Mexico City

Mexico City (Spanish: Ciudad de México) is the name of a megacity located in the Valley of Mexico (Valle de México), a large valley in the high plateaus (altiplano) at the center of Mexico, about 2,240 metres (7,349 feet) above sea-level, surrounded on most sides by volcanoes towering at 4,000 to 5,500 metres (13,000 to 18,000 feet) above sea-level.

History

:For the Pre-Columbian detailed history of the city, see: Tenochtitlan.

Related Topics:
Pre-Columbian - Tenochtitlan

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After centuries of pre-Columbian civilization, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés first arrived in the area, then the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, in 1519. He did not succeed in conquering the city until August 13, 1521, after a 79-day siege that destroyed most of the old Aztec city.

Related Topics:
Conquistador - Hernán Cortés - Aztec - 1519 - August 13 - 1521

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The city served as the capital of the viceroyalty of New Spain from ca. 1525 to the outbreak of the War of Independence in 1810, and of the various Mexican states afterwards.

Related Topics:
Viceroyalty - New Spain - 1525 - War of Independence - 1810

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Most of the growth of Mexico City in population occurred in the late 20th century. In 1950 the city had about 3 million inhabitants. By 2000 the estimated population for the city proper was around 18 million.

Related Topics:
20th century - 1950 - 2000

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In 1968, the city hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics just days after the Tlatelolco massacre, in which Mexican military and police opened fire on university students demonstrating in Tlatelolco, in the center of Mexico City. At least 300 students were killed in the attack.

Related Topics:
1968 - 1968 Summer Olympics - Tlatelolco massacre - Tlatelolco

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At 07:17 on September 19, 1985, the city was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 on the Richter scale which resulted in the deaths of between 5,000 (government estimate) to 20,000 people and rendered 50,000-90,000 people homeless. One hundred thousand housing units were destroyed, together with many government buildings. Up to USD $4 billion of damage was caused in three minutes. There was an additional magnitude 7.5 aftershock 36 hours later. USGS Earthquake Report

Related Topics:
September 19 - 1985 - Earthquake of magnitude 8.1 - Richter scale - USD

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