Jesús María (; ) is a district of Lima, Peru. Located to the south of the city's historic centre, the area was originally populated by agricultural estates, after which it began a period of urbanisation during the early 20th century, becoming a neighbourhood of Lima until its establishment as a district of its own in 1963.

Jesús María is an upper class,INEI, "Planos estratificados de Lima Metropolitana a nivel de manzanas 2020: Según ingreso per cápita del hogar" high-density district and it usually ranks in the top districts with the best quality of life in Peru with a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.8372 (2019), lower only than the districts of La Molina and Lince. It is bordered by the districts of Pueblo Libre and Breña District on the west, downtown Lima on the north and east, Lince District on the southeast, and San Isidro and Magdalena del Mar on the south.

Etymology According to historian Fernando Flores Zúñiga, the name originates from the monastic community of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, made up of Capuchin nuns who arrived in Lima from Madrid and took up residence in the area starting in 1718, making the place their headquarters. Sometime in the 18th century, the Capuchin nuns of the community of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph took possession of the agricultural lands in the area, which acquired the name over time, although the reference to Saint Joseph was dropped.

History In 1440, the area was under the influence of both the chieftanships of Guatca, Maranga and the kingdom of Cuismancu, two of the oldest settlements of the Rímac Valley. Both societies developed a complex network of ceremonial and administrative centres, shown by the number of huacas in the area. Of these, one of the most prominent was the Huaca Universidad (also known as Huaca Santa Beatriz or Huaca Grande), located near the National University of San Marcos' Museum of Natural History and bordered by Rebagliati, Cueto, Coronel Zegarra and Montero streets, as well as Arenales and Salaverry avenues. It was gradually destroyed between 1935 and 1950 and replaced by Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital.

Another important site was the Huaca Los Patricios, located between the present-day Estados Unidos and Cáceres streets in the district, in the area that now belongs to the Los Patricios passage and the zone adjacent to Parque 13 de Diciembre. This archaeological monument was destroyed around 1943 as a consequence of the area's urbanisation process. Similarly, the Huaca Palermo was located in the area of the current intersection of Horacio Urteaga and General Santa Cruz avenues, the site of the district's former Palermo cinema. This huaca was also destroyed around 1943, making way for the urban infrastructure that no longer exists; the Aires de Palermo residential building now stands on its site. Finally, the Huaca Matalechuza (also known as Matalechucita) was located on the 19th block of Salaverry Avenue, near its intersection with the Avenida del Ejército, in an area that corresponded to the former Matamula Forest (also called Matalechuza Forest). This site was linked to the Huatica valley and was destroyed in 1951 to make way for the current green area of Heroes of Independence Park.

Spanish period In the aftermath of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, the area formed part of estates Matalechuzas and Matalechucitas, the latter of which was smaller in size, and the lands known as Jesús María, which together totaled approximately 240 hectares. Under the Spanish, the area was irrigated by the now-vanished Huatica River, and became generally known as Matalechuzas. The Huatica passed through what eventually became La Victoria, and its main subsidiary canal coursed down what is today Salaverry Avenue and, ultimately, reached the sea at Marbella in Magdalena del Mar.

One theory about the origin of Matalechuzas' name suggests that, from the 16th century onward, there was a gradual elimination of the owls that inhabited the area. According to Spanish chroniclers, this bird was highly valued as an oracle in pre-Hispanic times, and several huacas (sacred sites) dedicated to its worship were associated with it, which were also gradually destroyed. Over time, the territory was transformed into farmland, primarily dedicated to sugarcane and fruit orchards. Thus, Matalechuzas became the most important plantation in the area, owned by Martín de Ituráin around the 17th century.

Regarding Matalechucitas, this was a smaller orchard or farm known to have existed since the 17th century. The orchard had several owners until Manuel Ignacio de Vivanco finally took possession of it. Decades later, Reynaldo de Vivanco put it up for sale. On the other hand, the lands called Jesús María were a farm located next to the Santa Beatriz area.

Republican period

Following independence, Matalechuzas came to be owned by Manuel Ignacio de Vivanco. Following his death, the estate was inherited by his son, Reynaldo de Vivanco. He would later die fighting at the Morro Solar during the War of the Pacific. Subsequently, the Olavegoya family acquired the land, and at the beginning of the 20th century, they began the urban expansion of the former estate.

What would later become the district's area maintained an agricultural character until the beginning of the 1920s, its territory belonging to the districts of Lima, Pueblo Libre, and Magdalena del Mar. Under the presidency of Augusto B. Leguía, the National School of Agriculture and Veterinary Science developed a project to urbanise the area, which proposed some thirty-two city blocks between what would later become Arenales and Francisco Javier Mariátegui avenues. In 1930, local residents organised a housing association, creating a committee supporting the creation of a district the following year, chaired by Jacob Alavedra and Enrique Mafuelo Cáceres, a prominent resident at the time.

The inauguration of Salaverry Avenue in the 1940s granted the area more autonomy and, at the same time, the Campo de Marte—a park that replaced Santa Beatriz Hippodrome—began to take shape as a green space and aesthetically pleasing feature for the emerging residential area. Several important figures settled in the area, developing residential estates in different styles, including Neo-Moorish, Spanish Revival, and styles used in the United States. In addition to these buildings, gardens, balconies and decorated windows were also built to accompany them. At that time, several members of the Japanese immigrant community in Peru settled in the area, bringing commerce and economic dynamism, as they were the ones who opened the first businesses in the area, thus giving the future district a commercial tone that it maintains to this day. The community would be targeted during World War II due to the anti-Japanese sentiment of the time, notably in the 1940 race riots that coincided with an earthquake.

The 1950s saw the construction of government buildings at Salaverry avenue, including the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Health, and the Employee Hospital. The inauguration of San Felipe avenue would complete the local urban landscape, along with the houses and residences on Estados Unidos, Inca Rípac, and Sánchez Cerro streets.

History as a district The Peruvian Congress approved Law No. 1,4763 of December 27, 1955,Ley 14763. Creando el Distrito de Jesús María, en la Provincia de Lima (13 de diciembre de 1963). (Retrieved 10 August 2018) which elevated Jesús María to a district, but it was not put into effect. It was ratified by President Fernando Belaúnde Terry on December 17, 1963, formally creating the district. Its first mayor, José Benavides Muñoz, was elected in November 1966.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the newly created district acquired a more heterogeneous profile with the emergence of more popular and small middle-class areas. The Hippodrome of San Felipe, which succeeded that of Santa Beatriz, was demolished to make way for a residential complex of the same name. It was commissioned by President Fernando Belaúnde and designed by a team headed in part by architects Enrique Ciriani, Jorge Páez, Jorge Bernuy, and Nikita Smirnoff Bracamonte, designed to combine a high residential density with ample green space, and shopping, banking, and schooling.Interview with architect Enrique Ciriani, "Entrevista a Enrique Ciriani sobre la Residencial San Felipe. Perú 21." in Bitacora|arquitectura peruana blog, 17 June 2009. (Entry retrieved 22 May 2012)Conjunto Residencial San Felipe in Divagaciones y Arquitectura blog, 16 May 2012 (Entry retrieved 22 May 2012) It is widely considered the cornerstone of Jesús María's middle-class identity.Pereyra, Omar. Contemporary Middle Class in Latin America: A study of San Felipe. Lexington Books, 2015. .Sinesio López Jímenez, "El Zorro de Abajo. Residencial San Felipe" in La República, 14 March 2008. Available online.Rafo León, "Megabarbaridad en Jesús María" in SOMOS magazine, March 2008.

Today, Jesús María is an upper class, highly residential district, home to 75,359 people. The district usually ranks in the top four districts with the best quality of life in Lima."The District of Jesus Maria" , at Expat Peru website. (Entry accessed 6 June 2014) The district's central location and proximity to San Isidro and Miraflores, have also contributed to it becoming an increasingly popular residential option. Jesús María is experiencing a housing and construction boom, and many casonas (older large, luxury homes) are being replaced with high-rise apartments and condominiums.Urbania, "Jesús María continuará como zona de alta actividad inmobiliaria" (Published 16 January 2015; retrieved 29 August 2018)América TV, "Jesús María lidera la oferta inmobiliaria de Lima moderna" (Published 4 April 2018; Retrieved 29 August 2018) The number of high-rise buildings being constructed has led to concerns by some residents of the district, who have voiced concerns regarding zoning and material damages. Some houses have been preserved as businesses or government installations, such as the City Hall.

Politics

Jesús María is under the jurisdiction of its own district municipality, as well as that of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima.

List of mayors Since 2023, the incumbent mayor is Jesús Galvez.

№MayorPartyTerm Begin End1José Benavides MuñozAP–DC2Manuel Escalante FortónAP3Miguel Fort MagotPPC4Miguel Oyanguren AgüeroPPCFREDEMO (PPC)5David Valenza QuirogaLima 20006Francisca E. Izquierdo NegrónSLPDSP7Carlos Alberto Bringas ClaeyssenPDSP8Luis Enrique Ocrospoma PellaUNPPC9Carlos Alberto Bringas ClaeyssenPSN10Jorge Luis Quintana García GodosAP11Jesús Gálvez OlivaresRPIncumbent

Subdivisions Jesús María is the site of a lone populated centre that is coterminous with the district: Code Name Region Type Altitude (MSL) Population (total) Housing (total) 0001 Jesús María Chala 142 75,359 (2017) 28,743 (2017)

Twin cities As of 2026, Jesús María is twinned with the following places: Antioquia, Peru Arica, Chile Capitán Meza, Paraguay Fichtelberg, Germany Guayaquil, Ecuador Jesús María, Argentina Santo Tomé, Argentina Porto Alegre, Brazil

Geography Jesús María is located 142 meters above sea level. It is part of Lima's Cono Centro, an unofficial subregion of the city.

Boundaries Jesús María is bordered by the districts of Pueblo Libre and Breña to the west, downtown Lima to the north and east, Lince to the southeast, and San Isidro and Magdalena del Mar to the south.

Climate

Demographics Jesús María is an upper class, high-density district and it usually ranks in the top districts with the best quality of life in Peru with a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.8372 (2019), lower only than the districts of La Molina and Lince.

Notable people Keiko Fujimori (born 1975), current President of Peru José Jerí (born 1986), 65th President of Peru

Culture