Mexico City is a bit of a shape-shifter. If you’re looking at an old map or talking to someone who visited a decade ago, you’ll keep hearing about the Mexico City Federal District, or the Distrito Federal. People called it "El DF" for generations. It was the shorthand for the high-altitude, smog-choked, taco-scented heart of the country. But then, in 2016, the name just... vanished. Well, legally anyway.
The transition from the Mexico City Federal District to simply "CDMX" (Ciudad de México) wasn't just a rebranding exercise dreamt up by a bored marketing agency. It was a massive constitutional overhaul.
Honestly, it’s confusing for travelers and even some locals. You’ll still see "D.F." on license plates and old storefronts. You’ll hear taxi drivers grumble about the "Defeños" (people from the district). But understanding what happened to the federal district is basically the only way to understand how this chaotic, beautiful megalopolis actually functions today. It’s about power, statehood, and the fact that 9 million people lived in a political limbo for nearly two centuries.
The Long Shadow of the Distrito Federal
Back in 1824, the Mexican government decided they needed a neutral ground. Like Washington D.C. in the United States, they didn't want any single state to have too much leverage over the federal government. So, they carved out the Mexico City Federal District.
It was a "special" zone.
But "special" usually meant "lesser" when it came to voting rights. For a long time, the people living in the Mexico City Federal District didn't even get to elect their own mayor. The President of Mexico just picked someone. Imagine living in one of the biggest cities on Earth and having zero say in who runs your garbage collection or police force. It was wild. This created a weird power dynamic where the city was essentially a colony of the federal government.
By the time the 1990s rolled around, the residents—the Chilangos—had enough. They started pushing for autonomy. They wanted a local congress. They wanted to be treated like a real state. The shift away from the federal district model was a slow-motion revolution that finally peaked on January 29, 2016, when President Enrique Peña Nieto signed the decree that officially killed the "DF" and birthed "CDMX" as the 32nd federal entity of Mexico.
Why CDMX is Not "Just a City" Anymore
When the Mexico City Federal District officially became Mexico City, it gained rights it never had before. It now has its own constitution. It has its own local deputies. It’s basically a state in everything but name, though it still holds the capital.
But here is where it gets tricky for anyone trying to navigate the geography.
The old Mexico City Federal District covered about 1,485 square kilometers. But the actual city? It has spilled way over those borders. When people talk about the "city" now, they are often talking about the Greater Mexico City area (the Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México), which swallows up parts of the State of Mexico and Hidalgo.
We are talking 22 million people.
🔗 Read more: Why the Map of Colorado USA Is Way More Complicated Than a Simple Rectangle
If you are a traveler, you’re likely spending 90% of your time within the borders of what used to be the Mexico City Federal District—places like Roma, Condesa, and the Centro Histórico. But if you head out to see the pyramids at Teotihuacán, you’ve left the old district and entered the State of Mexico. The transition is invisible, except for the fact that the taxis change color and the police uniforms look different.
The Identity Crisis of the Chilango
People still call themselves Defeños. It’s a point of pride. There’s a specific grit associated with the old Mexico City Federal District.
The name change was supposed to modernize things, but you can't just delete 190 years of history with a pen stroke. Go to a cantina in Doctores and ask a guy in his 60s where he’s from. He won't say "CDMX." He’ll say "El Distrito." It feels more official, more weighty.
CDMX feels like a hashtag.
The Federal District felt like an empire.
The Logistics of Living in a Former District
The legal status of the Mexico City Federal District used to make everything complicated. Since the federal government owned the land, local laws were often at the mercy of national politics.
Now? Mexico City is a pioneer. Because it gained autonomy, it became a liberal bastion in a country that is still quite conservative in many pockets. Within the borders of the former district, you had early legalization of same-sex marriage and abortion rights—long before they were settled nationally.
Traffic, Water, and the Sinking Ground
Let's talk about the stuff no one mentions in the travel brochures. The Mexico City Federal District was built on a lakebed. Specifically, Lake Texcoco.
Because it was a centralized federal district, the infrastructure was built fast and heavy. Now, the city is literally sinking. Some parts of the old district drop by 20 to 50 centimeters a year. You can see it in the Metropolitan Cathedral in the Zócalo; the floor tiles are wavy, and the columns lean at angles that would make an engineer sweat.
The "Federal" part of the name might be gone, but the federal-sized problems remain.
- The water crisis is real.
- The seismic risk is constant.
- The traffic is, quite frankly, a soul-crushing experience if you're in a car at 6:00 PM on a Tuesday.
What it Means for You (The Practical Stuff)
If you are planning a trip or looking to move there, don't worry about the terminology too much. If you put "Mexico City Federal District" into an Uber, it’ll know where you mean. But if you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about, use CDMX.
💡 You might also like: Bryce Canyon National Park: What People Actually Get Wrong About the Hoodoos
Here is the reality of the geography:
The former district is divided into 16 alcaldías (boroughs). These are the old "delegaciones." Each one has a totally different vibe.
Cuauhtémoc is the heart. This is where the Mexico City Federal District was "born" in terms of colonial history. You’ve got the Zócalo, the ruins of Templo Mayor, and the skyscrapers of Reforma.
Miguel Hidalgo is where the money is. Think Polanco. Think luxury malls and people walking tiny dogs that cost more than your rent.
Coyoacán is the intellectual soul. It’s where Frida Kahlo lived. It still feels like a colonial village, even though it was swallowed by the district decades ago.
Iztapalapa is the most populous. It’s rugged, colorful, and where the massive Central de Abasto (the world's largest wholesale market) sits.
The Misconception of the "Dangerous" DF
For years, the Mexico City Federal District had a reputation for being incredibly dangerous. In the 90s, "express kidnappings" and taxi robberies were the lead stories in international news.
That version of the city is mostly dead.
Since the transition to CDMX, the city has become a global tech hub and a nomad darling. Is there crime? Of course. It’s a city of millions. But the "Federal District" that people feared is now a place where you'll see foreigners sipping oat milk lattes in parks at 10 PM. The security landscape changed as the political status changed. When the city got its own police force and local accountability, things started to stabilize in the primary neighborhoods.
Realities of the 2016 Reform
A lot of experts, like those from the Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas at UNAM, argued that the death of the Mexico City Federal District didn't go far enough.
📖 Related: Getting to Burning Man: What You Actually Need to Know About the Journey
They argue that while the city is now a "State-like entity," the federal government still holds too much sway over the budget. Because the National Palace is located there, the city can't ever be truly independent. It’s a weird marriage. The President lives in the city, but the Mayor runs the streets outside his door.
This tension is what makes the city so electric. It’s a constant negotiation.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the Former District
If you’re heading to the area once known as the Mexico City Federal District, you need a strategy. Don't just wing it.
1. Download the "CDMX" App
The city government launched an app (App CDMX) that handles everything from calling a "safe" taxi to checking the air quality and earthquake alerts. It’s the digital version of the new city autonomy. Use it.
2. Learn the Metro, Ignore the Traffic
The Metro system in the old district is one of the cheapest and most efficient in the world. It’s five pesos. That’s like 25 cents. During rush hour, a car will take 90 minutes to go 5 kilometers. The Metro will do it in 15. Just watch your pockets in the crowded cars.
3. Check the "Hoy No Circula" Rules
If you are driving, be aware that the old federal district laws still apply to emissions. Depending on your license plate and the smog levels, you might not be allowed to drive on certain days. If you ignore this, the transit police will find you, and the fine is a headache.
4. Understand the Address System
You might see addresses written as "Col. Roma, Del. Cuauhtémoc, México D.F." on older documents. Just know that "Del." (Delegación) is now "Alc." (Alcaldía) and "D.F." is "CDMX."
5. Respect the Altitude
People forget that the Mexico City Federal District sits at 2,240 meters (over 7,300 feet). That’s higher than many ski resorts in the US. You will get winded. You will get drunker faster. Drink twice as much water as you think you need.
The Mexico City Federal District is a ghost. It lives on in the speech of the elderly, the fine print of old contracts, and the stubborn identity of the people who survived its wildest years. But the new city—the autonomous, state-like CDMX—is what you’ll actually experience. It’s a place that finally owns its own future.
Whether you call it the DF, the District, or CDMX, it remains the most complicated, exhausting, and rewarding city in the Western Hemisphere. Don't let the name change fool you; the chaos is still there, it’s just better organized now.