Balboa, Panama
Encyclopedia
Balboa is a district of Panama City
, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal
.
during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa
, the Spanish conquistador
credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean. The name was suggested to the Canal Zone authorities by the Peru
vian ambassador to Panama. Prior to being drained, filled and leveled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the hilly area north of Panama City was home to a few subsistence ranches and unused marshlands.
The town of Balboa, like most towns in the Canal Zone, was served by Canal Zone Government-operated schools, post office, police and fire stations, commissary, cafeteria, yacht club, service center and recreational facilities. There were several schools in the area, including Balboa Elementary School, Balboa High School
, and the private St. Mary's School. The town was also home to two private banks, a credit union, a Jewish Welfare Board, several Christian denomination churches, civic clubs, a masonic temple and a YMCA
.
as a solely United States territory was abolished under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaties, the town of Balboa was the administrative center of the Canal Zone (and remained so until mid-day of December 31, 1999, by which time, according to the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, the Panama Canal and all its assets, territories, etc., would be fully turned over to Panama and the Panamanian government, to be run however the Panamanian government [sees fit and] deems fit).
, depicting the construction of the canal.
's township of Ancón
. Since its incorporation into the Republic of Panama, Balboa has been redeveloped to enhance the port's capacity and to adapt to private ownership of houses and commercial enterprises. The emphasis on exploiting Balboa's location has resulted in increased car traffic, air pollution
and the degradation of the town's former harmonious layout. The demographic changes resulting from the departure of most of the town's American population has also brought the closure of most of the town's former public facilities and institutions, including Balboa High School
and Balboa Elementary School.
Sightseeing highlights for anyone visiting Balboa today include the Administration Building, the Goethals
Memorial, the Prado, the remaining English-language churches, the somewhat preserved architecture of the Canal Zone era (but which unfortunately is quickly and rapidly deteriorating and disappearing due to the Panamanian government's selling of plots of land for housing, buildings, and in other places where the U.S. Government decided not to build anything at, for various reasons), and two handmade-craft markets.
As it was during the Canal Zone
(1904–1979), Balboa is the seat of the Panama Canal
's administrative offices and the port of Balboa, one of Panama's main ports. The population as of the 1990 census was 1,214.
For historical perspective see:
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Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
, located at the Pacific entrance to 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...
.
History
The town of Balboa, founded by the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. He is best known for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, becoming the first European to lead an expedition to have seen or reached the Pacific from the New World.He traveled to the New World in...
, the Spanish conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean. The name was suggested to the Canal Zone authorities by the Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian ambassador to Panama. Prior to being drained, filled and leveled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the hilly area north of Panama City was home to a few subsistence ranches and unused marshlands.
The town of Balboa, like most towns in the Canal Zone, was served by Canal Zone Government-operated schools, post office, police and fire stations, commissary, cafeteria, yacht club, service center and recreational facilities. There were several schools in the area, including Balboa Elementary School, Balboa High School
Balboa High School (Panama)
Balboa High School was a public high school in the former Canal Zone on the isthmus of Panama.-Early history:The history of Balboa High School is intimately bound to the history of the Panama Canal and the Canal Zone. Given the temporary nature of the enterprise, public secondary education for...
, and the private St. Mary's School. The town was also home to two private banks, a credit union, a Jewish Welfare Board, several Christian denomination churches, civic clubs, a masonic temple and a YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
.
Panama Canal Treaties
Until 1979, when the Canal ZonePanama 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...
as a solely United States territory was abolished under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaties, the town of Balboa was the administrative center of the Canal Zone (and remained so until mid-day of December 31, 1999, by which time, according to the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, the Panama Canal and all its assets, territories, etc., would be fully turned over to Panama and the Panamanian government, to be run however the Panamanian government [sees fit and] deems fit).
Panama Canal Administration Building
The Panama Canal Administration Building, which was the former seat of the Canal Zone Government and Panama Canal Company, is located in Balboa Heights, where it remains to this day, and continues to perform its duties as the main "administration" building for the agency that runs the Panama Canal. In the United States' case, the Panama Canal Commission administered the canal. In Panama's case, the Panama Canal Authority now administers the canal. The building has large murals painted by William B. Van IngenWilliam B. Van Ingen
William B. Van Ingen was a stained glass artist and painter perhaps best known for his Panama Canal murals.-Life:Van Ingen was born in Philadelphia...
, depicting the construction of the canal.
Balboa Naval Transmitting Station
There was a VLF-transmitting station of US Navy near Balboa for transmitting orders to submarines, which went in service around 1915.Current highlights
Balboa is now considered part of Panama CityPanama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
's township of Ancón
Ancón, Panama
Ancón is a "corregimiento" in central Panama , 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...
. Since its incorporation into the Republic of Panama, Balboa has been redeveloped to enhance the port's capacity and to adapt to private ownership of houses and commercial enterprises. The emphasis on exploiting Balboa's location has resulted in increased car traffic, air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
and the degradation of the town's former harmonious layout. The demographic changes resulting from the departure of most of the town's American population has also brought the closure of most of the town's former public facilities and institutions, including Balboa High School
Balboa High School (Panama)
Balboa High School was a public high school in the former Canal Zone on the isthmus of Panama.-Early history:The history of Balboa High School is intimately bound to the history of the Panama Canal and the Canal Zone. Given the temporary nature of the enterprise, public secondary education for...
and Balboa Elementary School.
Sightseeing highlights for anyone visiting Balboa today include the Administration Building, the Goethals
George Washington Goethals
George Washington Goethals was a United States Army officer and civil engineer, best known for his supervision of construction and the opening of the Panama Canal...
Memorial, the Prado, the remaining English-language churches, the somewhat preserved architecture of the Canal Zone era (but which unfortunately is quickly and rapidly deteriorating and disappearing due to the Panamanian government's selling of plots of land for housing, buildings, and in other places where the U.S. Government decided not to build anything at, for various reasons), and two handmade-craft markets.
As it was during the 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...
(1904–1979), Balboa is the seat 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...
's administrative offices and the port of Balboa, one of Panama's main ports. The population as of the 1990 census was 1,214.
For historical perspective see:
- Mellander, Gustavo A.; Nelly Maldonado Mellander (1999). Charles Edward Magoon: The Panama Years. Río Piedras, Puerto Rico: Editorial Plaza Mayor. ISBN 1563281554. OCLC 42970390.
- Mellander, Gustavo A. (1971). The United States in Panamanian Politics: The Intriguing Formative Years. Danville, Ill.: Interstate Publishers. OCLC 138568.
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