The Quiet Capital: Belmopan's Long Journey

Belmopan has been the capital of Belize since 1970, when the government was moved from the port of Belize City. The former capital was devastated by Hurricane Hattie in 1961, which destroyed approximately 75% of the city's houses and businesses. A new capital was proposed, to be built on higher ground, and a site was chosen in 1962, 50 miles (80km) inland from Belize City. Construction began in 1967 and was completed in 1970.

Hurricane Hattie in 1961 destroyed Belize City

Hurricane Hattie in 1961 was the strongest and deadliest tropical cyclone of the Atlantic hurricane season that year. It wreaked havoc on Belize City, then the capital of British Honduras, leading to the decision to relocate the capital inland to the newly built city of Belmopan.

Hattie originated from a low-pressure area in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, strengthening into a tropical storm on October 27, 1961. It quickly became a hurricane and moved northward, eventually turning westward west of Jamaica. The hurricane then intensified into a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h). It weakened slightly to Category 4 before making landfall south of Belize City on October 31.

The former capital, Belize City, was battered by strong winds and flooded by a powerful storm surge. The hurricane produced storm tides of 10 to 11 feet along the Belize waterfront, depositing mud as high as the third story of some buildings. The territory governor, Colin Thornley, estimated that around 70% of the buildings in the city had been damaged, with over 10,000 people left homeless. The destruction was so severe that the government decided to relocate inland, leading to the establishment of Belmopan as the new capital.

Belmopan was constructed with British aid following Hurricane Hattie. In 1962, a committee chose the site located 50-51 miles (80-82 kilometers) west of Belize City. The new capital was to be situated on higher ground, safe from the devastating effects of tropical cyclones and storm surges. Construction began in 1966 or 1967 with funding from the United Kingdom, and the first phase of the new city was completed in 1970. The government offices were moved to Belmopan in the same year, and housing construction continued through the 1970s.

Hurricane Hattie caused extensive damage and loss of life in Belize and other parts of Central America. In Belize City alone, over two-thirds of the buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, and the city was left coated in mud and debris. The hurricane also caused significant crop damage, including losses worth $2 million in citrus fruits and similar losses in timber, cocoa, and bananas. The total damage in Belize was estimated at $60 million (1961 USD), and there were over 100 fatalities in Belize City, with a total of 307 deaths reported in the territory. The hurricane's impact was so catastrophic that the name "Hattie" was retired by the Weather Bureau, never to be used again for an Atlantic hurricane.

A new capital city was proposed to be built on higher ground

Belize's capital city was once Belize City, a port on the Caribbean coast. However, in 1961, Hurricane Hattie devastated the city, destroying approximately 75% of homes and businesses. This prompted the government to propose the construction of a new capital on higher ground, which would be safe from storm surges and tropical cyclones.

In 1962, a committee chose the site now known as Belmopan, located 82 kilometres (51 miles) southwest of Belize City. The new capital would be situated 76 metres (249-250 feet) above sea level, in the Cayo District, near the Belize River Valley. This location offered protection from flooding and provided an opportunity for industrial development.

To finance the project, Premier George Cadle Price led a delegation to London in 1964, seeking funds from the British government. While the British were initially reluctant to commit to the project's substantial cost, they recognised the logic of building on high ground. As a result, they showed interest in providing financial support. To encourage their commitment, Premier Price and the People's United Party government invited Anthony Greenwood, the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth and Colonies, to visit Belize. During this visit, a monument was unveiled at mile 49 on the Western Highway, dedicating the site for the new capital on 9 October 1965.

The name "Belmopan" was chosen for the new capital city, combining the names of two rivers: "Belize," the country's longest river, and "Mopan," a river that empties into the Belize River. The initial estimated cost for building the city was 40 million Belize dollars (US$20.5 million), but only half of that amount was available when construction began in 1967. Despite the financial challenges, the first phase of the new city was completed in 1970, and the government was relocated to Belmopan that same year.

Belmopan's city layout centres around the Ring Road, with government buildings situated within or around it, and a large area dedicated to parkland. The National Assembly Building, designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple, serves as the focal point of the city's design.

The site for Belmopan was chosen in 1962

In 1961, Hurricane Hattie devastated Belize City, Belize's capital at the time, destroying approximately 75% of the houses and businesses in the city. The hurricane and the tidal wave that followed prompted the government to consider building a new capital city on higher ground, safe from storm surges and tropical cyclones.

In 1962, a committee was formed to choose the site for the new capital. The committee selected a location 82 kilometres (51 miles) southwest of Belize City, which would become Belmopan. This site was chosen due to its more favourable terrain, which would not require costly land reclamation, and its potential to accommodate an industrial area.

Belmopan was constructed with British aid and funding. The new capital was built 76 metres (249-250 feet) above sea level, in the Cayo District, just east of the Belize River. This location offered a safer distance from the coast, reducing the risk of future flooding and storm surges.

The name "Belmopan" was derived from the country's longest river, the Belize River, and the Mopan River, a tributary that flows into it. The chosen site was also near the Belize River Valley, providing a view of the Mountain Pine Ridge foothills.

The construction of Belmopan began in 1967, and the first phase of the new city was completed in 1970. The government offices were relocated to Belmopan in the same year, marking the official establishment of the new capital.

Belmopan was designed as a planned community, with a circular layout centred around the Ring Road. The National Assembly Building, modelled after a Pre-Columbian Maya temple, serves as the focal point of the city's design, with surrounding buildings reflecting Mayan architectural influences.

Construction of Belmopan began in 1967

In the mid-1960s, the government began searching for a new capital site, considering various locations across the country. They sought a site that was safer from natural disasters, and eventually settled on a location in the Cayo District, near the geographic centre of Belize. This site was strategically chosen for its proximity to the Western Highway, which provided easy access to both the coast and the border with Guatemala.

In 1964, Premier George Cadle Price led a delegation to London to seek funding for the new capital. Although the British government did not immediately commit to funding, they showed interest in the project due to the logic of locating the capital on high ground, safe from storm surges.

In 1965, Anthony Greenwood, the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth and Colonies, visited Belize and dedicated the site for the new capital. The chosen site was named Belmopan, derived from the union of two words: "Belize", the name of the country's longest river, and "Mopan", one of the rivers in the area that empties into the Belize River.

The initial estimated cost for building the new city was 40 million Belize dollars (US$20.5 million). However, only 20 million Belize dollars (US$10 million) were available, but the project moved forward nonetheless. The first phase of construction began in 1967 and was completed in 1970 at a cost of 24 million Belize dollars (US$12 million).

The new capital was designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with a focus on green spaces and modern architecture. The city was laid out in a grid pattern, with the central government district surrounded by residential and commercial areas. The streets were designed to be wide and straight, allowing for easy traffic flow and pedestrian access. The National Assembly Building, designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple, became one of the most recognisable landmarks in Belmopan.

Belmopan became the capital of Belize in 1970

Belmopan has been the capital of Belize for over 50 years. The city was founded in 1970, making it one of the world's newest capital cities.

Belmopan was conceived as a direct response to the destruction wrought by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The hurricane caused extensive damage to Belize City, the former capital, which was situated on the coast. Recognising the need to build a new capital city inland, a committee chose the site for Belmopan in 1962. Construction began in 1967 and was completed in 1970, with most government offices moving to the new capital that year.

Belmopan was carefully planned and designed to protect vital government services. The city is located 50 miles (80km) from the former capital, Belize City, and 76 metres (249-250ft) above sea level. It was designed with a Ring Road to divert non-local traffic, and modern construction codes to ensure buildings are better able to withstand natural disasters. The National Assembly Building, the focal point of the city, was designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian or Mayan temple.

Belmopan's population has grown since its founding. In 2010, the population was 16,451, making it the smallest Central American capital by population. By 2024, the population had grown to over 20,000, making it the fastest-growing population centre in Belize. The city has expanded due to immigrants settling on the outskirts and Belizeans moving from the old capital, attracted by Belmopan's safety, improved infrastructure, and job opportunities.

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