"Distrito Federal" Distrito Federal by ephobius

Distrito Federal Travel Guide: 2,158 reviews and 4,636 photos

Mount Ajusco, southern Distrito Federal - Distrito Federal

the Federal District

The nation's capital, Mexico City, is on this district.

The northern half of the Distrito Federal is completely urbanized, the southern half still has some fields and forested mountains, such as the Ajusco. This mount is a National Park and can be visited for picnics, hiking, biking and climbing.

See more about the city at my Mexico City page.

States and Districts in Mexico and the US

Distrito Federal license plate since 2002

Mexico, politically, is very similar to the United States. Both countries are comprised by states: 31 in Mexico, 50 in the US. In the same way, the capital is not in a particular state but in a federal district, DF in Mexico, DC in the US. The districts were seceded from a state, State of Mexico in Mexico, State of Maryland in the United States. Both capitals have grown so much urban areas have spread in the neighboring states and engulfed nearby towns.

One big difference between these two districts is representation. In Mexico, the Distrito Federal is represented in the Union Congress by representatives (diputados) and senators. The District of Columbia is not represented in the US Congress.

According to law, if ever is decided to change the capital to another city, then that place will be declared the federal district, and the current district will not get reintegrated to the State of Mexico, but rather will be constituted as the State of the Valley of Mexico.

Last visit to Distrito Federal: Dec 2002
Intro Updated Mar 18, 2004
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Seal of the Distrito Federal - Distrito Federal

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If Mexican is the noun for the people from the Republic of Mexico, what do you call a person from the City of Mexico... more travel advice

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Miguelopez Feb 26, 2007 at 6:43 PM

The term Capitalino for people who was born in Mexico City is the the proper one, in other hand, a chilango is the one or ones who weren't born in Mexico city, but move in to it.
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KarenandCory Nov 8, 2005 at 10:04 AM

Very informative little page.