Ancón, Panama
Encyclopedia
Ancón is a "corregimiento" in central Panama
(sometimes considered a suburb small town within actual Panama City), northeast of the [town-]limits of the town of Balboa
. Ancon Hill
is also the name of a large hill that overlooks Panama City, and served as a form of protection from pirates
, and sea invasion. The township was originally located around this hill, and was created to house employees of the Panama Canal
during its construction. As part of the construction effort, the historic Gorgas Army Hospital
was founded and built on the slope of the hill. The first ship to officially transit the canal, the SS Ancon
, was named after the district. The community continued to serve as housing for employees of the Panama Canal Company until 1980 when parts of it began to be turned over to the country of Panama as a part of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties
. Modern Ancón is a corregimiento (the Panamanian equivalent of a "suburb" in the United States) of Panama City, serving mainly as a residential area (and now uses the Gorgas Army Hospital building as the Panamanian Oncology
Hospital - but primarily for the research and investigation of cancer. The area also houses the Panamanian Supreme Court, just a few feet away from the Gorgas Army Hospital building, and several Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
buildings for research into tropical biology). In 2008, its population was estimated at 10,634.
Ancon is also a parish from the District of Panama, located in the Panama Canal adjacent area.
During the years when the Panama Canal was under the control of the United States, many administrative facilities , military bases and communities were built in the adjacent areas, forming part of the former Panama Canal Zone
. When these areas were reverted to Panama, under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, several alternatives were proposed to integrate the district to the city of Panama. The current district of Ancon was create when a new political-administrative division for the reverted areas was adopted, by Act No. 18 of August 29, 1979, itself amended by Law No. 1, October 27, 1982. The areas located in the Pacific sector became part of this district, while those located into the Atlantic were incorporated into the district of Cristobal, in the province of Colon. Even today, they are characterized by a strong U.S. urban architectural style.
Besides its importance in the fields of trade and intermodal transportation, the district is becoming increasingly relevant in terms of services and tourism. Ancon counts with the Airport Marcos A. Gelabert, the Grand National Transportation Terminal and Albrook Mall, the largest and one of the most modern mall in the country.
.
In urban areas, you can visit several historical sites of the Panamanian capital, the building where is located the headquarters of the Panama Canal Authority, popularly known as Administration Building. The Causeway, a section of which runs over the sea, joining three small Pacific islands, is also known as the Amador Causeway and is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the city, with marinas, restaurants, bars and discothèques. There is also the Figali Convention Center and the Museum of Biodiversity, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry
, is currently in construction.
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
(sometimes considered a suburb small town within actual Panama City), northeast of the [town-]limits of the town of Balboa
Balboa, Panama
Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.- History :The town of Balboa, founded by the United States during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean...
. Ancon Hill
Ancon Hill
Ancon Hill is a steep 654-foot hill which overlooks Panama City, Panama adjacent to the township of Ancón.-Natural Features:It was under U.S. jurisdiction as part of the Panama Canal Zone for much of the 20th century and therefore was never developed like most of the surrounding urbanized parts of...
is also the name of a large hill that overlooks Panama City, and served as a form of protection from pirates
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
, and sea invasion. The township was originally located around this hill, and was created to house employees of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
during its construction. As part of the construction effort, the historic Gorgas Army Hospital
Gorgas Hospital
Gorgas Hospital was a U.S. Army hospital in Panama City, Panama named for Army Surgeon General William C. Gorgas .Built on the site of an earlier French hospital called L'Hospital Notre Dame de Canal, it was originally christened Ancon Hospital by the Americans. It was originally built of wood,...
was founded and built on the slope of the hill. The first ship to officially transit the canal, the SS Ancon
SS Ancon
SS Ancon was an American steamship that became the first ship to officially transit the Panama Canal in 1914. The steamer began life as the SS Shawmut, built for the Boston Steamship Line in 1902. About 1910 she was purchased by the Panama Railroad Company to provide shipping required for the...
, was named after the district. The community continued to serve as housing for employees of the Panama Canal Company until 1980 when parts of it began to be turned over to the country of Panama as a part of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties
Torrijos-Carter Treaties
The Torrijos–Carter Treaties are two treaties signed by the United States and Panama in Washington, D.C., on September 7, 1977, which abrogated the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty of 1903...
. Modern Ancón is a corregimiento (the Panamanian equivalent of a "suburb" in the United States) of Panama City, serving mainly as a residential area (and now uses the Gorgas Army Hospital building as the Panamanian Oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
Hospital - but primarily for the research and investigation of cancer. The area also houses the Panamanian Supreme Court, just a few feet away from the Gorgas Army Hospital building, and several Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, the only bureau of the Smithsonian Institution based outside of the United States, is dedicated to understanding biological diversity. What began in 1923 as small field station on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal Zone has developed...
buildings for research into tropical biology). In 2008, its population was estimated at 10,634.
Ancon is also a parish from the District of Panama, located in the Panama Canal adjacent area.
History
The area where the district of Ancon is located was always conceived as a place of transit. From the time of the Spanish arrival in the country (in 1501), it was thought to build there a road between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, an idea that was materialized with the construction of the Panama Canal.During the years when the Panama Canal was under the control of the United States, many administrative facilities , military bases and communities were built in the adjacent areas, forming part of the former Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
. When these areas were reverted to Panama, under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, several alternatives were proposed to integrate the district to the city of Panama. The current district of Ancon was create when a new political-administrative division for the reverted areas was adopted, by Act No. 18 of August 29, 1979, itself amended by Law No. 1, October 27, 1982. The areas located in the Pacific sector became part of this district, while those located into the Atlantic were incorporated into the district of Cristobal, in the province of Colon. Even today, they are characterized by a strong U.S. urban architectural style.
Economy
Due to its geographical location, the district of Ancon is of great importance for the economy of Panama. There are located most of the administrative facilities and services from the Panama Canal. In the area of Balboa is located the port of Panama city. In this district is also located the Administrative Unit of Reverted properties of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, established in 2007 as a replacement for the former Inter-Oceanic Region Authority. Many of the buildings belonging to the former U.S. military bases are today home locations of Panamanian governmental and nongovernmental institutions,such as the City of Knowledge, the main science and technology park in the country, in the area of the former Fort Clayton.Besides its importance in the fields of trade and intermodal transportation, the district is becoming increasingly relevant in terms of services and tourism. Ancon counts with the Airport Marcos A. Gelabert, the Grand National Transportation Terminal and Albrook Mall, the largest and one of the most modern mall in the country.
Places of Interest
The district of Ancon includes the Parque Natural Metropolitano, a vast extension of jungle a few minutes from the city and its highest elevation, the famous Ancon HillAncon Hill
Ancon Hill is a steep 654-foot hill which overlooks Panama City, Panama adjacent to the township of Ancón.-Natural Features:It was under U.S. jurisdiction as part of the Panama Canal Zone for much of the 20th century and therefore was never developed like most of the surrounding urbanized parts of...
.
In urban areas, you can visit several historical sites of the Panamanian capital, the building where is located the headquarters of the Panama Canal Authority, popularly known as Administration Building. The Causeway, a section of which runs over the sea, joining three small Pacific islands, is also known as the Amador Causeway and is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the city, with marinas, restaurants, bars and discothèques. There is also the Figali Convention Center and the Museum of Biodiversity, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
, is currently in construction.
Sources
- World Gazeteer: Panama – World-Gazetteer.com