mexico City
The 2005 Human Development Index report indicated high HDI values for most of Mexico City's boroughs, with Benito Juárez having the highest in the country.
2006: UNAM's High Ranking
In 2006, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) was ranked 74th in the Top 200 World University Ranking, the highest ranked Spanish-speaking university globally.
2007: Champ Car's Final Run
2007 was the last year the Champ Car World Series ran at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
2007: National University Cultural Center Branch Inauguration
A branch of the National University's CCU cultural center was inaugurated in 2007 in the facilities of the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tlatelolco, Mexico City.
2007: UNAM Campus Designated World Heritage Site
In 2007, Ciudad Universitaria, UNAM's main campus, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
2007: National Auditorium Acclaimed
In 2007, the National Auditorium in Mexico City was selected as the world's best venue by multiple genre media.
2007: High Disposable Income
In 2007, the top 12% of income earners in Mexico City had a mean disposable income of US$98,517.
2008: Population of Greater Mexico City
In 2008, the population of Greater Mexico City reached approximately 19.8 million inhabitants, making it one of the world's most populous conurbations.
2008: Inauguration of Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo
In late 2008, the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC), designed by Mexican architect Teodoro González de León, was inaugurated in Mexico City.
December 2009: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage
In December 2009, Mexico City became the first city in Latin America and one of the few in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
2009: Economic Ranking
A 2009 study ranked Mexico City as the eighth richest city globally and the richest in Latin America, with a GDP of $390 billion.
2009: Security Upgrade
Between 2009 and 2011, under Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City implemented a security upgrade, including 11,000 security cameras and police expansion, leading to significant drops in both violent and petty crime.
2009: Record-Breaking Attendance
The 2005 NFL game in Mexico City had the largest ever attendance for a regular season game until 2009.
2010: Catholic Population Percentage
In 2010, approximately 82% of Mexico City residents identified as Catholic, slightly lower than the national average of 87%.
2010: Human Development Index Report (2010)
Mexico City's HDI value increased to 0.9225 (very high) or 0.8307 (by newer methodology) in the 2010 report, the highest in Mexico.
September 2011: Memory and Tolerance Museum Inauguration and Dalai Lama Visit
The Memory and Tolerance Museum, showcasing historical events of discrimination and genocide, was inaugurated in 2011. In September 2011, the Dalai Lama inaugurated an exhibit on Tibet at the museum.
2011: Security Upgrade
Between 2009 and 2011, under Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City implemented a security upgrade, including 11,000 security cameras and police expansion, leading to significant drops in both violent and petty crime.
2011: GDP of Mexico City
Greater Mexico City had a GDP of $411 billion in 2011, making it one of the most productive urban areas globally, contributing 15.8% of Mexico's GDP.
2011: Museo Soumaya's New Facility
The Museo Soumaya, named after the wife of Mexican magnate Carlos Slim, inaugurated a new futuristic-design facility in 2011 just north of Polanco, while maintaining a smaller facility in Plaza Loreto.
September 2013: Ecobici Bicycle Sharing System
As of September 2013, Ecobici, North America's second-largest bike-sharing system, had 276 stations and 4,000 bicycles available for public use, promoting sustainable transportation.
2013: Abbreviation Change
By 2013, "CDMX" (Ciudad de México) became more common than "DF" as the abbreviation for Mexico City, especially in government campaigns.
2013: Mexico City's Economic Standing
In 2013, if Mexico City were an independent country, it would have been the fifth-largest economy in Latin America.
2014: Improved Air Quality in 2014
By 2014, Mexico City had seen a drastic reduction in pollutants like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
2015: Violence Against Women
A 2015 city government report revealed that two out of three women over 15 in Mexico City experienced some form of violence, including street harassment and violence on public transport.
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 Returns to Mexico City
In 2015, the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix returned to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez after a hiatus.
January 2016: Political Autonomy and Renaming of Mexico City
In January 2016, Mexico City ceased to be the Federal District and became officially known as Ciudad de México (CDMX), gaining greater autonomy while progressive policies like elective abortions, limited euthanasia, no-fault divorce, same-sex marriage, and legal gender change were implemented.
January 2016: Mexico City Becomes Ciudad de México
On January 29, 2016, the Federal District officially became Ciudad de México (CDMX), transitioning to become the 32nd federal entity with increased autonomy but remaining the nation's capital.
2016: Administrative Divisions of Mexico City
After the 2016 political reforms, Mexico City was divided into 16 boroughs (alcaldías), formerly delegaciones, with increased autonomy and headed by elected mayors.
2016: Femicides and Violence Against Women
In 2016, the femicide rate in Mexico City was 3.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, lower than the national average of 4.2.
2016: Hoy No Circula Program
In 2016, there were an estimated 4.5 million private cars in Mexico City. The "Hoy No Circula" program restricts vehicles without emissions testing from circulating on certain days to reduce pollution and traffic.
January 2017: Ratification of Mexico City's Constitution
Mexico City's constitution was ratified on January 31, 2017, granting the city greater autonomy similar to the states of the Union.
2017: Interest in G League Expansion
NBA commissioner Adam Silver expressed interest in placing an NBA G League team in Mexico City in 2017.
2018: Potential G League Team
A potential NBA G League team in Mexico City was considered as early as 2018.
December 2019: Capitanes Join G League
In December 2019, the Capitanes de Ciudad de México joined the NBA G League.
2019: New Public Transportation System and Logo
In 2019, Lance Wyman designed a new logo and integrated map for the Sistema de Movilidad Integrada, encompassing eight modes of transport, and the government announced a new single payment card for fares.
2019: Querétaro Joins Megalopolis
In 2019, Querétaro joined the Mexico City megalopolis, expanding the region further.
2019: Sud 777 on World's 50 Best Restaurants List
In 2019, the restaurant Sud 777 was placed 58th on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
2020: Demographics of Mexico City
According to the 2020 Census, 2.03% of Mexico City's population identified as Black, Afro-Mexican, or of African descent.
2020: Greater Mexico City Population
According to the 2020 census, Greater Mexico City, including Mexico City and surrounding municipalities, had a population of 21,804,515.
2020: Mexico City Megalopolis Population
In 2020, the Mexico City megalopolis, encompassing several states including Mexico City, had a population of 33.4 million according to the census.
2020: Capitanes' G League Start
The Capitanes were set to begin playing in the G League in the 2020-21 season.
2022: Opening of Felipe Ángeles International Airport
Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), Mexico City's secondary airport, opened in 2022 on the site of the former Santa Lucía Air Force Base.
2023: Pujol Ranks High on World's 50 Best Restaurants List
In 2023, Pujol, a Mexican avant-garde restaurant in Mexico City owned by chef Enrique Olvera, ranked 13th on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.
May 2024: Record High Temperature
The highest temperature recorded in Mexico City was 34.7 °C (94.5 °F) on May 25, 2024, at the Tacubaya observatory.
2024: Michelin Stars Awarded to Mexico City Restaurants
In 2024, seven restaurants in Mexico City were awarded Michelin stars.
