What is one reason much of Mexico's population growth has occured in and around Mexico City?

Answer 1

It has fairly constant temperatures of 21 ºC (70 ºF) throughout the year. This in contrast with the scorching deserts to the north and the tropical areas along the coasts. The area where Mexico City is located -- known as the Mexican Central Plateau -- also has rich volcanic soils, allowing better crop production and increased population densities.

Answer 2

Basically, because of a strong centralism. Mexico was under a de facto single-party regime during much of the 20th century, so it was convenient for that regime to have all the government bodies near each other, easier to control, so all the federal government structure was laid there, and delegations in other cities and even State governments just received orders from the centre.

Additionally, most important development projects like urban or industrial infrastructure or services were promoted for Mexico City. An example of this can be the metro transport, it was built I think in the 60s, while other cities like Monterrey or Guadalajara didn't see something like that until late 80s. Other cities, even having over a million inhabitants, can't even dream about it.

So, for many people, especially those from nearby States, moving to the capital was pretty much their only foreseeable way out from poverty.

Relatively recently, because of the 1985 earthquake, and then since the diversification of political parties in power, this centralism has loosened a little but it stands kind of high nevertheless. For example, the country's two only national TV broadcasters are based in Mexico city, which is bad for the rest for the country since there is a "if it didn't affect the capital, it's not newsworthy"-trend.

Answer 3

It has fairly constant temperatures of 21 ºC (70 ºF) throughout the year. This in contrast with the scorching deserts to the north and the tropical areas along the coasts. The area where Mexico City is located -- known as the Mexican Central Plateau -- also has rich volcanic soils, allowing better crop production and increased population densities.