28 Facts About Xochimilco

The borough is centered on the formerly independent city of Xochimilco, which was established on what was the southern shore of Lake Xochimilco in the precolonial period.

Xochimilco is best known for its canals, which are left from what was an extensive lake and canal system that connected most of the settlements of the Valley of Mexico.

Borough of Xochimilco was created in 1928, when the federal government reorganized the Federal District of Mexico City into sixteen boroughs.

The Xochimilco borough was centered on what was the city of Xochimilco, which had been an independent settlement from the pre-Hispanic period to the 20th century.

Xochimilco has only one policeman for each 550 residents on average, and there have been complaints that police have taken over 30 minutes to respond to calls.

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The Grupo de Investigacion del Ajolote en Xochimilco is a nonprofit research group dedicated to the preservation of the axolotl, which is in danger of extinction.

Canals of Lake Xochimilco were initially created along with artificial agricultural plots called chinampas.

Xochimilco found a doll floating nearby and, assuming it belonged to the deceased girl, hung it from a tree as a sign of respect.

The first settlements in the Xochimilco area were associated with the Cuicuilco, Copilco and Tlatilco settlements during the Classic period.

Xochimilco is credited with inventing the chinampa system of agriculture to increase production.

Xochimilco had one woman ruler, which did not happen anywhere else in Mesoamerica in the pre-Hispanic period.

Xochimilco's is credited with adding a number of distinctive dishes to the area's cuisine, with inclusions such as necuatolli, chileatolli, esquites and tlapiques.

In 1376, Tenochtitlan attacked Xochimilco, forcing the city to appeal to Azcapotzalco for help.

For centuries Xochimilco remained relatively separate from Mexico City but provided much of the larger city's produce.

Xochimilco was then succeeded by Macuilxochitecuhtli, but eighty days later he too went to Tenochtitlan to fight the Spanish alongside Cuitlahuac.

Xochimilco was followed by Apochquiyautzin, who remained loyal to Tenochtitlan.

Pre-Hispanic Xochimilco was an island connected to the mainland by three causeways.

Xochimilco was made an encomienda of Pedro de Alvarado in 1521 and remained such until 1541.

Xochimilco remained an important agricultural area, shipping its produce to Mexico City in the same ways.

However, problems with flooding, especially the Great Flood of 1609 in Mexico City and Xochimilco, spurred the Spanish to begin projects to drain the lakes.

Xochimilco was granted the title of city by Felipe II in 1559.

In 1749, Xochimilco became a "corregimiento" or semi-autonomous area from Mexico City and would remain so until Independence.

Before, during and after, Xochimilco continued to make more traditional rafts, canoes and trajineras, pushed along the shallow waters by a pole.

Fifteen of the eighteen pueblos of Xochimilco hold major events for Day of the Dead, including costume parades, exhibitions, especially of altars, in cemeteries, museums, plazas and more.

Xochimilco has traditionally held the Oktoberfest at the Club Aleman, which is located in the borough.

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Since the pre-Hispanic period, Xochimilco's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, mostly by supplying to the needs of Mexico City.

Xochimilco has four major markets dedicated to the sale of plants and flowers: Cuemanco, Palacio de la Flor, Mercado de Madre Selva and the historic market at San Luis Tlaxialtemalco.

Museo Arqueologico de Xochimilco began as a collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts such as ceramics, stone items, bones, and more that had been found in the area, often during construction projects.