Orange Walk District

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Map of Belize showing Orange Walk District

Orange Walk District is a district in the northwest of the nation of Belize, with its district capital in Orange Walk Town.

1 Main settlements
2 Economy
3 History
4 Political divisions
5 External links

[edit] Main settlements

The Orange Walk District, with an area of 1790 square miles (4,636 square km), is located north-northeast of the Belize District. This is the second largest district in terms of total area and lies between the Belize and Corozal districts to the east, Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west. Significant villages in the Orange Walk District include August Pine Ridge, Carmelita, Douglas, Indian Church, Guinea Grass, San Antonio, San Carlos, San Estevan, San Felipe, San Jose, Nuevo San Juan, San Lazaro, San Luis, San Pablo, San Roman, Santa Cruz, Santa Martha,Shipyard, Trial Farm, Trinidad and Yo Creek. Other settlements with smaller numbers of inhabitants may also be found, as well as ancient Mayan sites such as Cuello, Lamanai, Noh Mul and Chan Chich. The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, a large private nature reserve in the Yalbac Hills, is also located in this district. The land is highly cultivated with sugar cane as well as sorghum, rice, corn and vegetables by Mennonite farmers.

According to the 2007 mid-year census (Statistical Institute of Belize-http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz) estimates, the Orange Walk District had a population of 47,145 people.

[edit] Economy

The capital of the district is Orange Walk Town, with an estimated population of 15,990 ([1]]). The district is home to mostly Maya mestizo descendants of Mexican refugees who fled from the 1840 Caste War. The district's main economic base is drawn from agriculture, with sugar cane being the primary crop. This is slowly being replaced by a combination of alternative crops such potatoes, onions and soya beans. Orange Walk is also important for its production of dairy products, citrus fruits, beef and rum production. Another emerging industry is tourism due to healthy populations of tropical wildlife and the rich archaeological sites now coming to light. There are over 400 recorded bird species in the district, making Orange Walk a birdwatcher's paradise. Several settlements in the district are also home to German speaking Amish Mennonites, creole, and maya ketchi. The district is also the home of two rivers, the Rio Hondo, which also forms part of the border with Mexico, and the New River. In this district you can also find Belize's largest body of water, the New River Lagoon.

[edit] History

Orange Walk District was previously dominated by loggers for over a hundred years until the refugees of the Caste War arrived in the late 19th century. At the time of logging, all the timber was floated down the New River into the Corozal Bay, then to Belize City and shipped abroad. Similar to the Corozal District, at the time of the arrival of the refugees, the logging industry was in decline and eventually gave rise to the sugar industry.

Although the Orange Walk District has no coast because it is locked inland, it boasts the remains of two forts, Mundy and Cairns, that were the scene of battles between earlier Mayan inhabitants of the district and settlers. ([2])

[edit] Political divisions

Politically, Orange Walk is divided into 4 Constituencies, three currently under the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) and one under the People's United Party PUP.

[edit] Orange Walk Central

Orange Walk Central generally includes the vicinity of Orange Walk Town and the village of San Estevan. Since 1993, this seat has been held by the PUP's John Briceno, formerly a Deputy Prime Minister. Briceno was reelected in the 2008 elections.

[edit] Orange Walk East

Orange Walk East includes the eastern area of Orange Walk Town and the easternmost villages in the district, particularly San Jose Palmar, Chan Pine Ridge, Carmelita and Santa Martha. Marcel Cardona won this seat for the UDP in the 2008 elections.

[edit] Orange Walk North

Gaspar Vega won this seat for the UDP in the 2008 elections. The area includes the Otro Benque area of Orange Walk Town and the villages of Trial Farm, San Jose, San Pablo, Douglas, San Roman, San Luis, Nuevo San Juan and until recently, San Antonio.

[edit] Orange Walk South

Orange Walk South contains the villages of San Lazaro, Yo Creek, Trinidad, August Pine Ridge, San Felipe, Guinea Grass, Blue Creek, Shipyard and a number of other villages.Marco Pech is the recently elected area representative.