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Dangriga Town
Dangriga Aerial
Dangriga Aerial
Nickname(s): Griga (Dang), The Culture Capital
Dangriga is located in Belize
Coordinates: 16°58′N 88°13′W﻿ / ﻿16.967°N 88.217°W﻿ / 16.967; -88.217
Country  Belize
District Stann Creek
Constituency Dangriga
Founded 1802
 • Mayor Francis Humphreys (UDP)
Elevation sea level m (0 ft)
Population (2009)
 • Total 9,026
Demonym Dangrigan
Time zone Central (UTC-6)
Climate Am
Website Official Website

Dangriga, formerly known as Stann Creek Town, is a town in southern Belize, located on the Caribbean coast at the mouth of the North Stann Creek River. It is the capital of Belize's Stann Creek District and also the largest town in southern Belize. It is served by the Dangriga Airport.


Dangriga was settled before 1832 by Garinagu (Black Caribs, as they were known to the British) from Honduras. For years it was the second largest population centre in the country behind Belize City, but in recent years has been surpassed by Orange Walk Town. Since the early 1980s Garífuna culture has undergone a revival, as part of which the town's name of Dangriga, a Garífuna word meaning "standing waters", became more widely used (but was initially adopted around 1975).[1]


The population is mostly a mixture of Garinagu, Kriols and Mestizos. According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, Dangriga's population is 9,096 residents, 4,410 males and 4,686 females. The total number of households is 2,562 and the average household size is 3.6.


Dangriga is home to the Garifuna, a cultural and ethnic group, descendants of shipwrecked slaves and native Caribs. The Garifuna have adopted the Carib language but kept their African musical and religious traditions. Dangriga is also where the Caribbean music, Punta Rock, originated and where some of Belize's folk bands can be found.

In November each year there is a week-long festivity leading up to Garifuna Settlement Day, attended by Garifuna people from around the region. It includes a torchlit parade and wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of the patriot and social activist Thomas Vincent Ramos, selection of Miss Garifuna, parades and special church services, and The T.V. Ramos Classic Bike Race.

The 19th of November is Garifuna Settlement Day.[2][3]



The city is served by Southern Regional Hospital.

Notable residents[edit]

  • Arlie Petters, mathematician and astrophysicist
  • Pen Cayetano, artist and musician residing in Germany. Originator of Punta Rock.
  • Maxime Faget, designer of the Mercury capsule, and contributed to the later Gemini and Apollo spacecraft as well as the Space Shuttle.
  • T. V. Ramos, Garifuna civil rights activist.


  1. ^ http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-780130-dangriga_dangriga-i
  2. ^ Harry S. Pariser (1998). Explore Belize. Harry S. Pariser. p. 279. ISBN 1-55650-785-2. 
  3. ^ "Celebrating Garifuna Day". San Pedro Sun. Retrieved 2010-02-07. 

Benjamin Nicholas / Artist,Sculpturer and Painter.

External links[edit]

