Study in México, Mexico

Mexico City is the largest city in the country of Mexico and also the most significant in terms of education, politics, culture and the economy.  Much like Washington D.C. in the United States, Mexico City is a federal district that does not belong to any of Mexico’s 31 states, a model the country adopted from the U.S.  Considered an “alpha global city,” Mexico City is of great economic importance in North America, and the continent’s most populated city.  Recent statistical data shows that the population of the city proper in Mexico is nearly 9 million, all of whom are packed into 573 square miles of land area, making it the densest city in the world.  Additionally, the Mexico Metropolitan Area, with a population of just over 21 million, makes Mexico City the largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and the fifth largest in the world.
 
The history of Mexico City is quite vast, dating back to 1325 and the city’s founding by the Aztecs, who named the region Tenochtitlan.  However, the city was almost completely destroyed in 1521 during the Siege of Tenochtitlan.  As it was a Spanish colony, the city was rebuilt in 1524 using a Spanish urban model, at which time it was officially renamed Mexico City, serving as the financial, administrative and political center of the country.  Upon independence from Spain following the Spanish-American War, Mexico City became a Federal District, adopting the U.S. model.
 
Mexico City is ethnically diverse, with an array of indigenous people and European immigrants united under a single identity called Mestizos, who represent 70 percent of the city’s population.  The remainder of the population is considered either “white” or “indigenous,” usually living in ethnic neighborhoods where their own language is used and their customs observed. Spanish is the official language of Mexico City, but there are also 62 indigenous languages recognized throughout the city and the country.  Americans living in Mexico City make up the largest ethnic community, followed by the community of Argentines.
 
The climate in Mexico City is defined as a “subtropical highland climate,” due to the city’s elevation (7200 ft) and tropical location. The boroughs or neighborhoods in higher climates tend to be colder and receive more rainfall than those located below.  Taking everything into account, the average annual temperature ranges from 54 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit, with winter low temperatures reaching 28-23 degrees and summer highs averaging in the 90s.
 
Estimates show that nearly 60 percent of the residents in Mexico City are living in poverty, with 30 percent considered middle class and 10 percent wealthy.  This is perhaps best illustrated by the housing shortage and the amount of public services available to each group.  In the community of Netzahualcoyotl, for example, on the eastern outskirts of the city, there are over 1 million citizens living in single-room brick structures that tend to flood with each rain, and they have almost no access to public services.  On the other hand, in the more exclusive western suburbs of Mexico City, the wealthy live with all the amenities of modern life.
 
Transportation in Mexico City is dominated by the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metro, a 207-mile public transportation system, with 11 lines, 175 stations and service seven days a week to all parts of Mexico City.  In 2008, a second form of public transport was opened called the Tren Suburbano, a suburban rail system that connects the city’s downtown region with the northern suburbs.
 
Mexico City features a wealth of sights, attractions and things to do for those visiting the city.  Some of these include the Angel of Independence, Mexico City’s most treasured icon; the Castle of Chapultepec, a large museum on a hill that overlooks the city; the Plaza of the Three Cultures, located in the Tlatelolco neighborhood, and the shrine and Basilicas of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  These are just a taste of the thousands of cultural and architectural wonders that comprise Mexico City.
 

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