- Colonias of Mexico City
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In Mexico, the neighborhoods of large metropolitan areas are known as colonias. One theory suggests that the name, which literally means colony, arose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when one of the first urban developments outside Mexico City's core was built by a French immigrant colony. Unlike neighborhoods in the United States, colonias in Mexico City have a specific name which is used in all official documents and postal addresses. Usually, colonias are assigned a specific postal code; nonetheless, in recent urban developments, gated communities are also defined as colonias, yet they share the postal code with adjacent neighborhoods. When writing a postal address the name of the colonia must be specified followed by the postal code and preceding the name of the city. For example:
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- Calle Insurgentes 145
- Colonia Condesa
- Del. Cuauhtémoc
- 06767 México, D.F.
Some colonias have identifiable attributes:
- Bosques de las Lomas-Upscale residential neighborhood.
- Centro - Covers the historic downtown (centro histórico) of Mexico City.
- Condesa - Artistic district notable for its Art Deco architecture.
- Roma - Beaux Arts neighbourhood next to Condesa, one of the oldest in Mexico City.
- Colonia Juarez - includes the Zona Rosa area.
- Ciudad Satélite - Upper middle class suburban residential neighbourhood.
- Coyoacán - Town founded by Cortés swallowed by the city in 50's, countercultural neighborhood in downtown.
- Del Valle - Upscale residential neighborhood and cradle of José López Portillo and many other important people in Mexican history, home of the World Trade Center Mexico City.
- Lomas de Chapultepec - Upscale residential neighborhood.
- Colonia Nápoles - Upper middle class, business area, residential area.
- Las Águilas - Middle class, young families.
- Los Alpes - Upper middle class neighborhood with plenty of new and premium residentials. The house of current president of Mexico, Felipe Calderón was located in this neighborhood.
- San Ángel - Historic residential and shopping area.
- Santa Fe - Financial, business district and upscale residential neighborhood.
- Jardines del Pedregal - Upscale residential neighborhood.
- Jardines en la Montaña - Upper class residential neighborhood.
- Polanco - Shopping, business and tourist area.
- Tepito - Popular flea market, home to many boxers and street gangs.
- Tlatelolco - Site of the Plaza de las Tres Culturas. High-density neighborhood.
- Villa Coapa - New upper middle class neighborhood.
- Zona Rosa - Shopping district and tourist area. Also a gay friendly area.
See also
- List of colonias in Mexico City
Categories:- Neighborhoods in Mexico City
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