Sarteneja

Last updated
Sarteneja
Village of Sarteneja
Flag of Sarteneja, Belize.svg
Belize location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sarteneja
Location of Sarteneja in Corozal District, Belize
Coordinates: 18°21′12″N88°8′46″W / 18.35333°N 88.14611°W / 18.35333; -88.14611
Country Belize
District Corozal District
Constituency Corozal South East
Established1847
Government
   Chairman Paulino Lucio Guerrero (PUP)
Area
  Total90.33 km2 (34.88 sq mi)
Elevation
2−4 m (−11 ft)
Population
 (2016)
  Total3,550
Demonym Sartenejeño(a)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central)
Climate Aw

Sarteneja is the largest fishing community and the second largest village in Belize. It recorded a population of 3,500 according to a 2016 estimate. [1] The name Sarteneja is a Castilian distortion of its original Mayan name Tza-ten-a-ha, which means 'give me water'.

Contents

Sarteneja is on the Sarteneja Peninsula, approximately forty miles by road from Orange Walk Town and is near the privately owned Shipstern Conservation & Management Area. The village's economy is based primarily on fishing for lobster, conch, and finfish. There are many farmers, particularly retired fishermen who farm. Tourism is becoming increasingly significant as a source of income or at least as another alternative livelihood for those who no longer fish.

Demographics

At the time of the 2010 census, Sarteneja had a population of 1,824. Of these, 91.1% were Mestizo, 3.6% Mixed, 2.6% Creole, 1.3% Caucasian, 0.3% Mopan Maya, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Ketchi Maya, 0.2% Garifuna, 0.2% Yucatec Maya, 0.1% East Indian, 0.1% Lebanese, 0.1% African and 0.1% Mennonite.

In terms of languages spoken (multiple answers allowed), 97.6% spoke Spanish, 49.6% English, 5.4% Creole, 0.4% Mandarin or Cantonese, 0.4% Mopan Maya, 0.2% Garifuna, 0.2% German, 0.2% Yucatec Maya, 0.1% Ketchi Maya, 0.1% Hindi and 0.4% other languages; 0.2% could not speak. [2]

Boatbuilding

Sarteneja is home to shipwrights who are still active, having built most of the traditional fishing boat fleet (visible in Haulover Creek in Belize city) and many of the tourist sailing boats, most notably: Sirena Azul (San Pedro), Ragga King, Ragga Gial, Blackhawk (Caye Caulker), Brujula (Hopkins), and Zayann. One of the best known boat builders of Sarteneja is Evaristo Verde (Barich). Verde built more than 17 boats during his lifetime.

The Sarteneja Easter Regatta

Sarteneja is known for its Easter Regatta, which takes place every year on Easter Sunday when most of the village's fleet has returned during the fishing season break.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punta Gorda, Belize</span> Town in Toledo, Belize

Punta Gorda, known locally as P.G., is the capital and largest town of Toledo District in southern Belize. Punta Gorda is the southernmost sizable town in the nation, with a population of about 5,000 people. Although the town bears a Spanish name, its inhabitants are mostly Kriol/English-speaking and are primarily of Garifuna, East Indian, Kriol, and Maya descent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corozal Town</span> Town in Corozal, Belize

Corozal Town is a town in Belize, capital of Corozal District. Corozal Town is located about 84 miles north of Belize City, and 9 miles from the border with Mexico. The population of Corozal Town, according to the main results of the 2010 census, is 9,871.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benque Viejo del Carmen</span> Town in Cayo District, Belize

Benque Viejo del Carmen ("Benque") is the westernmost town in Belize, 130 km (81 mi) by road west and south of Belize City, at the Guatemalan border. San Ignacio lies 13 km to the east and Melchor de Mencos just across the border. The Mopan River runs along the town's north and west edges.

Trial Farm is a village near Orange Walk Town in the Orange Walk District of the nation of Belize. According to the 2000 census, it had a population of 3,443 people. It is located at 29 metres above sea level.

Progreso is a village in the Corozal District of the nation of Belize.

Chunox is a village located in the Corozal District of Belize, with a population of 1,143 people. It is primarily an agricultural community surrounded by sugar cane fields, and is located on the east bank of Laguna Seca. The official language is English, but most residents speak Spanish due to their Maya Mestizo ancestry. St. Viator Vocational High School serves the village. There are several Maya residential mound groups in Chunox from the Classic Period. Copper Bank, a fishing village, is situated across the lagoon from Chunox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Placencia</span> Village in Stann Creek, Belize

Placencia is a small village located in the Stann Creek District of Belize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hopkins, Belize</span> Village in Stann Creek District, Belize

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcutta, Belize</span> Place in Corozal District, Belize

Calcutta is a village in the Corozal District of Belize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copper Bank</span> Place in Corozal District, Belize

Copper Bank is a fishing village in the Corozal District of Belize. It is situated on the west bank of Laguna Seca, a shallow lagoon that empties into Chetumal Bay just north-east of the village. The closest settlement is Chunox, located approximately 1.25 miles away on the east bank of the Laguna Seca.

Armenia is a village in the Cayo District of Belize, along the nation's Hummingbird Highway south of the capitol, Belmopan.

Blackman Eddy is a village located on the banks of the Belize River in the Cayo District, Belize. The George Price Highway runs through the middle of the village.

Big Falls is a populated settlement located in the nation of Belize. It is a mainland village that is located in Toledo District.

La Democracia is a populated settlement located in the nation of Belize. It is a mainland village that is located in Belize District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Antonio, Toledo</span> Place in Toledo, Belize

San Antonio is a village in the Toledo District of Belize. It is the largest Maya settlement in Belize, with a population of approximately 1,000 people, predominantly Mopan Maya. About 88% of the inhabitants are Catholic, with 8% belonging to other Christian denominations, and 4% being non-denominational. Along with 29 other mission parishes in the Toledo District, it is pastored by Jesuits from St. Peter Claver church in Punta Gorda.

Chan Chen is a village located in Corozal District, Belize. Most of the inhabitants speak Spanish or Yucatec Maya, along with some English. The name Chan Chen is Yucatec maya meaning "small well" in English. Most Chan Chen inhabitants are of Maya ancestry.

Seine Bight is a village on the Placencia Peninsula located in the Stann Creek District of Belize. It is located 2 and a half miles south of Maya Beach Village and North of the village of Placencia. This small village has roughly 1,000 inhabitants, mostly Garifuna people who subsist on fishing, hunting, and homegrown vegetables. The early settlers named their village for their favored fishing tackle, Seine fishing and a bight, a bend or curve in a coastline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Narciso, Belize</span> Village in Corozal District

San Narciso is a village in Corozal District, Belize. It is part of the Corozal South West constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton Tree, Belize</span>

Cotton Tree is a village in the Cayo District of central interior Belize. The village is situated 5km to the northeast of Belmopan along the Western Highway. The surrounding area is agricultural with the most frequent crops being citrus and banana. It is one of 192 municipalities administered at the village level in the country for census taking purposes.

Ontario is a village in the Cayo District of central interior Belize. The village is in an agricultural region with the most frequent crops being citrus and banana. It is one of 192 municipalities administrated at the village level in the country for census taking purposes.

References

  1. Belize Population and Housing Census 2010 (PDF) (Report). Statistical Institute of Belize. 2013. p. 64. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  2. Population & Housing Census