Panama City

Panama City, also known simply as Panama, is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It is a busy place with many people, holding around 410,354 people in the city itself and over 1 million in the surrounding area. The city sits near the Pacific Ocean at the entrance of the Panama Canal, a very important waterway that helps ships travel safely between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The city has a long and interesting history. It was first founded in 1519 by a Spanish explorer named Pedro Arias Dávila. For many years, it was a key stop for traders carrying gold and silver from the Americas back to Spain. Unfortunately, in 1671, the famous explorer Henry Morgan and his crew attacked and burned the city down. After that, the city was rebuilt in a new place just a little farther away.

Today, Panama City is the political heart of Panama, where leaders make decisions for the whole country. It is also an important center for business and banking, helping connect Panama with the rest of the world. The old ruins of the first Panama City are now protected as a World Heritage Site and attract many visitors who come to learn about its past.

History

The city of Panama was founded on August 15, 1519, by Pedro Arias de Ávila. Soon after, it became an important place for explorers heading to Peru and for trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In 1671, the famous explorer Henry Morgan attacked and looted the city, which was later rebuilt in a new spot.

In the 1800s, the Panama Railroad was built, helping many people travel between oceans before the United States built its first transcontinental railroad. In 1903, Panama declared independence from Colombia, and the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, changing the city's future.

During World War II, the city grew because of military bases and many visitors. In 1989, the United States helped remove a leader who was causing problems, and in 1999, full control of the Panama Canal was given back to Panama. Today, the Panama Canal remains one of the city's biggest attractions.

Colonial Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama City

Geography

Panama City is located between the Pacific Ocean and tropical rain forest in northern Panama. The Parque Natural Metropolitano (Metropolitan Nature Park) runs from the city along the Panama Canal and is home to unique birds and animals like tapirs, pumas, and caimans. At the Pacific entrance of the canal is the Centro de Exhibiciones Marinas (Marine Exhibitions Center), a research spot for learning about tropical marine life, managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Tropical forests around Panama are important for the Panama Canal because they supply the water the canal needs to work. Because the canal is so important to Panama's economy, these forests have been protected and kept almost unchanged. One nearby park is Parque Nacional Soberanía (Sovereignty National Park), which has botanical gardens and a zoo. A popular trail there is Pipeline Road, liked by birdwatchers.

Panama has nearly 500 rivers. Two rivers within the city, the Río Chepo and the Río Chagres, provide hydroelectric power. The Río Chagres is one of the longest rivers flowing into the Caribbean and helps create Gatun Lake, which is part of the Panama Canal route. Both Gatun Lake and Madden Lake supply hydroelectricity to the area around the former Canal Zone.

Climate

Panama City has a tropical savanna climate, which means it is a little drier than a tropical monsoon climate. It gets about 1,900 mm (74.8 in) of rain each year. The wet season is from May through December, and the dry season is from January through April. Temperatures stay around 27 °C (81 °F) all year. Panama is in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, so it often has clouds even in the dry season.

Cityscape

Architecture

Panama's old area called Casco Viejo, Panama has many different building styles, from Spanish colonial buildings to French and Antillean houses built when the Panama Canal was being made. Newer parts of the city have many tall buildings that make up a busy skyline. Over 110 tall building projects are being built, and 127 have already been finished. The city ranks 45th in the world for the number of tall buildings.

The Centennial Bridge that goes over the Panama Canal won an award from the American Segmental Bridge Institute, along with seven other bridges in the Americas.

Neighborhoods

The city is located in Panama District, and its bigger area reaches to the other side of the Panama Canal. Like the rest of the country, the city is split into areas called corregimientos, which have many smaller parts. The old area, called Casco Viejo, is in the corregimiento of San Felipe. San Felipe and twelve other corregimientos make up the city's main area, including Santa Ana, El Chorrillo, Calidonia, Curundú, Ancón, Bella Vista, Bethania, San Francisco, Juan Diaz, Pueblo Nuevo, Parque Lefevre, and Río Abajo.

The skyline of Panama City from Ancon Hill. 2008

Economy

Panama City is the main economic and financial center of Panama. Its economy is based on services such as banking, commerce, and tourism. The city’s economy depends a lot on trade and shipping because of the Panama Canal and the port facilities in Balboa. Many banks and businesses are located here, helping global companies manage their finances.

Tourism is very important for Panama City. The number of visitors has grown a lot since the late 1900s. Many new hotels have opened, including well-known international brands. The city has also grown with new land created for highways, housing, and parks, like Cinta Costera.

Demographics

The city of Panama City has 410,354 people living in its main area. Many people living there are called capitalinos. Most of them have mixed backgrounds, called mestizos, and there are also people from Caribbean, European, Amerindian, and African Panamanian families. The city is very culturally diverse, with people speaking many languages such as German, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, English, and Spanish.

Corregimientos of Panama City
Corregimiento	Area (km²)	Population (2023)	Density (per km²)
San Felipe	0.3	1,258	4,089.0
El Chorrillo	0.5	16,335	33,264.4
Santa Ana	0.8	13,495	17,049.9
Calidonia	1.8	17,300	9,721.3
Curundú	1.2	15,458	12,861.2
Betania	8.2	42,199	5,124.5
Bella Vista	4.6	33,710	7,358.4
Pueblo Nuevo	3.1	24,167	7,709.0
San Francisco	6.7	61,290	9,210.1
Parque Lefevre	7.2	42,832	5,923.7
Río Abajo	3.8	28,045	7,344.3
Juan Díaz	19.8	56,583	2,856.7
Pedregal	28.5	57,682	2,021.5
Panama City	86.6	410,354	4,750

Culture

World Heritage Sites

Panamá Viejo

Main article: Panamá Viejo

Panamá Viejo ("Old Panama") is the name for the old buildings from the first Spanish city on the Pacific coast of the Americas. It was founded in 1519 by Pedro Arias de Ávila. This city was important because it was where trips started to conquer parts of Peru. It was also a key place for trade between the Americas.

Casco Viejo or Casco Antiguo

Main article: Casco Viejo, Panama

After Panamá Viejo was destroyed, a new area called Casco Viejo was built in 1671. It was made to protect people from attacks. In 2003, it became a World Heritage Site. Casco Viejo has many different building styles, showing Panama's rich history. Important places there include theaters, churches, and monuments. It is now a popular place for tourists to visit.

Literature

Panama's writing history began with stories written by Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés in 1535. Many famous writers were born in Panama City, such as Amelia Denis de Icaza, Darío Herrera, and Ricardo Miró.

Art

One famous Panamanian artist is Alfredo Sinclair, known for his abstract paintings. His daughter, Olga Sinclair, is also a well-known artist. Other important artists include Guillermo Trujillo, known for his unique style, and Brooke Alfaro, famous for his oil paintings.

Tourism

Panama City has many places to see, especially those linked to the Panama Canal. Popular spots include:

Las Bóvedas, a beautiful walk along the Pacific coast;
The National Institute of Culture Building;
The Cathedral at Plaza de la Catedral;
Teatro Nacional, a special theater for performances;
The Interoceanic Canal Museum; and
Palacio de las Garzas, the president's home.

Other attractions include the Miraflores Visitors Center, where you can learn about the canal, and the Amador Causeway, a special area being built for tourists. The city also has many hotels and places to enjoy at night, especially around Calle Uruguay and Casco Viejo.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has a small museum, and a new museum called the Biomuseo was built in 2014. It was designed by famous architect Frank Gehry.

Sports

Panama City has a long history of success in sports like boxing, baseball, basketball, and soccer. Many famous athletes come from the city, such as Roberto Durán, Rommel Fernández, Rolando Blackman, Julio Dely Valdés, Mariano Rivera, and Rod Carew. Today, the city has many teams and clubs for these sports.

The city's baseball team is called Panama Metro. There are boxing gyms in many neighborhoods, and several football clubs, including Alianza, Chorrillo, Plaza Amador, Tauro, Chepo, and San Francisco F.C.. Panama City also has four teams in the country's second-level league, Liga Nacional de Ascenso: Atlético Nacional, Deportivo Genesis, Millenium, and Río Abajo.

The city has two big stadiums: the National Baseball Stadium (also called Rod Carew Stadium) and the Rommel Fernández Stadium. The city also has the Roberto Durán Arena for events.

Education

Panama City has both public and private schools. Many private schools teach in both English and Spanish. The city is home to two big public universities: the University of Panama and the Technological University of Panama. There are also several private universities, including the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua, the Universidad Latina de Panama, the Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT), and others like the Distance and Open University of Panama (UNADP). Additionally, there are branches of universities from other countries, such as Nova Southeastern University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Louisville, and the Florida State University, all offering programs in Panama.

Healthcare

Panama City has many places where people can get medical help, including at least 14 hospitals and lots of clinics. Some well-known hospitals are Hospital Santo Tomás, Hospital del Niño, Complejo Hospitalario Arnulfo Arias Madrid, Centro Médico Paitilla, Hospital Santa Fé, Hospital Nacional, Clinica Hospital San Fernando, and Hospital Punta Pacifica.

About half of all the doctors in the whole country work in Panama City.

Notable people

Main page: Category:People from Panama City

This section lists well-known individuals who come from Panama City. These people have made important contributions in various fields and are recognized for their achievements.