List of municipalities in Belize

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Map of Central America with Belize highlighted LocationBelize.svg
Map of Central America with Belize highlighted

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]

Contents

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

NameType District Population
(2010) [4]
Population
(2000) [4]
Change [4]
Belize City City Belize 57,16451,085+11.9%
Bermudian Landing Village Belize 183214−14.5%
Biscayne Village Belize 517386+33.9%
Bomba Village Belize 7191−22.0%
Boston Village Belize 127146−13.0%
Burrell Boom Village Belize 2,2181,204+84.2%
Caye Caulker Village Belize 1,763706+149.7%
Corozalito Village Belize 8494−10.6%
Crooked Tree Village Belize 805697+15.5%
Double Head Cabbage Village Belize 406405+0.2%
Flowers Bank Village Belize 121110+10.0%
Freetown Sibun Village Belize 7882−4.9%
Gales Point Village Belize 297277+7.2%
Gardenia Village Belize 303286+5.9%
Gracie Rock Village Belize 255195+30.8%
Hattieville Village Belize 2,3441,642+42.8%
Isabella Bank Village Belize 143139+2.9%
La Democracia Village Belize 35356+530.4%
Ladyville Village Belize 5,4583,891+40.3%
Lemonal Village Belize 1690 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Lord's Bank Village Belize 3,1401,233+154.7%
Lucky Strike Village Belize 244120+103.3%
Mahogany Heights Village Belize 1,0630 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Maskall Village Belize 803656+22.4%
May Pen Village Belize 5066−24.2%
Mile 25 Village Village Belize 690 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Rancho Dolores Village Belize 217192+13.0%
Rock Stone Pond Village Belize 1540 [lower-alpha 1] NA
San Pedro Town Belize 11,7674,268+175.7%
Sandhill Village Belize 1,8421,385+33.0%
Santana Village Belize 104140−25.7%
Scotland Halfmoon Village Belize 25981+219.8%
St. Ann's Village Belize 970 [lower-alpha 1] NA
St. George's Caye Village Belize 6560 [lower-alpha 1] NA
St. Paul's Bank Village Belize 153301−49.2%
Western Paradise/West Lake/8 Miles Village Belize 1,2580 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Willows Bank Village Belize 185175+5.7%
Armenia Village Cayo 1,395682+104.5%
Belmopan City Cayo 13,9195,089+173.5%
Benque Viejo del Carmen Town Cayo 6,1485,419+13.5%
San Ignacio Town Cayo 10,4900 [lower-alpha 2] NA
Santa Elena Town Cayo 7,3890 [lower-alpha 2] NA
Arenal Village Cayo 613475+29.1%
Lower Barton Creek Village Cayo 1930 [lower-alpha 3] NA
Billy White Village Cayo 586258+127.1%
Blackman Eddy Village Cayo 533435+22.5%
Branch Mouth Village Cayo 127275−53.8%
Buena Vista Village Cayo 599306+95.8%
Bullet Tree Falls Village Cayo 2,1241,376+54.4%
Calla Creek Village Cayo 286248+15.3%
Camalote Village Cayo 2,5621,376+86.2%
Central farm Village Cayo 205199+3.0%
Cotton Tree Village Cayo 1,573865+81.8%
Cristo Rey Village Cayo 874735+18.9%
Duck Run I Village Cayo 6630 [lower-alpha 4] NA
Duck Run II Village Cayo 3700 [lower-alpha 4] NA
Duck Run III Village Cayo 4000 [lower-alpha 4] NA
Esperanza Village Cayo 1,2621,154+9.4%
Franks Eddy Village Cayo 378212+78.3%
Georgeville Village Cayo 922573+60.9%
La Gracia Village Cayo 271110+146.4%
Los Tambos Village Cayo 358172+108.1%
More Tomorrow Village Cayo 154128+20.3%
Ontario Village Cayo 775621+24.8%
Paslow Falls/Plant Village Cayo 1940 [lower-alpha 5] NA
Roaring Creek Village Cayo 1,9741,749+12.9%
Ringtail Village Village Cayo 1870 [lower-alpha 1] NA
San Antonio Village Cayo 1,8471,491+23.9%
San Jose Succotz Village Cayo 2,3221,927+20.5%
San Marcos Village Cayo 1420 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Santa Familia Village Cayo 1,597907+76.1%
Santa Marta Village Cayo 1,136711+59.8%
Santa Rosa Village Cayo 64104−38.5%
Santa Teresita Village Cayo 830 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Selena Village Cayo 201190+5.8%
Seven Miles Village Cayo 4820 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Spanish Lookout Village Cayo 2,2531,899+18.6%
Springfield Village Cayo 2700 [lower-alpha 1] NA
St. Matthews Village Cayo 1,153541+113.1%
Teakettle Village Cayo 1,7461,362+28.2%
Unitedville Village Cayo 971593+63.7%
Upper Barton Creek Village Cayo 3800 [lower-alpha 3] NA
Valley of Peace Village Cayo 2,1111,894+11.5%
Yalbac Village Cayo 13156+133.9%
Corozal Town Town Corozal 10,2877,986+28.8%
Altamira Village Corozal 2100 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Buena Vista Village Corozal 494419+17.9%
Calcutta Village Corozal 846813+4.1%
Caledonia Village Corozal 1,4001,329+5.3%
Carolina Village Corozal 206175+17.7%
Chan Chen Village Corozal 715627+14.0%
Chunox Village Corozal 1,3751,113+23.5%
Concepción Village Corozal 1,256940+33.6%
Consejo Village Corozal 351228+53.9%
Copper Bank Village Corozal 470385+22.1%
Cristo Rey Village Corozal 868781+11.1%
Estrella Village Corozal 3731+19.4%
Libertad Village Corozal 1,6071,496+7.4%
Little Belize Village Corozal 2,6502,207+20.1%
Louisville Village Corozal 880681+29.2%
Paraiso Village Corozal 1,008878+14.8%
Patchakan Village Corozal 1,3741,202+14.3%
Progresso Village Corozal 1,3561,211+12.0%
Ranchito Village Corozal 1,3401,100+21.8%
San Andrés Village Corozal 1,049779+34.7%
San Antonio Village Corozal 569264+115.5%
San Joaquín Village Corozal 1,4701,251+17.5%
San Narciso Village Corozal 2,4232,183+11.0%
San Pedro Village Corozal 520455+14.3%
San Román Village Corozal 883691+27.8%
San Víctor Village Corozal 962676+42.3%
Santa Clara Village Corozal 862790+9.1%
Sarteneja Village Corozal 1,8241,674+9.0%
Xaibe Village Corozal 1,5751,316+19.7%
Yo Chen Village Corozal 8063+27.0%
Orange Walk Town Town Orange Walk 13,70013,741−0.3%
August Pine Ridge Village Orange Walk 1,7941,701+5.5%
Blue Creek Village Orange Walk 407767−46.9%
Carmelita Village Orange Walk 1,475834+76.9%
Chan Chich Village Orange Walk 5244+18.2%
Chan Pine Ridge Village Orange Walk 445372+19.6%
Cuatro Leguas Village Orange Walk 1540 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Douglas Village Orange Walk 521564−7.6%
Fire Burn Village Orange Walk 103112−8.0%
Guinea Grass Village Orange Walk 3,2182,651+21.4%
Honey Camp Village Orange Walk 370 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Indian Church Village Orange Walk 267221+20.8%
Indian Creek Village Orange Walk 904747+21.0%
Indian Hill Estate Village Orange Walk 430 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Petville Village Orange Walk 670 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Richmond Hill Village Orange Walk 3841−7.3%
San Antonio Village Orange Walk 402397+1.3%
San Carlos Village Orange Walk 138180−23.3%
San Estevan Village Orange Walk 1,6611,566+6.1%
San Felipe Village Orange Walk 1,5011,099+36.6%
San José Village Orange Walk 2,8612,381+20.2%
San José Palmar Village Orange Walk 1,355914+48.2%
San Juan Village Orange Walk 320254+26.0%
San Lorenzo Village Orange Walk 4040 [lower-alpha 1] NA
San Lázaro Village Orange Walk 1,050959+9.5%
San Luis Village Orange Walk 258236+9.3%
San Pablo Village Orange Walk 1,129974+15.9%
San Román Village Orange Walk 437486−10.1%
Santa Cruz Village Orange Walk 260264−1.5%
Santa Marta Village Orange Walk 600438+37.0%
Shipyard Village Orange Walk 3,3452,334+43.3%
Sylvestre Camp Village Orange Walk 88218−59.6%
Tower Hill Village Orange Walk 314273+15.0%
Tres Leguas Village Orange Walk 1580 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Trial Farm Village Orange Walk 4,2643,344+27.5%
Trinidad Village Orange Walk 570577−1.2%
Yo Creek Village Orange Walk 1,4131,386+1.9%
Dangriga Town Stann Creek 9,5838,767+9.3%
Alta Vista Village Stann Creek 369646−42.9%
Cow Pen Village Stann Creek 1,042415+151.1%
George Town Village Stann Creek 473794−40.4%
Hope Creek Village Stann Creek 1,128604+86.8%
Hopkins Village Stann Creek 1,6101,034+55.7%
Hummingbird Community Village Stann Creek 466336+38.7%
Independence Village Stann Creek 4,0142,995+34.0%
Kendall Village Stann Creek 11899+19.2%
Mango Creek Village Stann Creek 800 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Maya Beach Village Stann Creek 2290 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Maya Center Village Stann Creek 386305+26.6%
Maya Mopan Village Stann Creek 632444+42.3%
Middlesex Village Stann Creek 222314−29.3%
Mullins River Village Stann Creek 235206+14.1%
Placencia Village Stann Creek 1,752477+267.3%
Pomona Village Stann Creek 1,7301,146+51.0%
Red Bank Village Stann Creek 1,201684+75.6%
Riversdale Village Stann Creek 567713−20.5%
San Juan Village Stann Creek 438432+1.4%
San Román Village Stann Creek 894365+144.9%
Santa Cruz Village Stann Creek 77456+1,282.1%
Santa Rosa Village Stann Creek 542193+180.8%
Sarawee Village Stann Creek 525211+148.8%
Seine Bight Village Stann Creek 1,310865+51.4%
Silk Grass Village Stann Creek 1,092758+44.1%
Sittee River Village Stann Creek 439325+35.1%
South Stann Creek Village Stann Creek 686411+66.9%
Steadfast Village Stann Creek 482398+21.1%
Valley Community Village Stann Creek 627216+190.3%
Punta Gorda Town Toledo 5,3514,455+20.1%
Aguacate Village Toledo 369595−38.0%
Barranco Village Toledo 157252−37.7%
Bella Vista Village Toledo 3,508741+373.4%
Big Falls Village Toledo 845956−11.6%
Bladden Village Toledo 466408+14.2%
Blue Creek Village Toledo 365241+51.5%
Boom Creek Village Toledo 96104−7.7%
Cattle Landing Village Toledo 226209+8.1%
Conejo Village Toledo 209137+52.6%
Corazon Village Toledo 188140+34.3%
Crique Jute Village Toledo 223226−1.3%
Crique Largo Village Toledo 46111−58.6%
Crique Sarco Village Toledo 328255+28.6%
Crique Trosa Village Toledo 8440+110.0%
Dolores Village Toledo 460316+45.6%
Dump Village Toledo 198292−32.2%
Elridge Village Toledo 513388+32.2%
Forest Home Village Toledo 479503−4.8%
Golden Stream Village Toledo 349331+5.4%
Graham Creek Village Toledo 11054+103.7%
Hicattee Village Toledo 95139−31.7%
Hicattee Southern Highway Village Toledo 3630 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Indian Creek Village Toledo 722592+22.0%
Jacinto/Westmoreland Village Toledo 337216+56.0%
Jalacte Village Toledo 769716+7.4%
Jordan Village Toledo 14636+305.6%
Laguna Village Toledo 257324−20.7%
Mabilha Village Toledo 205193+6.2%
Mafredi Village Toledo 149168−11.3%
Mango Walk Village Toledo 244353−30.9%
Medina Bank Village Toledo 23797+144.3%
Midway Village Toledo 240112+114.3%
Monkey River Village Toledo 196184+6.5%
Moody Hill Village Toledo 440 [lower-alpha 1] NA
Na Luum Ca Village Toledo 6672−8.3%
New Road Area Village Toledo 357241+48.1%
Otoxha Village Toledo 263261+0.8%
Pinehill Village Toledo 20697+112.4%
Pueblo Viejo Village Toledo 432571−24.3%
Punta Negra Village Toledo 4328+53.6%
San Antonio Village Toledo 1,2041,209−0.4%
San Benito Poite Village Toledo 542373+45.3%
San Felipe Village Toledo 353313+12.8%
San Jose Village Toledo 849816+4.0%
San Isidro Village Toledo 3740 [lower-alpha 1] NA
San Lucas Village Toledo 121126−4.0%
San Marcos Village Toledo 622557+11.7%
San Miguel Village Toledo 537458+17.2%
San Pablo Village Toledo 250208+20.2%
San Pedro Columbia Village Toledo 1,7031,524+11.7%
San Vicente Village Toledo 441405+8.9%
Santa Ana Village Toledo 290245+18.4%
Santa Cruz Village Toledo 387337+14.8%
Santa Elena Village Toledo 200158+26.6%
Santa Teresa Village Toledo 369368+0.3%
Silver Creek Village Toledo 476345+38.0%
Sunday Wood Village Toledo 285218+30.7%
Swasey Village Toledo 257302−14.9%
Tambran Village Toledo 6365−3.1%
Trio Village Toledo 899400+124.8%
Wilson Road Village Toledo 5632+75.0%
Yemeri Grove Village Toledo 265108+145.4%

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Population figures for this municipality are not available in the 2000 census. [4]
  2. 1 2 The 2000 census lists the population of San Ignacio as 13,542 which includes the sister city of Santa Elena. [4]
  3. 1 2 The 2000 census lists the population of Barton creek as 508. [4]
  4. 1 2 3 The 2000 census lists the population of Duck Run as 767. [4]
  5. The 2000 census lists the population of Paslow Falls - Plant Sucker - Remanzo as 339. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Title VIII: Local Government". Laws of Belize. Government of Belize.
  2. "Local Government". Government of Belize. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  3. "Village Council Elections 2013 Results". Elections and Boundaries Department, Government of Belize. 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Census Data".
  5. 1 2 3 4 Government of Belize - Local Government
  6. "Chapter 87: Town Councils Act" (PDF). The Laws of Belize. Government of Belize. Retrieved 23 November 2013.