Belmopan
56626
225040769
2008-07-11T16:30:17Z
200.32.196.41
{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = Belmopan
|nickname = The Garden City
|motto = City of Promise
|image_skyline = Belmopan.gif
|imagesize = 300px
|image_caption = Belmopan, looking from the National Assembly Building
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|pushpin_map = Belize
|mapsize = 230px
|map_caption = Map of Belmopan metropolitan area
|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[Belize]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Districts of Belize|District]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Cayo District|Cayo]]
|subdivision_type2 =
|subdivision_name2 =
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = [[Simeon López]]
|established_title = [[Foundation]]
|established_date = [[1970]]
|area_magnitude =
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|population_as_of = [[2004]]
|population_note =
|population_total = 16400
|population_density_km2 =
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|timezone = [[Central Time zone|Central]]
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST =
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|latd=17 |latm=15 |lats=5 |latNS=N
|longd=88 |longm=46 |longs=1 |longEW=W
|elevation_m = 76
|elevation_ft = 250
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
'''Belmopan''' ({{pronEng|ˌbɛlmoʊˈpæn}}), estimated population 16,400, is the [[capital]] of [[Belize]].
Belmopan is located in Belize, [[Central America]] at {{coor dm|17|15|N|88|45|W|}},<ref>[http://www.tageo.com/index-e-bh-v-02.htm Cayo, Belize] at [http://www.tageo.com/index.htm tageo.com]</ref> at an altitude of 76 meters (250 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]]) above sea level.<ref name = "tvl">[http://www.travel-central-america.net/ travel-central-america.net]</ref> Belmopan was constructed just to the east of [[Belize River]], 80 km (50 [[mile]]s) inland from the former capital, the port of [[Belize City]], after that city's near destruction by a hurricane in [[1961]].<ref>[http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/events/threenames.htm "The Hurricane With Three Names,"] at [http://www.islandnet.com islandnet.com]</ref><ref name = "tvl">[http://www.travel-central-america.net/ travel-central-america.net]</ref><ref name = "bmp">[http://www.belmopanbelize.com/ belmopanbelize.com]</ref> The government was moved to Belmopan in [[1970]],<ref name = "bmp">[http://www.belmopanbelize.com/ belmopanbelize.com]</ref> and its National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a [[Pre-Columbian]] [[Maya civilization|Maya]] temple.<ref>[http://www.travel-central-america.net/belize/index.html Travel to Central America: Belize] at [http://www.travel-central-america.net travel-central-america.net[</ref>
== History ==
After [[Hurricane Hattie]], with winds of up to {{convert|300|km/h|mph}}, and following the destruction of approximately 75% of the houses and business places in Belize City, the government of the day proposed to encourage and promote the building of a new capital city.<ref name = "bmp">[http://www.belmopanbelize.com/ belmopanbelize.com]</ref> This new capital would be situated on better terrain, would entail no costly [[Land reclamation|reclamation of land]], and would also provide for an industrial area, and in [[1962]], a committee chose the site now known as Belmopan, located 82 kilometres (51 miles) west of the old capital of Belize City.<ref name = "bmp">[http://www.belmopanbelize.com/ belmopanbelize.com]</ref> In [[1964]], since Belize was still a colony (known as [[British Honduras]]), Premier [[George Cadle Price]] led a delegation to [[London]] in the [[United Kingdom]] to seek funds to finance the new capital.<ref>[http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=12107 "Exhibition highlights history of Belmopan"] at [http://www.channel5belize.com/ channel5belize.com]</ref> 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 tidal waves. In order to encourage financial commitment from the British Government, Premier Price and the PUP government invited Mr. [[Anthony Greenwood, 1st Baron Greenwood|Anthony Greenwood]], [[Secretary of State for the Colonies|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 [[Anthony Greenwood, 1st Baron Greenwood|Lord Greenwood]] dedicated the site for the new capital on [[October 9]], [[1965]]. Thus in a fashion there was a commitment. The name chosen for the new capital -- Belmopan -- is derived from union of two words: "[[Belize River|Belize]]," the name of the longest river in the country, and "[[Mopan River|Mopan]],"<ref>[http://www.mybelizeadventure.com/destinations/cayo/belmopan/ Belmopan] at [http://www.mybelizeadventure.com mybelizeadventure.com]</ref> one of the rivers in this area, which empties into the [[Belize River]]. The initial estimated cost for building this new city was forty million [[Belize dollar]]s (twenty million U.S. dollars), however, only twenty million Belize dollars (ten million U.S. dollars) were available, but the momentum was not to be lost.<ref>"Belmopan: Perspective on a New Capital," Kevin C. Kearns,
''Geographical Review'', p. 153 (footnote #13), © 1973 American Geographical Society</ref> In [[1967]], work began; the first phase of the new city was completed in [[1970]] at a cost of 24,000,000 Belize dollars (12,000,000 U.S. dollars). From 1970 to [[2000]] the administration of Belmopan was managed by the Reconstruction and Development Corporation, known as "Recondev."<ref name = "rd">[http://www.casacayorealestate.net/aboutbelize.php Casa Cayo Real Estate: About Belize]</ref> 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.
[[Image:BelmopanParliamentHouse.jpg|thumb|250px|Belmopan Parliament House]]
There was a reluctance initially amongst foreign governments to relocate their embassies to Belmopan,<ref>"Belmopan: Perspective on a New Capital," Kevin C. Kearns,
''Geographical Review'', p. 159, © 1973 American Geographical Society</ref> as there was some doubt as to whether this inland area would really become the functioning capital of Belize. In February [[2005]], the United States government broke ground and started building a new United States Embassy in Belmopan, 43 years after Belmopan was chosen as the new capital city.<ref>[http://belize.usembassy.gov/groundbreaking.html "Groundbreaking Ceremony for New U.S. Embassy Compound,"] at [http://belize.usembassy.gov/ belize.usembassy.gov]</ref> The Embassy was officially opened on Monday, December 11, 2006.<ref>[http://belize.usembassy.gov/ "U.S. Embassy Belmopan Officially Opens,"] at [http://belize.usembassy.gov/ belize.usembassy.gov]</ref>
== Geographic setting ==
Belmopan is {{convert|50|mi|km|0}} inland from the [[Caribbean Sea]] and 76 metres (250 ft) 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 located off of the [[Hummingbird Highway]]. Two and a half hours south of Belmopan, by road, is the [[Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary]].<ref>[http://www.exoticbirding.com/belize/places/cockscomb.html "Description of birding in Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve,"] at [http://www.exoticbirding.com exoticbirding.com]</ref>
== Educational institutions ==
The City of Belmopan boasts 3 Pre-Schools, 3 Primary Schools and 2 Secondary Schools<ref>[http://gradfinder.com/p/grad/browse.cgi?country=22&city=Belmopan Schools] at [http://gradfinder.com gradfinder.com]</ref> as well as a modern Regional Language Centre (RLC), located on the central campus of the [[University of Belize]],<ref>[http://www.rlcbelize.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Regional Language Centre] website</ref> where students from neighboring Spanish speaking countries come to study English. [[University of Belize]]'s campus in Belmopan comprises the following faculties: [[Education]] and [[Arts]], [[Management]] and [[Social Sciences]], [[Science]] and [[Technology]], and [[Nursing]] and Allied Health.<ref>[http://www.ub.edu.bz/templeet.php/UB_root/Acad/belmopan.en.html Belmopan Campus] at the [http://www.ub.edu.bz/templeet.php/UB_root/index.html# University of Belize] website</ref> The Church/State system prevails in Belizean education<ref>[http://education.nmsu.edu/projects/istp/istpplacesites/belizemain.htm Belize] at the [http://education.nmsu.edu/New Mexico State University] website</ref> especially where Pre-School, Primary and Secondary School education is concerned,<ref>Penados, Filiberto, [http://www.mathunion.org/ICMI/bulletin/49/Teacher.html "Teacher Education and Professional Development in Belize: Developments and Challenges,"] ICMI (The International Commission on Mathematical Instruction) Bulletin No. 49, December 2000</ref> and nearly all schools in Belmopan are sustained by churches.<ref name = "bmp">[http://www.belmopanbelize.com/ belmopanbelize.com]</ref>
Local missionaries and non-profit organizations also provide practical educational opportunities for Belizeans.
== Culture ==
===Ethnic composition===
[[Image:Belmopan map.png|thumb|right|300px|Map of Belmopan]]
Belmopan proper is a mix of ethnicities including [[Belizean Kriol people|Kriol]]s, [[Garifuna]], [[Mestizo]], [[Maya peoples|Maya]] and more historically recent immigrants from [[Asia]]n countries such as the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Republic of China]].<ref>[http://www.rlcbelize.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=10 History of Belize] at the [http://www.rlcbelize.org/ Regional Language Centre] website</ref>
There are five (5) zones around Belmopan proper<ref>[http://www.belize-elections.org/profile_cayosouth.html Cayo South Electoral Division] at the [http://www.belize-elections.org/ Belize Elections and Boundaries Department] website</ref>:
*Salvapan - population, 3,000 - mostly of Central American origin.<ref>[http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_news_cast.php?news_date=2002-01-10#a4 "Salvapan comes of age as part of capital,"] January 10, 2002 archive of [http://www.channel5belize.com channel5belize.com]</ref>
*San Martin - population 1,694 - mixed origins ([[Belizean Kriol people|Kriol]] & Central American Mayan).
*Las Flores - population 453 - mostly Central American origin.
*Maya Mopan - population 241 - mostly Ketchi/Mopan Maya.
*Riviera - population unknown - mix of Central American immigrants and locals.
===Local and regional events===
Some of Belmopan's noteworthy events include presentations by the Belmopan Choral Society, the Festival of Arts for school children, and National Day Activities.
The University of Belize's Black Jaguars squad has won two national championships playing out of Belmopan. Nearby communities including Roaring Creek, Camalote, Esperanza, and Georgeville play a softball tournament in the early part of the year.
=== Social and community activities ===
The City Council promotes Belmopan as "The Garden City." A [[Crime]] Prevention Initiative has recently been introduced by the Council in conjunction with the Belize [[Police]] Department, which introduced a Special Constable/Community Policing Programme. The Council cooperates with social organizations like the [[Lions Club]], the [[Belize Scout Association]], [[Rotary International]], and other [[Non-governmental organization|NGOs]].
== Economy ==
===Commercial===
Belmopan currently has approximately 589 business establishments (the 1997 census revealed the presence of 373). Five international banks are located in the city, as are several local financial institutions. A modern bus terminal and market complex was constructed in 2003.
===Industrial===
Within the zoning regulations, Belmopan has set aside approximately 200 [[acre]]s (81 [[hectare|ha]]) of land made up mostly of one acre (4,000 m²) parcels within city limits. While there is very little industrial activity at the present time, the council has embarked on a scheme to attract local and foreign investment to the city. Plans are underway to create a 100 acre (40 ha) [[industrial park]] close to the municipal airstrip, a paved strip with no control tower or hangars.
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:2004_Mayor_Belmopan_Belize_Central_America.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|Mayor of Belmopan Anthony Chanona]] -->
== Government ==
From its inception, Belmopan was governed by a corporation answering to the government, called RECONDEV (Reconstruction and Development Corporation).<ref name = "rd">[http://www.casacayorealestate.net/aboutbelize.php Casa Cayo Real Estate: About Belize]</ref>
Residents of Belmopan voted in a referendum held 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.<ref name = "bmp">[http://www.belmopanbelize.com/ belmopanbelize.com]</ref> [[Anthony Chanona]] of the [[People's United Party]] was elected mayor with a six-man slate, and reelected in 2003.<ref>[http://www.belize-elections.org/report_elections.html April 2003 Report on The Elections: Parliamentary, City and Town Council]</ref> Following the [[United Democratic Party (Belize)|UDP]]'s municipal victory of [[2006]], the [[Mayor]] of Belmopan is [[Simeon López]].<ref>[http://sanpedrosun.net/old/06-091.html Three More Years! UDP Dominates Municipal Elections] at [http://sanpedrosun.net/ The San Pedro Sun]</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.belize-development.com/Belmopan.htm Photos of Belmopan]
* [http://www.travel-center.com/Maps/BZ/103/Belmopan/ Map of Belmopan]
{{Geolinks-cityscale|17.25|-88.766667}}
{{North American capitals}}
[[Category:Belmopan| ]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Belize]]
[[Category:Capitals in Central America]]
[[Category:Planned cities]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1970]]
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