Belize

Belize is a Central American country. Its official language is English. Belize covers 8,763 square miles and has a population (1997) of 230,000. The capital is Belmopan (1991 pop. 44,087); the largest city, main seaport and former capital is Belize City (1993 pop 46,342). The name Belize is believed to derive from a Spanish adaptation of the name Wallace, after the Scottish traveller Peter Wallace who settled in 1640 at the mouth of what was to become the Belize River.

History of Belize

Historically Belize was settled by Mayan peoples. British settlement began in 1638, but repeated attacks by Spain were not defeated until 1798. In 1871 the territory was reorganised as a British colony under the name British Honduras. It achieved internal self-government in 1964, was renamed Belize in 1973, and gained independence on 21 September 1981. Guatemala maintains a claim to the territory of Belize, although in 1992 it recognised Belize as an independent state and established diplomatic relations. Prior to that a British garrison helped maintain the independence of Belize and Britain still maintains a military training presence in the country.