Unraveling Mexico City

What's in a name?

This isn't about things to see and do in Mexico City. Or it's massive size and population. Or its rich history, which pre-dates the colonial period. Those subjects are so vast that it would take a novel-length post to do them justice. No, this is about the definition of Mexico City, a subject that seems to confuse a lot of people (including me). Is it part of a state? If so, what state is it in? Why are there so many names for it? How can I be like one of the cool kids and call it by its Mexican name?

I'll try to decipher these questions about the enigma that is Mexico City. I can't promise I can help you be like one of the cool kids - you might be on your own with that one.

First, let's start with what exactly Mexico City is - that is, what kind of entity it is. An analogy that people from the United States will be familiar with is that Mexico City is sort of like Washington, D.C. That is, it is not part of any of the 31 states of Mexico; instead, it is a federal entity, on equal footing with the 31 states of Mexico (another way to look at it is: there are 32 federal entities in Mexico: the 31 states and Mexico City). Unlike states, however, Mexico City has no governor; the head of government in Mexico City is the mayor.

Mexico City is the capital of the country of Mexico, similar to how Washington D.C. is the capital of the U.S. The federal offices of Mexico - the office of the President, Mexico's Congress, and Supreme Court all reside within Mexico City.

The State of Mexico

OK, so the country of Mexico has a capital which is a city that share's its name with the country. And just to keep the confusion on a slow boil, there is also a state of Mexico. The Estado de México (or Edomex, a popular contraction of "Estado de México") is one of Mexico's 31 states. It is a regular state, with a governor and its own state constitution, like all the other states. The State of Mexico surrounds Mexico City on 3 sides, providing an optical illusion that it contains Mexico City. But it doesn't.

The many names of Mexico City

To the outside world, Mexico City has been known as Mexico City for most of Mexico's history. But within Mexico, it has been known by various names, names that have changed over time. Up until 2016, Mexico City was generally referred to as the Distrito Federal, or Federal District. Mexicans typically referred to the Distrito Federal using the acronym D.F. (pronounced "De-Efe"). D.F. was such a common way to refer to Mexico's capital that residents of Mexico City are commonly referred to as defeños (chilango is a more common slang term for someone from Mexico City; because of this, Mexico City is also known colloquially as Chilangolandia).

In 2016, however, Mexico decided to formally name Mexico City the way most people outside of Mexico referred to it. So today, in Mexico, Mexico City is officially known as Ciudad de México. That name, though, is a bit of a mouthful, so the acronym CDMX is often used in its place. However, the postal code for Ciudad de México is still D.F, so that acronym is still in common usage (although not quite as common as it was before 2016).

In addition to D.F., CDMX, and Ciudad de México, many Mexicans refer to Mexico City as simply, "Mexico". "Me voy a México" (I'm going to Mexico), you might hear a Mexican person say. And if that person says this while standing in Mexico, you might justifiably scratch your head and think: you are in Mexico. Which is true. But "going to Mexico" is the common way for a Mexican to say they are going to Mexico City.

The Greater Mexico City metropolitan area

If you are not content with that slow boil of confusion I mentioned above, the heat really gets turned up when talking about something called the Greater Mexico City metropolitan area. This metropolitan area is comprised of Mexico City itself, plus various municipalities within the State of Mexico. So yes, even though the State of Mexico and Mexico City are completely distinct political and administrative entities, they nevertheless get all mixed together into this notion of a greater metropolitan area. I'm staring to get a headache. The Greater Mexico City metropolitan area isn't merely a way of talking about Mexico City and its immediate surrounding, the way one might talk about "Los Angeles" comprising parts of California that aren't even in Los Angeles County; the Greater Mexico City metropolitan area is a defined area with defined boundaries - boundaries that include municipalities within the State of Mexico. But it is not a political or administrative entity, it is more of a way to formally acknowledge the ties - both proximal and logistical - between the federal entity of Mexico City and its immediate surroundings. The Greater Mexico City metropolitan area, with a combined population of about 22 million, is the largest metropolitan area in North America.

So there it is - everything you never wanted to know about Mexico City. Oh, and so what should you call it if you want to be one of the cool kids? I'd go with CDMX. Or, if you really want to present yourself as a Mexico insider, try Chilangolandia. But not being a cool kid myself, take that with a grain of salt.