Colón, Panama

Colon on the map of Panama

Colón is a port city on the Caribbean coast of the Central American country of Panama.

It is the capital of the province of Colón with 241 928 inhabitants ( 2010 census ). Colón is located at the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal.

History

The city was founded in 1850, since the Panama Railroad ended. For many years in the early history of the United States of America, the name was coined Aspinwall, while the Hispanic community these " Colón " named in honor of the Spanish name for Christopher Columbus.

In 1885 the town victim of a major fire in the Colombian civil war, as well as in a major fire in 1915 was.

1900, the population stood at 3,000 people. The population then increased by the construction of the Panama Canal. In 1920 it amounted to 31,203 people.

Colón in 1950 was separated from the American Panama Canal Zone and handed over to Panama. The city was formed 1950-1999 an enclave within the Panama Canal Zone.

Economy

Colón is an important port and trading center as well as a tourist destination to the canal locks. 1953 Colón was a free port / free trade zone, the port takes here the world is in second place. Nevertheless, fared worse and worse since the late 1960s the economy in Colón. Many of the traditional jobs in the port coincided with the transition away on cargo container. Today, the unemployment rate is around. 40%; the poverty rate is even greater. Colon is one of the most dangerous cities in the world and many travel guides do not recommend visiting the city for this reason from.

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Manuel Alcides Acosta ( born 1981 ), baseball player
  • Julio César Dely Valdés (born 1967 ), football player and coach
  • Big Fletchit (1916 - 1983), Jazz drummer
  • Guillermo Jones (born 1972 ), boxer
  • Demetrio Basilio Lakas (1925 - 1999), 35th President of Panama
  • Robert Mavounzy (1917-1974), jazz musician
  • Irving Saladino (* 1983), Athlete
  • Jorge Sylvester (born 1954 ), jazz saxophonist

Twinning

  • Mandeville, Louisiana, United States
  • Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Middle America (region) List of free ports Special economic zone Manny Acosta Demetrio B. Lakas Santos, São Paulo
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