Belmopan
City
City of Belmopan
Top: Belize National Assembly; Middle: Traditional houses in Belmopan, Independence Plaza; Holy Redeemer Cathedral, Belmopan market
Flag
Nicknames:  The Garden City, 'Pan
Motto:  City of Promise
Belmopan Location of Belmopan in Belize
Coordinates: 17°15′5″N 88°46′1″W / 17.25139°N 88.76694°W / 17.25139; -88.76694
Country	Belize
District	Cayo
Constituency	Belmopan
Foundation	1 August 1970[1]
Government
• Mayor	Khalid Belisle (UDP)
Area
• Total	32.78 km2 (12.66 sq mi)
Elevation	76 m (250 ft)
Population
• Total	13,381
• Density	408/km2 (1,056/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central)
Area code	501 +8
Climate	Am

Belmopan (/ˌbɛlmoʊˈpɑːn/) is the capital city of Belize. Its population in 2010 was 16,451.^[2] In addition to being the smallest capital city in the continental Americas by population, Belmopan is the third-largest settlement in Belize, behind Belize City and San Ignacio. Founded as a planned community in 1970, Belmopan is one of the newest national capital cities in the world. Since 2000, Belmopan has been one of two settlements in Belize to hold official city status, along with Belize City.

Belmopan is located in Cayo District at an altitude of 76 metres (249 feet) above sea level.^[3] Belmopan was constructed just to the east of the Belize River, 80 km (50 mi) inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by Hurricane Hattie in 1961.^[3][4] The government was moved to Belmopan in 1970.^[5] Its National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple.^[6]

History

After Hurricane Hattie in 1961 destroyed approximately 75% of the houses and business places in low-lying and coastal Belize City, the government proposed to encourage and promote the building of a new capital city.^[5] This new capital would be on better terrain, would entail no costly reclamation of land, and would provide for an industrial area. In 1962, a committee chose the site now known as Belmopan, 82 kilometres (51 mi) southwest of the old capital of Belize City.^[5]

Since Belize was a British colony (known as British Honduras) in 1964, Premier George Cadle Price led a delegation to London to seek funds to finance the new capital.^[7] Although they were not ready to commit to funding such a large project, the British government showed interest due to the logic of locating the capital on high ground safe from storm surges. To encourage financial commitment from the British government, Premier Price and the People's United Party government invited Anthony Greenwood, Secretary of State for the Commonwealth and Colonies, to visit Belize. One of the highlights of this visit was the unveiling of a monument at mile 49 on the Western Highway. The monument records that Lord Greenwood dedicated the site for the new capital on 9 October 1965. In a way, there was a commitment.

The name chosen for the new capital, Belmopan, is derived from the union of two words: "Belize", the name of the longest river in the country, and "Mopan",^[8] one of the rivers in this area, which empties into the Belize River. The initial estimated cost for building this new city was 40 million Belize dollars (US$20.5 million). Only 20 million Belize dollars (US$10 million) were available, but the momentum was not to be lost.^[9]

In 1967, work began; the first phase of the new city was completed in 1970 at a cost of 24 million Belize dollars (US$12 million). From 1970 to 2000 the administration of Belmopan was managed by the Reconstruction and Development Corporation, known as "Recondev."^[10] Recondev was vested with the power and authority to provide, or cause to be provided, the municipal functions necessary for the smooth running of the city's business and infrastructure.

There was a reluctance initially amongst foreign governments to relocate their embassies to Belmopan as there was some doubt as to whether this inland area would really become the functioning capital.^[11] The British High Commission opened in 1981 when Belize achieved independence, moving to its current location in 1984. In February 2005, the United States government began construction of its embassy's chancery in Belmopan,.^[12], officially opening on 11 December 2006.^[13] Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Venezuela also have embassies in Belmopan, while Ecuador, Chile, and the Dominican Republic are represented by consulates. However, with four embassies and 29 consulates the former capital of Belize City still has most of the country's foreign diplomatic community.^[14]

Design

The city layout centers around the Ring Road which is just under 4 km (2.5 miles) in circumference. The majority of government buildings are situated either within or around the Ring Road, and a large area within the Ring Road is also given to parkland.^[15]

The National Assembly Building is the focal point of the city's design, with the grey stone architecture and broad steps designed to resemble a Mayan temple, reflecting the nation's cultural heritage. Surrounding buildings mirror this design, with the East Wing and West Wing contributing to the overall impression of an ancient Mayan plaza.

The original buildings were designed with extensive ventilation to accommodate the tropical climate leading to a pock-marked effect on the buildings' walls.

Extensive internal renovations and the widespread introduction of air-conditioners has caused this design to become ineffective and inefficient.

Geography

Belmopan is 50 miles (80 km) inland from the Caribbean Sea and 76 meters (249 feet) above sea level, located near the Belize River Valley with a view of the Mountain Pine Ridge foothills. (The climate at night is cool.) The city is off the Hummingbird Highway. Two and a half hours south of Belmopan, by road, is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.^[16]

Educational institutions

The city of Belmopan has three pre-schools, four primary schools and four secondary schools^[19] as well as a modern Regional Language Centre (RLC) on the central campus of the University of Belize,^[20] where students from neighbouring Spanish-speaking countries come to study English. University of Belize's campus in Belmopan has the following colleges: Education and Arts, Management and Social Sciences, Science and Technology, and Nursing and Allied Health.^[21] The church/state system prevails in Belizean education,^[22] especially where pre-school, primary and secondary school education is concerned,^[23] and nearly all schools in Belmopan are sustained by churches.^[5]

International schools:

• Belize Christian Academy
• QSI International School of Belize^[24]

Secondary schools:

• Belmopan Baptist High School
• Belmopan Comprehensive High School
• Methodist High School
• Our Lady of Guadalupe High School

Local missionaries and non-profit organizations also provide practical educational opportunities for Belizeans.

Culture

Ethnic composition

Belmopan Regional Language Center Monument

The population of Belmopan proper (an estimated 20,000 people in 2009) is of various ethnicities, including Kriols, Garifuna, Mestizo, Maya, and recent immigrants from such Asian countries as the People's Republic of China (Mainland China) and Republic of China (Taiwan).^[25]

There are five zones around Belmopan proper:^[26]

• Salvapan, with a population of 3,000, mostly of Central American origin;
• San Martin, with 1,694 people of mixed origins (Kriol and Central American Mayan);
• Las Flores, with 453 people of mostly Central American origin;
• Maya Mopan, with 241 people, mostly Ketchi/Mopan Maya; and
• Riviera, with an indeterminate population of Central American immigrants and local people.

Economy

Government

Belmopan Parliament Building

At its inception and afterward, Belmopan was governed by the corporation RECONDEV (Reconstruction and Development Corporation), which answered to the government.^[10]

Residents of Belmopan voted in a referendum in 1999 to switch to direct election of a city council. In 2000, Belmopan was incorporated as a city and held its first City Council election.^[5] Anthony Chanona of the People's United Party was elected mayor with a six-man slate, and reelected in 2003.^[27] Following the People's Party municipal victory of 2020, the mayor of Belmopan is Sharon Palacio.^[28]

As Belmopan is the seat of government, many of its inhabitants work for the national government in administrative or technical roles. Many are based in the large cluster of government buildings around the National Assembly building.

Commercial

Largest Chinese restaurant in Belmopan

Belmopan has approximately 589 business establishments (the 1997 census revealed the presence of 373). Five international banks are in the city, as are several local financial institutions. A bus terminal and market complex were constructed in 2003.

Transportation

See also

• Belmopan Public Library

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belmopan.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Belmopan.

• Map of Belmopan Archived 4 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
• Online Portal of Belmopan
• Belmopan City Council Official Website