Distrito Federal

Administrative region of the federal government of Mexico, including the centre of Mexico City; area 1,479 sq km/571 sq mi; population (2000 est) 8,591,300. Situated in the Valley of Mexico, the district has a mean altitude of over 2,400 m/8,000 ft, and is surrounded by mountain ranges, including the volcanic peaks of Ixtacihuatl and Popocatépetl. The district has a long history of settlement and contains archaeological remains dating from Aztec times, as well as an abundance of Spanish colonial architecture. In the 20th-century, the district became the hub of Mexico's transport and communications systems, and the growth of the capital city aided its industrial and commercial development. Manufacturing industries include plastics, chemicals, cement, and textiles, and the district is also the country's leading centre for service industries, including finance and tourism. There are also important cultural and academic institutions, such as the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (1910; National Autonomous University of Mexico).

The district was created in 1824, and has been governed by an elected mayor since 1996.