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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 after the postal code and preceding the name of the city. For example:
- Calle Dakota 145
- Colonia Nápoles
- Alc. Benito Juárez
- 03810 Ciudad de México
Some of the better known colonias include:
- Bosques de las Lomas - Upscale residential neighborhood and business center.
- Centro - Covers the historic downtown (centro histórico) of Mexico City.
- Condesa - Twenties post-Revolution neighborhood.
- Roma - Beaux Arts neighbourhood next to Condesa, one of the oldest in Mexico City.
- Colonia Juarez - includes the Zona Rosa area, a gay friendly shopping area
- Coyoacán - Town founded by Cortés swallowed by the city in the 1950s, countercultural neighborhood in downtown.
- Del Valle - Upscale residential neighborhood and cradle of José López Portillo and many other important people in Mexican history.
- Jardines del Pedregal - Upscale residential neighborhood with works notable architect by Luis Barragán
- Lomas de Chapultepec - Upscale residential neighborhood and business center
- Nápoles - home of the World Trade Center Mexico City and the iconic Midcentury monument the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros.
- San Ángel - Historic residential and shopping area.
- Santa Fe - Financial, business district and upscale 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.