Cayo District is a
district
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivision ...
located in the west part of
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wa ...
. It is the most extensive, second-most populous and third-most densely populated of the six districts of Belize. The district's capital is the town of
San Ignacio.
Geography
Being the largest district, it borders
Guatemala to the west,
Orange Walk district to the north,
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wa ...
district to the northeast,
Stann Creek district
Stann Creek District is a district in the south east region of Belize. According to the 2010 census, the district had a population of 32,166 people. Its capital is the town of Dangriga, formerly known as "Stann Creek Town." Stann comes from "sta ...
to the southeast and
Toledo district to the south. The nation's capital,
Belmopan
Belmopan () is the capital city of Belize. Its population in 2010 was 16,451. 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 S ...
, is located within the district.
Other important towns and cities in the district include
Benque Viejo del Carmen, twin towns of
San Ignacio and Santa Elena (District's Capital), Seven Miles (El Progreso),
San Antonio
("Cradle of Freedom")
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, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, subdivision_ ...
,
Valley of Peace,
St. Margaret,
Roaring Creek,
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''O ...
,
San Jose Succotz
San Jose Succotz is a Maya village in Cayo District, Belize, consisting mainly of people of Yucatec Maya descent. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 2,322 people in 472 households. San Jose Succotz was founded in the 1860s and mo ...
,
Arenal,
Buena Vista Buena Vista, meaning "good view" in Spanish, may refer to:
Places Canada
*Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador, with the name being originally derived from “Buena Vista”
*Buena Vista, Saskatchewan
* Buena Vista, Saskatoon, a neighborhood in ...
,
Bullet Tree Falls
Bullet Tree Falls is a village located along the Mopan River in Cayo District, Belize. It lies approximately five kilometers (three miles) northwest of San Ignacio. According to the 2010 census, Bullet Tree Falls has a population of 2,124 people i ...
,
Calla Creek Calla Creek is a village in the Cayo District of central interior Belize. It is situated along the Mopan River near the border with Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), i ...
,
Esperanza,
Cristo Rey, Georgeville,
Unitedville,
Blackman Eddy
Blackman Eddy is a village located on the banks of the Belize River in the Cayo District, Belize.[SIB](_blank)
, S ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
,
Camalote,
Los Tambos,
More Tomorrow and
Spanish Lookout.
Major rivers in the district include the
Macal River and the
Mopan River.
Economy and Infrastructure
Cayo District is primarily an agricultural district, with the chief crops being
citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...
fruit (more specifically, oranges, grapefruit, and
tangerine), as well as bananas. Recently, oil was found in
Spanish Lookout and it is now in production.
There are two major highways in the District, the
George Price Highway, that runs from
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras. According to the 2010 census, Belize City has a population of 57,169 people in 16,162 households. It is at the mouth of the Haulover Creek, wh ...
to the
Guatemalan border, and the
Hummingbird Highway which starts in Belmopan and ends at the juncture of the Coastal Road and the
Southern Highway that ends in the
Stann Creek District
Stann Creek District is a district in the south east region of Belize. According to the 2010 census, the district had a population of 32,166 people. Its capital is the town of Dangriga, formerly known as "Stann Creek Town." Stann comes from "sta ...
. In addition to the ruins listed above there are several other important
nature reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological o ...
s including two National Parks,
Blue Hole and
Guanacaste National Park.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide fund ...
is also an integral part of the region's economy.
Political divisions
Politically, Cayo is divided into six
constituencies, described in detail here:
*
Belmopan
Belmopan () is the capital city of Belize. Its population in 2010 was 16,451. 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 S ...
: Current representative
John Saldivar (UDP)
*
Cayo Central
Cayo Central is an electoral constituency in the Cayo District represented in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belize since 2020 by Alex Balona of the People's United Party (PUP).
Profile
The Cayo Central constituency wa ...
: Current representative
Rene Montero
Rene Jaime Montero is a Belizean politician who represents the Cayo Central constituency in the Belize House of Representatives. He was the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Cooperatives in Belize from 2008 to 2012. Currently, he holds offic ...
(UDP)
*
Cayo North
Cayo North is an electoral constituency in the Cayo District represented in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belize by Michel Chebat of the People’s United Party (PUP).
Profile
The Cayo North constituency was created f ...
: Current representative
Omar Figueroa (UDP)
*
Cayo North East
Cayo North East is an electoral constituency in the Cayo District represented in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belize since 2015 by Orlando Habet of the People's United Party.
Profile
Cayo North East includes the n ...
: Current representative
Orlando Habet (PUP)
*
Cayo South: Current representative
Julius Espat
Julius Espat (born February, 1968) is a Belizean Politician who was born in Belize City. He was first elected as Cayo South area representative on March 7, 2012. and was reelected in November 2015. He is currently the Chairman of the Public Acco ...
(PUP)
*
Cayo West: Current representative
(UDP)
Archaeological sites
Cayo District contains several pre-Columbian mayan ruins and sites, among these are
Caracol,
Xunantunich
Xunantunich () is an Ancient Maya archaeological site in western Belize, about 70 miles (110 km) west of Belize City, in the Cayo District. Xunantunich is located atop a ridge above the Mopan River, well within sight of the Guatemala bord ...
,
Cahal Pech,
Baking Pot
Baking Pot is a Maya archaeological site located in the Belize River Valley on the southern bank of the river, northeast of modern-day town of San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize; it is downstream from the Barton Ramie and Lower Dover a ...
,
Lower Dover and
El Pilar
El Pilar is an ancient Maya city center located on the Belize-Guatemala border. The site is located north of San Ignacio, Belize and can be accessed through the San Ignacio and Bullet Tree Falls on the Belize River. The name "El Pilar" is Spa ...
.
Demographics
According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, Cayo District's total population is of 73,202 residents (compared to the district's 2000 population of 53,715); of whom 36,803 are males and 36,399 are females. The total number of households is 15,497 and the average household size is 4.7.
The southern half of Cayo District is very low densely populated. A large majority of the district's population lives north of the
17th parallel.
Rural and urban development
In 2010, the total population of Cayo's urban areas was of 36,455; 17,939 males and 18,516 females. 7,468 total households and a 4.9 average household size. The total population of Cayo's rural areas was of 36,747; 18,864 males and 17,883 females. 8,029 total households and a 4.6 average household size.
References
External links
MapCayo SouthGoToCayoBelize.comBest of Cayo
{{Authority control
Districts of Belize