When was belize settled

On September 10th, , a critical battle took place between the Baymen and the Spanish at St. The Baymen, against considerable odds, defeated the Spanish for the last time. From that point on Britain assumed greater control over the settlement.

Today, over years later, the 10th of September is celebrated yearly as a National Holiday in Belize. Numerous activities take place to commemorate this historic battle. Initially, the Baymen cut logwood, a dyewood greatly valued in Europe as the principal dyestuff for the expanding woolen industry. By the 's, a second tropical exotic timber, mahogany, replaced logwood as the main export from Belize. The economy of Belize was primarily based on the extraction and exporting of mahogany until the early 's, when the cultivation of export crops such as citrus, sugar cane, and bananas began to dominate the economy.

To this day, Belize produces mahogany, as well as many other exotic woods, which are used to build exquisite furniture and homes in Belize. Mahogany is still readily available and reasonably priced within Belize. The early "settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras" grew from a few habitations located at Belize Town and St George's Caye into a de-facto colony of the United Kingdom during the late eighteenth century.

In the early nineteenth century the settlement was called British Honduras, and in it became a Crown Colony. And from the Bay Islands of Honduras, the Garifuna people migrated and settled along the coast of Belize.

By the early 's, Belize had grown to nearly 40, inhabitants. But a destructive hurricane destroyed Belize City and by the 's, the economy was so poor that the residents began to call for independence. By voting rights were extended to all adults, and by , England agreed to begin the process of setting Belize free. In , the colony's name was changed from British Honduras to Belize and on September 21, , Belize's Independence was declared.

Click here to learn more! Skip to main content. Search form. Main menu. Price, Mr. Phillip S. Goldson, Mr. Herman Jex, Mr. Jose Leon Chang, Mr. Leigh I. Richardson, Mr. Enrique De Paz, Mr. Nathaniel Cacho, Mr. George Flowers and Mr. Charles Westby, who was a Member of the National Party. The term of office for an elected Member was three years but in it was extended to three years and six months. In , the Ministerial System was introduced, and Mr. Price became the First Minister.

In , British Honduras gain full internal self-government. This step was a way forward for the colony to eventually gain independence. That same year, in , a new British Honduras Constitution was also passed.