Question

why do many people live in central mexico

Answer 1

Short answer: because the central highlands of Mexico have historically been the most favorable place to live — good climate and soils, water and flat land for farming and cities, pre‑existing population centers that became Spanish colonial and then national political/economic hubs — and that historical advantage turned into modern concentration of jobs, industry, services and infrastructure that keeps attracting people.

More detail (key reasons)
- Geography & climate: the high, inland Plateau (Altiplano) has a mild, temperate climate (“eternal spring”) and fewer tropical diseases than hot coastal lowlands, making it comfortable for settlement year‑round.
- Fertile soils & water: volcanic soils and former lake basins (e.g., the Valley of Mexico) are good for agriculture and settlement. Historically there was more accessible surface water for irrigation and towns.
- Flat terrain & defensibility: valleys and basins provided relatively flat space for agriculture and large towns, with surrounding mountains offering protection.
- Historical continuity: great pre‑Columbian states and cities (for example the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan) were located in central Mexico. The Spanish then built the colonial capital (Mexico City) there, concentrating administration, churches, universities and trade.
- Political and economic centralization: Mexico’s national government, major businesses, financial institutions and cultural institutions are centered in Mexico City and nearby states, which draws people for jobs and services.
- Industry and infrastructure: central Mexico has the country’s most developed transport networks (roads, rail, airports), manufacturing clusters (including the fast‑growing Bajío), universities and hospitals, which attract internal migrants.
- Urbanization and migration: over the 20th century rural residents moved to central cities for employment, education and health care, creating very large metropolitan areas (the Mexico City metro area alone contains many millions).
- Relative scarcity elsewhere: much of northern Mexico is arid, and large parts of the south are mountainous or jungle with less infrastructure, so population is less dense there.

Tradeoffs and consequences
- The concentration has benefits (jobs, services, cultural life) but also problems: overcrowding, air pollution, traffic, urban sprawl and severe water stress (especially in and around Mexico City).

If you want, I can show a population-density map, give numbers for the Mexico City metro area and nearby states, or explain how the Bajío region’s recent growth fits into this pattern. Which would you like?