• Formerly British Honduras. A country of Central America on the Caribbean Sea. A British colony in the late 19th century, it became self-governing in 1964 and independent in 1981. Belmopan is the capital. Population: 266,000.
• also Belize City. The largest city of Belize, in the eastern part of the country on the Caribbean Sea at the mouth of the Belize River. It was devastated by a hurricane in 1961. The capital was moved from here to Belmopan in 1970. Population: 53,800.

History: In 1993 archaeologists discovered evidence of a farming community in Belize dating from 2500—1100 The Mayas first settled in the area some 200 to 300 years later, and a few ancient Maya cities still survive. The region was probably traversed by Cortés on his way to Honduras, but the Spanish made no attempt at colonization. British buccaneers, who used the cays to prey on Spanish shipping, founded Belize (early 17th cent.). British settlers from Jamaica began the exploitation of timber. Spain contested British possession several times until defeated at the last battle of St. George's Cay (1798). From 1862 to 1884 the colony was administered by the governor of Jamaica.