List of municipalities in Belize
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Belize has 247 recognized municipalities, consisting of 2 cities, 7 towns, and 238 villages.[1][2][3] Each type of municipality has a different form of government as defined by Title VIII of the Laws of Belize.[1] The largest municipality by population in Belize is Belize City with a population of 57,164.[4] The smallest municipalities by population are the villages of Estrella and Honey Camp, each with 37 residents.[4]
Cities and towns
There are two cities (Belize City and Belmopan) and seven towns in Belize.[5] As of 2000, the seven towns are Benque Viejo del Carmen, Corozal Town, Dangriga, Orange Walk Town, Punta Gorda, San Ignacio, and San Pedro.[6]
City and town councils consist of a mayor and a number of councillors (ten in Belize City, six in Belmopan and the towns). Mayors and councillors are directly elected to three-year terms, using the first past the post system. The mayor (except in Belize City) acts as the chief executive of the city or town, and allocates portfolios to the other councillors.
City and town councils have a wide range of functions. According to the Government of Belize website, "urban authorities are responsible for street maintenance and lighting, drains, refuse collection and public cemeteries. They also have discretionary powers over other services including infrastructure, parks and playgrounds, markets and slaughter-houses, public libraries, public buildings and the amenities of the city or town centre."[5]
Villages
Villages in Belize are typically governed by a village council. Village councils began in the 1950s and were formalized by the Village Councils Act 1999 which legalized their role and authority to administer village affairs. Villages are declared by ministerial order and one qualification for village status is a minimum of 200 voters. The council is required to meet at least once every quarter and has discretionary powers to appoint committees. Decisions of village committees are subject to the approval of their council. There are over 180 village councils in Belize. Village councils consist of a chairperson and six councillors, who are directly elected by registered villagers. Village councils have existed in Belize on an informal basis since the 1950s, but they were first put on a statutory footing by the Village Councils Act 1999. After the Act came into force, the first elections for village councils were held in March and April 2001. Village councils have a more limited range of functions than town councils. They "encourage and assist co-operation on economic and social development and general welfare", and can run community centres and advise the national government on the affairs of the locality.[5]
Some rural villages in Belize have an alcalde: a local magistrate who has both an administrative and a judicial role. In addition to presiding over local courts, alcaldes are responsible for managing communal land and act as school officers. This form of local governance is practised mainly in Mayan communities in Belize, but any rural community can choose to appoint an alcalde.[5]
List of municipalities
- Aerial view of Belize City, the largest local municipality in Belize
- San Ignacio/Santa Elena, Belize's second largest municipality by population
- Parliament in Belmopan, Belize's capital city and third largest municipality by population
- Orange Walk Town is the fourth largest municipality by population in Belize
Name | Type | District | Population (2010)[4] |
Population (2000)[4] |
Change[4] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belize City | City | Belize | 57,164 | 51,085 | +11.9% |
Bermudian Landing | Village | Belize | 183 | 214 | −14.5% |
Biscayne | Village | Belize | 517 | 386 | +33.9% |
Bomba | Village | Belize | 71 | 91 | −22.0% |
Boston | Village | Belize | 127 | 146 | −13.0% |
Burrell Boom | Village | Belize | 2,218 | 1,204 | +84.2% |
Caye Caulker | Village | Belize | 1,763 | 706 | +149.7% |
Corozalito | Village | Belize | 84 | 94 | −10.6% |
Crooked Tree | Village | Belize | 805 | 697 | +15.5% |
Double Head Cabbage | Village | Belize | 406 | 405 | +0.2% |
Flowers Bank | Village | Belize | 121 | 110 | +10.0% |
Freetown Sibun | Village | Belize | 78 | 82 | −4.9% |
Gales Point | Village | Belize | 297 | 277 | +7.2% |
Gardenia | Village | Belize | 303 | 286 | +5.9% |
Gracie Rock | Village | Belize | 255 | 195 | +30.8% |
Hattieville | Village | Belize | 2,344 | 1,642 | +42.8% |
Isabella Bank | Village | Belize | 143 | 139 | +2.9% |
La Democracia | Village | Belize | 353 | 56 | +530.4% |
Ladyville | Village | Belize | 5,458 | 3,891 | +40.3% |
Lemonal | Village | Belize | 169 | 0[a] | NA |
Lord's Bank | Village | Belize | 3,140 | 1,233 | +154.7% |
Lucky Strike | Village | Belize | 244 | 120 | +103.3% |
Mahogany Heights | Village | Belize | 1,063 | 0[a] | NA |
Maskall | Village | Belize | 803 | 656 | +22.4% |
May Pen | Village | Belize | 50 | 66 | −24.2% |
Mile 25 Village | Village | Belize | 69 | 0[a] | NA |
Rancho Dolores | Village | Belize | 217 | 192 | +13.0% |
Rock Stone Pond | Village | Belize | 154 | 0[a] | NA |
San Pedro | Town | Belize | 11,767 | 4,268 | +175.7% |
Sandhill | Village | Belize | 1,842 | 1,385 | +33.0% |
Santana | Village | Belize | 104 | 140 | −25.7% |
Scotland Halfmoon | Village | Belize | 259 | 81 | +219.8% |
St. Ann's | Village | Belize | 97 | 0[a] | NA |
St. George's Caye | Village | Belize | 656 | 0[a] | NA |
St. Paul's Bank | Village | Belize | 153 | 301 | −49.2% |
Western Paradise/West Lake/8 Miles | Village | Belize | 1,258 | 0[a] | NA |
Willows Bank | Village | Belize | 185 | 175 | +5.7% |
Armenia | Village | Cayo | 1,395 | 682 | +104.5% |
Belmopan | City | Cayo | 13,919 | 5,089 | +173.5% |
Benque Viejo del Carmen | Town | Cayo | 6,148 | 5,419 | +13.5% |
San Ignacio | Town | Cayo | 10,490 | 0[b] | NA |
Santa Elena | Town | Cayo | 7,389 | 0[b] | NA |
Arenal | Village | Cayo | 613 | 475 | +29.1% |
Lower Barton Creek | Village | Cayo | 193 | 0[c] | NA |
Billy White | Village | Cayo | 586 | 258 | +127.1% |
Blackman Eddy | Village | Cayo | 533 | 435 | +22.5% |
Branch Mouth | Village | Cayo | 127 | 275 | −53.8% |
Buena Vista | Village | Cayo | 599 | 306 | +95.8% |
Bullet Tree Falls | Village | Cayo | 2,124 | 1,376 | +54.4% |
Calla Creek | Village | Cayo | 286 | 248 | +15.3% |
Camalote | Village | Cayo | 2,562 | 1,376 | +86.2% |
Central farm | Village | Cayo | 205 | 199 | +3.0% |
Cotton Tree | Village | Cayo | 1,573 | 865 | +81.8% |
Cristo Rey | Village | Cayo | 874 | 735 | +18.9% |
Duck Run I | Village | Cayo | 663 | 0[d] | NA |
Duck Run II | Village | Cayo | 370 | 0[d] | NA |
Duck Run III | Village | Cayo | 400 | 0[d] | NA |
Esperanza | Village | Cayo | 1,262 | 1,154 | +9.4% |
Franks Eddy | Village | Cayo | 378 | 212 | +78.3% |
Georgeville | Village | Cayo | 922 | 573 | +60.9% |
La Gracia | Village | Cayo | 271 | 110 | +146.4% |
Los Tambos | Village | Cayo | 358 | 172 | +108.1% |
More Tomorrow | Village | Cayo | 154 | 128 | +20.3% |
Ontario | Village | Cayo | 775 | 621 | +24.8% |
Paslow Falls/Plant | Village | Cayo | 194 | 0[e] | NA |
Roaring Creek | Village | Cayo | 1,974 | 1,749 | +12.9% |
Ringtail Village | Village | Cayo | 187 | 0[a] | NA |
San Antonio | Village | Cayo | 1,847 | 1,491 | +23.9% |
San Jose Succotz | Village | Cayo | 2,322 | 1,927 | +20.5% |
San Marcos | Village | Cayo | 142 | 0[a] | NA |
Santa Familia | Village | Cayo | 1,597 | 907 | +76.1% |
Santa Marta | Village | Cayo | 1,136 | 711 | +59.8% |
Santa Rosa | Village | Cayo | 64 | 104 | −38.5% |
Santa Teresita | Village | Cayo | 83 | 0[a] | NA |
Selena | Village | Cayo | 201 | 190 | +5.8% |
Seven Miles | Village | Cayo | 482 | 0[a] | NA |
Spanish Lookout | Village | Cayo | 2,253 | 1,899 | +18.6% |
Springfield | Village | Cayo | 270 | 0[a] | NA |
St. Matthews | Village | Cayo | 1,153 | 541 | +113.1% |
Teakettle | Village | Cayo | 1,746 | 1,362 | +28.2% |
Unitedville | Village | Cayo | 971 | 593 | +63.7% |
Upper Barton Creek | Village | Cayo | 380 | 0[c] | NA |
Valley of Peace | Village | Cayo | 2,111 | 1,894 | +11.5% |
Yalbac | Village | Cayo | 131 | 56 | +133.9% |
Corozal Town | Town | Corozal | 10,287 | 7,986 | +28.8% |
Altamira | Village | Corozal | 210 | 0[a] | NA |
Buena Vista | Village | Corozal | 494 | 419 | +17.9% |
Calcutta | Village | Corozal | 846 | 813 | +4.1% |
Caledonia | Village | Corozal | 1,400 | 1,329 | +5.3% |
Carolina | Village | Corozal | 206 | 175 | +17.7% |
Chan Chen | Village | Corozal | 715 | 627 | +14.0% |
Chunox | Village | Corozal | 1,375 | 1,113 | +23.5% |
Concepción | Village | Corozal | 1,256 | 940 | +33.6% |
Consejo | Village | Corozal | 351 | 228 | +53.9% |
Copper Bank | Village | Corozal | 470 | 385 | +22.1% |
Cristo Rey | Village | Corozal | 868 | 781 | +11.1% |
Estrella | Village | Corozal | 37 | 31 | +19.4% |
Libertad | Village | Corozal | 1,607 | 1,496 | +7.4% |
Little Belize | Village | Corozal | 2,650 | 2,207 | +20.1% |
Louisville | Village | Corozal | 880 | 681 | +29.2% |
Paraiso | Village | Corozal | 1,008 | 878 | +14.8% |
Patchakan | Village | Corozal | 1,374 | 1,202 | +14.3% |
Progresso | Village | Corozal | 1,356 | 1,211 | +12.0% |
Ranchito | Village | Corozal | 1,340 | 1,100 | +21.8% |
San Andrés | Village | Corozal | 1,049 | 779 | +34.7% |
San Antonio | Village | Corozal | 569 | 264 | +115.5% |
San Joaquín | Village | Corozal | 1,470 | 1,251 | +17.5% |
San Narciso | Village | Corozal | 2,423 | 2,183 | +11.0% |
San Pedro | Village | Corozal | 520 | 455 | +14.3% |
San Román | Village | Corozal | 883 | 691 | +27.8% |
San Víctor | Village | Corozal | 962 | 676 | +42.3% |
Santa Clara | Village | Corozal | 862 | 790 | +9.1% |
Sarteneja | Village | Corozal | 1,824 | 1,674 | +9.0% |
Xaibe | Village | Corozal | 1,575 | 1,316 | +19.7% |
Yo Chen | Village | Corozal | 80 | 63 | +27.0% |
Orange Walk Town | Town | Orange Walk | 13,700 | 13,741 | −0.3% |
August Pine Ridge | Village | Orange Walk | 1,794 | 1,701 | +5.5% |
Blue Creek | Village | Orange Walk | 407 | 767 | −46.9% |
Carmelita | Village | Orange Walk | 1,475 | 834 | +76.9% |
Chan Chich | Village | Orange Walk | 52 | 44 | +18.2% |
Chan Pine Ridge | Village | Orange Walk | 445 | 372 | +19.6% |
Cuatro Leguas | Village | Orange Walk | 154 | 0[a] | NA |
Douglas | Village | Orange Walk | 521 | 564 | −7.6% |
Fire Burn | Village | Orange Walk | 103 | 112 | −8.0% |
Guinea Grass | Village | Orange Walk | 3,218 | 2,651 | +21.4% |
Honey Camp | Village | Orange Walk | 37 | 0[a] | NA |
Indian Church | Village | Orange Walk | 267 | 221 | +20.8% |
Indian Creek | Village | Orange Walk | 904 | 747 | +21.0% |
Indian Hill Estate | Village | Orange Walk | 43 | 0[a] | NA |
Petville | Village | Orange Walk | 67 | 0[a] | NA |
Richmond Hill | Village | Orange Walk | 38 | 41 | −7.3% |
San Antonio | Village | Orange Walk | 402 | 397 | +1.3% |
San Carlos | Village | Orange Walk | 138 | 180 | −23.3% |
San Estevan | Village | Orange Walk | 1,661 | 1,566 | +6.1% |
San Felipe | Village | Orange Walk | 1,501 | 1,099 | +36.6% |
San José | Village | Orange Walk | 2,861 | 2,381 | +20.2% |
San José Palmar | Village | Orange Walk | 1,355 | 914 | +48.2% |
San Juan | Village | Orange Walk | 320 | 254 | +26.0% |
San Lorenzo | Village | Orange Walk | 404 | 0[a] | NA |
San Lázaro | Village | Orange Walk | 1,050 | 959 | +9.5% |
San Luis | Village | Orange Walk | 258 | 236 | +9.3% |
San Pablo | Village | Orange Walk | 1,129 | 974 | +15.9% |
San Román | Village | Orange Walk | 437 | 486 | −10.1% |
Santa Cruz | Village | Orange Walk | 260 | 264 | −1.5% |
Santa Marta | Village | Orange Walk | 600 | 438 | +37.0% |
Shipyard | Village | Orange Walk | 3,345 | 2,334 | +43.3% |
Sylvestre Camp | Village | Orange Walk | 88 | 218 | −59.6% |
Tower Hill | Village | Orange Walk | 314 | 273 | +15.0% |
Tres Leguas | Village | Orange Walk | 158 | 0[a] | NA |
Trial Farm | Village | Orange Walk | 4,264 | 3,344 | +27.5% |
Trinidad | Village | Orange Walk | 570 | 577 | −1.2% |
Yo Creek | Village | Orange Walk | 1,413 | 1,386 | +1.9% |
Dangriga | Town | Stann Creek | 9,583 | 8,767 | +9.3% |
Alta Vista | Village | Stann Creek | 369 | 646 | −42.9% |
Cow Pen | Village | Stann Creek | 1,042 | 415 | +151.1% |
George Town | Village | Stann Creek | 473 | 794 | −40.4% |
Hope Creek | Village | Stann Creek | 1,128 | 604 | +86.8% |
Hopkins | Village | Stann Creek | 1,610 | 1,034 | +55.7% |
Hummingbird Community | Village | Stann Creek | 466 | 336 | +38.7% |
Independence | Village | Stann Creek | 4,014 | 2,995 | +34.0% |
Kendall | Village | Stann Creek | 118 | 99 | +19.2% |
Mango Creek | Village | Stann Creek | 80 | 0[a] | NA |
Maya Beach | Village | Stann Creek | 229 | 0[a] | NA |
Maya Center | Village | Stann Creek | 386 | 305 | +26.6% |
Maya Mopan | Village | Stann Creek | 632 | 444 | +42.3% |
Middlesex | Village | Stann Creek | 222 | 314 | −29.3% |
Mullins River | Village | Stann Creek | 235 | 206 | +14.1% |
Placencia | Village | Stann Creek | 1,752 | 477 | +267.3% |
Pomona | Village | Stann Creek | 1,730 | 1,146 | +51.0% |
Red Bank | Village | Stann Creek | 1,201 | 684 | +75.6% |
Riversdale | Village | Stann Creek | 567 | 713 | −20.5% |
San Juan | Village | Stann Creek | 438 | 432 | +1.4% |
San Román | Village | Stann Creek | 894 | 365 | +144.9% |
Santa Cruz | Village | Stann Creek | 774 | 56 | +1,282.1% |
Santa Rosa | Village | Stann Creek | 542 | 193 | +180.8% |
Sarawee | Village | Stann Creek | 525 | 211 | +148.8% |
Seine Bight | Village | Stann Creek | 1,310 | 865 | +51.4% |
Silk Grass | Village | Stann Creek | 1,092 | 758 | +44.1% |
Sittee River | Village | Stann Creek | 439 | 325 | +35.1% |
South Stann Creek | Village | Stann Creek | 686 | 411 | +66.9% |
Steadfast | Village | Stann Creek | 482 | 398 | +21.1% |
Valley Community | Village | Stann Creek | 627 | 216 | +190.3% |
Punta Gorda | Town | Toledo | 5,351 | 4,455 | +20.1% |
Aguacate | Village | Toledo | 369 | 595 | −38.0% |
Barranco | Village | Toledo | 157 | 252 | −37.7% |
Bella Vista | Village | Toledo | 3,508 | 741 | +373.4% |
Big Falls | Village | Toledo | 845 | 956 | −11.6% |
Bladden | Village | Toledo | 466 | 408 | +14.2% |
Blue Creek | Village | Toledo | 365 | 241 | +51.5% |
Boom Creek | Village | Toledo | 96 | 104 | −7.7% |
Cattle Landing | Village | Toledo | 226 | 209 | +8.1% |
Conejo | Village | Toledo | 209 | 137 | +52.6% |
Corazon | Village | Toledo | 188 | 140 | +34.3% |
Crique Jute | Village | Toledo | 223 | 226 | −1.3% |
Crique Largo | Village | Toledo | 46 | 111 | −58.6% |
Crique Sarco | Village | Toledo | 328 | 255 | +28.6% |
Crique Trosa | Village | Toledo | 84 | 40 | +110.0% |
Dolores | Village | Toledo | 460 | 316 | +45.6% |
Dump | Village | Toledo | 198 | 292 | −32.2% |
Elridge | Village | Toledo | 513 | 388 | +32.2% |
Forest Home | Village | Toledo | 479 | 503 | −4.8% |
Golden Stream | Village | Toledo | 349 | 331 | +5.4% |
Graham Creek | Village | Toledo | 110 | 54 | +103.7% |
Hicattee | Village | Toledo | 95 | 139 | −31.7% |
Hicattee Southern Highway | Village | Toledo | 363 | 0[a] | NA |
Indian Creek | Village | Toledo | 722 | 592 | +22.0% |
Jacinto/Westmoreland | Village | Toledo | 337 | 216 | +56.0% |
Jalacte | Village | Toledo | 769 | 716 | +7.4% |
Jordan | Village | Toledo | 146 | 36 | +305.6% |
Laguna | Village | Toledo | 257 | 324 | −20.7% |
Mabilha | Village | Toledo | 205 | 193 | +6.2% |
Mafredi | Village | Toledo | 149 | 168 | −11.3% |
Mango Walk | Village | Toledo | 244 | 353 | −30.9% |
Medina Bank | Village | Toledo | 237 | 97 | +144.3% |
Midway | Village | Toledo | 240 | 112 | +114.3% |
Monkey River | Village | Toledo | 196 | 184 | +6.5% |
Moody Hill | Village | Toledo | 44 | 0[a] | NA |
Na Luum Ca | Village | Toledo | 66 | 72 | −8.3% |
New Road Area | Village | Toledo | 357 | 241 | +48.1% |
Otoxha | Village | Toledo | 263 | 261 | +0.8% |
Pinehill | Village | Toledo | 206 | 97 | +112.4% |
Pueblo Viejo | Village | Toledo | 432 | 571 | −24.3% |
Punta Negra | Village | Toledo | 43 | 28 | +53.6% |
San Antonio | Village | Toledo | 1,204 | 1,209 | −0.4% |
San Benito Poite | Village | Toledo | 542 | 373 | +45.3% |
San Felipe | Village | Toledo | 353 | 313 | +12.8% |
San Jose | Village | Toledo | 849 | 816 | +4.0% |
San Isidro | Village | Toledo | 374 | 0[a] | NA |
San Lucas | Village | Toledo | 121 | 126 | −4.0% |
San Marcos | Village | Toledo | 622 | 557 | +11.7% |
San Miguel | Village | Toledo | 537 | 458 | +17.2% |
San Pablo | Village | Toledo | 250 | 208 | +20.2% |
San Pedro Columbia | Village | Toledo | 1,703 | 1,524 | +11.7% |
San Vicente | Village | Toledo | 441 | 405 | +8.9% |
Santa Ana | Village | Toledo | 290 | 245 | +18.4% |
Santa Cruz | Village | Toledo | 387 | 337 | +14.8% |
Santa Elena | Village | Toledo | 200 | 158 | +26.6% |
Santa Teresa | Village | Toledo | 369 | 368 | +0.3% |
Silver Creek | Village | Toledo | 476 | 345 | +38.0% |
Sunday Wood | Village | Toledo | 285 | 218 | +30.7% |
Swasey | Village | Toledo | 257 | 302 | −14.9% |
Tambran | Village | Toledo | 63 | 65 | −3.1% |
Trio | Village | Toledo | 899 | 400 | +124.8% |
Wilson Road | Village | Toledo | 56 | 32 | +75.0% |
Yemeri Grove | Village | Toledo | 265 | 108 | +145.4% |
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Population figures for this municipality are not available in the 2000 census.[4]
- ^ a b The 2000 census lists the population of San Ignacio as 13,542 which includes the sister city of Santa Elena.[4]
- ^ a b The 2000 census lists the population of Barton creek as 508.[4]
- ^ a b c The 2000 census lists the population of Duck Run as 767.[4]
- ^ The 2000 census lists the population of Paslow Falls - Plant Sucker - Remanzo as 339.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Title VIII: Local Government". Laws of Belize. Government of Belize.
- ^ "Local Government". Government of Belize. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ "Village Council Elections 2013 Results". Elections and Boundaries Department, Government of Belize. 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Census Data".
- ^ a b c d Government of Belize - Local Government
- ^ "Chapter 87: Town Councils Act" (PDF). The Laws of Belize. Government of Belize. Retrieved 23 November 2013.