Located in Mexico City's Iztacalco borough, the station is the current terminal of Line 4.

This is because in the early 20th century, in the area where the station now stands, was the Santa Anita canal – a place used for chinampa-based agriculture.

Today the canal has long since vanished, but the name Santa Anita is still used by the surrounding neighborhood.

Metro Line 4 was originally projected to end in the Villa Coapa neighborhood, in the southern borough of Coyoacán.

Since the inauguration of Line B, however, no more lines have been constructed or extended, so Metro Santa Anita – and other stations, such as Metro Barranca del Muerto – officially remain provisional terminals.