Cañazas District Explained

Cañazas District
Mapsize:300px
Pushpin Map:Panama
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the district capital in Panama
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Panama
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Veraguas Province
Subdivision Type2:Capital
Subdivision Name2:Cañazas
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:789
Population As Of:2019
Population Note:official estimate[1]
Population Total:18022
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Timezone:ETZ
Utc Offset:-5
Coordinates:8.32°N -81.21°W

Cañazas District is a district (distrito) of Veraguas Province in Panama. The population according to the 2000 census was 15,999;[2] the latest official estimate (for 2019) is 18,022.[3] The district covers a total area of 789 km2. The capital lies at the town of Cañazas.[2]

History

Cañazas was founded in 1757 under the name of San Francisco Javier de Cañazo. Since the Spaniards established the custom of naming the places they arrived, the named the town after the saint on arriving on 3 December, which is the feast day. It is assumed that the name of Cañazo arose from the surrounding mountains. The first school was established in Cañazo in 1853.

In 1783, Indians attacked and devastated the population of Cañazo and other peoples of Veraguas Province and Chiriquí Province. In 1912, they constructed the tower and temple, with much work carried out by Juan Bautista Brea. Today, there is a new tower and a church completely restored after the fall of the old tower. On August 16, 1963, the Pan-American Highway established links to Cañazo. On December 28, 1971, General Omar Torrijos Herrera signed the contract for the construction of an asphalt road to Cañazo. On May 11, 1974, it was opened by Demetrio Basilio Lakas, and the minister of public works of that time, Edwin Fabrega. The honor of cutting the ribbon was awarded to Peter J. Mérida, a distinguished citizen of the district of Cañazo.

Administrative divisions

Cañazas District is divided administratively into the following corregimientos:

Notes and References

  1. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo, Panama.
  2. Web site: Districts of Panama. Statoids. April 13, 2009.
  3. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo, Panama.