Corozal District is the northernmost district of the nation of Belize. The population was 33,335 in 2000. The district capital is Corozal Town. Pre-ColumbianMaya ruins are found in Corozal at Santa Rita near Corozal Town, and at Cerros.
Corozal Bay is represented by the United Democratic Party's Pablo Marin, Minister of Health, in his second term. Marin defeated relative and former PUP representative Vildo Marin. The division includes most of Corozal Town proper.
Corozal North covers the villages immediately north and west of Corozal Town and is held by two-term representative Hugo Patt of the UDP.
Corozal Southeast has long been a PUP stronghold under father and sonFlorencio Marin Sr. and Florencio Marin Jr., who is now in his third term.
Corozal Southwest is represented by first-term representative Dr. Angel Campos, who beat incumbent Ramiro Ramirez of the PUP in 2015.
Economy
While Corozal District depended for many years on the sugar industry, at one time having its own sugar factory in Libertad Village, today the economy is more diversified. Sugar production and other agricultural crops such as papaya are still central to the way of life of many rural Corozalenos, but occupations in the tourism industry are slowly becoming more prominent. Now almost 65% of Corozalenos depend on the Commercial Free Zone for employment. The Zone is located on the border of Belize and Mexico. Contraband is the biggest source of growing income in Corozal since it is adjacent to Mexico, and includes such things as vegetables, fruits, liquors, cigarettes, and gasoline.
Languages
is the most spoken language in Corozal, followed by Spanish. 80% speak English very well and 60% speak Spanish very well. Corozal's villages are divided by colour and language: Corozal Town, the main centre of the District, is peopled by a mix of Belize's races and cultures, most notably the Maya Mestizos. Spanish and English are the major languages spoken. Calcutta, Estrella Village, Libertad, Ranchito, and San Antonio are populated by East Indian people and speak English and Spanish very well. Chan Chen, Chunox, Cristo Rey, Louisville, Patchakan, San Pedro, San Victor Village, Xaibe, and Yo Chen are populated by Maya people and speak Spanish and Yucatec Maya language very well, along with some English. Buena Vista, Caledonia, Conception, San Narciso, San Roman, and Santa Clara are populated by Maya-Mestizo people who speak Spanish, some English and elders speaking Yucatec Maya. They are not obliged to learn English, because school teachersteach in Spanish but write in English and because at work the primary language is Spanish, so villagers are not exposed to English on a daily basis. Progresso, San Andres, and Sarteneja Village are populated by Creole and Hispanic people, who share their cultures and languages in English and Spanish. Little Belize is populated by Mennonites, who speak German. http://www.simplybelize.org/episode01.html
