MEXICO, FEDERAL DISTRICT OF, a territory set apart for the independent and exclusive use of the Mexican Federal Government, occupying the south-eastern part of the Valley of Mexico, and taken from and lying within the State of Mexico, which forms its boundaries on all sides except the south where it touches the State of Morelos. Pop. (1930) 1,229,576, largely Indian; area, 572.5 sq. miles. The district is very irregu lar in outline, its greatest length (north-west to south-east) being 3o m., and its greatest breadth 25 miles. It is divided into 12 municipalities : Mexico, Atzcapotzalco, Tacuba, Cuajim alpa, San Angel, Coyoacan, Tlalpam, Xochimilco, Milpa Alta, Ixtapalapa, Ixtalco and Magdalena Contreras. In 1931 the former suburbs, Guadalupe-Hidalgo and Tacubaya were annexed by Mex ico City, the national capital, which is located in the midst of the district and its considerable number of towns and villages.
Indians and half-breeds form more than one-half of the rural population being engaged in agriculture, gardening, manufacturing and trade. The government of the district is exercised by the national executive in accordance with the organic law of 1903, though some measure of popular government is vested in municipal councils (ayuntamientos) elected by popular vote for terms of four years. The administrative officers, who are appointed by the national executive, consist of a governor of the Federal District, the director-general of public works and the president of the superior board of health. The governor represents the na tional Government, and has special charge of the fire and police departments, prisons, imposition of penalties for violation of ordinances, public diversions and festivities, civil registry, street traffic, inspection of weights and measures, and the sale of in toxicating liquors. The director-general of public works has special charge of the water supply, streets and roads, parks, monuments, public lighting, drainage, street cleaning, public buildings not under Federal control, cemeteries, slaughter-houses and markets, building operations and all municipal or communal property. The president of the superior board of health has charge of all sanitary works, general sanitary inspection, the sanitary administration of markets, slaughter-houses and cemeteries, and the introduction of meats from other localities. The government of the district is copied, in part, from that of the District of Columbia in the United States, but its citizens are not disfranchised.
The principal towns of the district are merely suburbs of the capital. Within the municipal limits of Mexico City are Chapul
tepec, Santa Anita and the hot springs of El which are popular suburban resorts easily reached by the ordinary urban tramway service. Chapultepec (Grasshopper Hill) is an isolated rock nearly 200 ft. high surrounded by a beautiful park and sur mounted by a fortified structure called the "Castle," containing the summer residence of the president. A finely graded road leads to the summit. The park contains a grove of old cypress trees (Taxodium disticlium, called "ahuehuetes" by the natives), one of which is 45 ft. in circumference and nearly 200 ft. high. The hill is nearly 3 m. south-west of the centre of the city and once commanded one of its principal causeway approaches. It was assaulted and captured by the American forces under Gen. Win field Scott on Sept. 13, 1847, after a stubborn resistance. A monu ment to the cadets of the military school who died in this battle stands in the park. The castle, which was planned by the viceroys, was built and decorated by the Emperor Maximilian, who planned for it the drive known as the Paseo de la Reforma. Guadalupe or Guadalupe-Hidalgo (pop. 11,473 in 1921), 21 m. north by east from the plaza of Mexico City, near the shore of Lake Texcoco, is chiefly known for its shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is said to have appeared there to the Indian Juan Diego in 1531. The shrine stands on the principal plaza and is visited by many thousands of pilgrims during the year, whose pious contributions have so enriched the church that its sacred vessels, altar-rails, candelabra and other accessories are estimated to contain 5o tons of silver. The treaty of peace between Mexico and the United States was signed here Feb. 2, 1848. Tacubaya (pop. 54,775 in 1921), about 5 m. west-south-west of the plaza, is noted for its old residences and beautiful gardens. The National Astronomical observatory occupies a modern edifice. At Popotla, now well within the city of Mexico, is an aged tree under which, according to tradition, Cortes sat and wept after his terrible retreat from the Aztec capital on the noche triste. Farther south, on the lowest slopes of the mountain range are San Angel, Coyoacan and nal pam, favourite country residences of the richer citizens. Xochi milco (field of flowers) (pop. 11,628 in 1930), on the west shore of the lake of that name and '0 m. south by east of the city, is an Indian town dating long before the discovery of America.