Belize City

Former capital of British Honduras, Belize City offers a meeting point of modernism, history, and culture. With a population of 61,461 the 2010 census establishes the city as a major hub of activity for both people living there and tourists.

Belize City finds a strategic location at the mouth of Haulover Creek, a distributary of the Belize River. The Belize River winds across the terrain, finally emptying into the Caribbean Sea some eight kilometers (five miles) from the city, near the Philip Goldson Highway. Along with its function as the financial and industrial center, Belize City’s prime coastal location has made it the main port of the country. With cruise ships routinely anchoring offshore and local residents helping them, the port of the city is a vital center for trade and tourism.

Resilience and change define the past of Belize City. When Hurricane Hattie struck October 1961, the city was virtually completely destroyed. The catastrophic event led to the capital moving to Belmopan in 1970. Still, Belize City remains a major player in the national story. Originally a small Maya community known as Holzuz, the area was first settled by English lumber harvesters in 1638. For the British, who used it as a hub for the shipping of logwood and mahogany, two vital goods during that era, the strategic location made it the ideal center.

Historically known as such, Belize Town became home to thousands of African slaves brought by the English for work in the forestry industry. During the 1798 Battle of St. George’s Caye, the city was crucial in allowing the British to successfully thwart invading armies. It served as the center of British colonial government for some length of time, housing local courts and government officials. The historical relevance of this claim has led historians to declare that “the capital was the colony,” so underlining Belize City’s central importance in British administration.

One still major center of influence for Belize City is Belize City continues to be a major influence despite the efforts of well-known people like Antonio Soberanis Gómez, George Price, and Evan X Hyde to promote decentralization in political movements as well as the growth of many ethnic groups like the Garifuna and Mestizos in different areas. Along with more recent storms like Hurricane Richard in 2010 and Hurricane Earl in 2016, the city has also had to contend with direct impacts from hurricanes in 1931 and 1961. Particularly in the years 1999 and 2004, fires have had a major effect on many facets of the city. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the fire department of the city has successfully contained and eliminated most of these hazards.

Belize City stretches in close proximity to the Haulover Bridge, mile 5 along the Northern Highway and mile 6 along the Western Highway. Usually divided into two main areas, Northside—which stretches eastward to the Fort George area and is defined by Haulover Creek—and Southside, which covers the city’s periphery including the port area and downtown. Ten constituencies in the city divide it politically and each contribute to the varied fabric of Belizean life.

Belize City has cultural similarities with other Caribbean capitals including Georgetown in Guyana and St. George’s in Grenada. The city is quite active, especially in the daytime when it reflects the vitality connected with a population more than 70,000 people. Notable cultural events include Baron Bliss Day on March 9, Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19, Belize City Carnival in September. The festivities highlight the different cultural legacy and community values of the city.

Along with its celebrations, Belize City boasts several museums and cultural sites. Providing insightful analysis of the artistic and historical legacy of the city are the Bliss Institute, Image Factory Art Foundation and Gallery, the Maritime Museum, and the Museum of Belize. The city’s commitment to advancing arts and culture is best shown by the yearly Street Art Festival.