Cayo District
District
Location of the district in Belize
Location of the district in Belize
CountryBelize
CapitalSan Ignacio
Area
 • Total5,338 km2 (2,061 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1] [2]
 • Total90,579
 • Density17/km2 (44/sq mi)
 Estimate
ISO 3166 codeBZ-CY

Cayo District is a district located in the west part of Belize. 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 district to the northeast, Stann Creek district to the southeast and Toledo district to the south. The nation's capital, Belmopan, 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, Valley of Peace, St. Margaret, Roaring Creek, Armenia, San Jose Succotz, Arenal, Buena Vista, Bullet Tree Falls, Calla Creek, Esperanza, Cristo Rey, Georgeville, Unitedville, Blackman Eddy, Ontario, 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 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 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. In addition to the ruins listed above there are several other important nature reserves including two National Parks, Blue Hole and Guanacaste National Park. Ecotourism is also an integral part of the region's economy.

Political divisions

Politically, Cayo is divided into six constituencies, described in detail here:

Archaeological sites

Cayo District contains several pre-Columbian mayan ruins and sites, among these are Caracol, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech,[3] Baking Pot, Lower Dover and El Pilar.

Demographics

Religion in Cayo (2010 census)[1]
Roman Catholicism 24,229 34.9%
No religion 13,660 19.7%
Pentecostal 10,838 15.6%
Seventh-day Adventist  3,011 4.3%
Mennonite 2,812 4.1%
Nazarene 2,605 3.8%
Baptist 1,843 2.7%
Anglican 1,498 2.2%
Other religion 8,747 12.6%

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.[1]

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.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Belize's top Country Markets Analysis | Statistical Institute of Belize" (PDF). www.statisticsbelize.org.bz. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Belize: Districts, Towns & Villages - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de.
  3. ↑ "Distribution of Early Middle Formative Period Sites". Archived from the original on 2003-02-20. Retrieved 2008-03-13.

16°50′N 88°55′W / 16.833°N 88.917°W / 16.833; -88.917

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