Editing Toledo District

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{{Short description|District of Belize}}
{{Infobox settlement
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| name                    = Toledo District
| native_name             = 
| native_name_lang        = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type         = [[Districts of Belize|District]]
| image_skyline           = Punta Gorda Belize road-gm.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Punta Gorda is the main town in the Toledo District.
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| image_map               = Toledo in Belize.svg
| mapsize                 = 200px
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Location of the district in Belize
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| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|Belize}}
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| founder                 = 
| seat_type               = Capital
| seat                    = [[Punta Gorda, Belize|Punta Gorda]]
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| unit_pref               = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_total_km2          = 4649
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| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{cite web | title= Preliminary Findings of 2010 Census | url= http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/dms20uc/dynamicdata/docs/20110411221857_2.pdf | publisher= Statistical Institute of Belize }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.citypopulation.de/Belize.html | title=Belize: Districts, Towns & Villages - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information }}</ref>
| population_total        = 38,259
| population_as_of        = 2024 Estimate
| population_density_km2  = auto
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| iso_code                = BZ-TOL
| website                 = {{URL|visittoledobelize.com}}
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}}

'''Toledo''' is the southernmost and least populated [[Districts of Belize|district]] in [[Belize]]. [[Punta Gorda, Belize|Punta Gorda]] is the District capital. According to the [[Human Development Index]] (HDI),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BLZ/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|access-date=|website=hdi.gobaldatalab.org|language=en}}</ref> it is the second most developed region in the country. The district has a diverse topography which features [[rainforests]], extensive cave networks, coastal lowland plains, and offshore [[cays]]. Toledo is home to a wide range of cultures such as [[Mopan people|Mopan]], [[Q'eqchi' people|Kekchi Maya]], [[Creole peoples|Creole]], [[Garifuna people|Garifuna]], [[Indian people|East Indians]], [[Mennonites]], [[Mestizos]], and descendants of [[Confederate States of America|US Confederate]] [[Confederate settlements in British Honduras|settlers]].

==Geography==
The District has many villages, including [[Monkey River Town]] and the [[Toledo Settlement]]; the Maya villages of [[San Pedro Columbia]], [[Blue Creek, Toledo|Blue Creek]], Indian Creek, Santa Cruz, [[San Antonio, Toledo|San Antonio]], San Jose, San Felipe; and the Garifuna village of Barranco. It also has a number of [[Maya civilization|Maya ruins]], including [[Lubaantun]], [[Nim Li Punit]], [[Uxbenka]], and [[Pusilha]]. According to a 2022 mid-year census estimate, Toledo District had a [[population]] of 41,537 people, 6,801 of whom lived in [[Punta Gorda, Belize|Punta Gorda]].

==Economy==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2015}}
The economy of Toledo relies heavily upon agriculture. Crops grown include beans and corn, as well as rice, which is sold to the Big Falls Rice Mill. Cacao is grown organically and sold via the Toledo Cacao Growers Association to Green & Black's for their renowned Maya Gold chocolate, as well as to chocolatiers within [[Belize]]. The District's ancient and modern-day links with chocolate are celebrated annually in May ([[Commonwealth Day (Belize)|Commonwealth Day]] Holiday weekend) at the Toledo Cacao Festival. Farmers grow additional crops such as coffee, yams, sweet potato, hot chilli peppers, avocado, oranges and plantain for sale at the market in Punta Gorda, held each Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Fishermen in Toledo engage in small-scale fishing using dug-out canoes, and they also partake in lobster and conch diving during the open season. The [[Port Honduras Marine Reserve]], situated just north of Punta Gorda Town, is a designated protected area. Toledo's waters are renowned for being a prime location for catching permit fish. Many traditional fishermen have transitioned to becoming fly-fishing guides, thanks to alternative livelihood initiatives offered by local conservation groups.

Tourism has emerged as a significant industry in Toledo. While it was once considered a destination mainly for the intrepid, the establishment of new tourist accommodations and the development of guided tours, coupled with the district's abundance of protected areas, diverse wildlife, exceptional bird-watching opportunities, and appealing offshore cays, have collectively contributed to Toledo's recognition as a burgeoning and valuable travel destination.

==Demographics==
===Ethnicity===
{| class="wikitable sortable left" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Ethnicity
|-
! colspan="2|2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=Main results of 2010 population and housing census |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812062733/http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/dms20uc/dynamicdata/docs/20110505004542_2.pdf#page=5}}</ref>
! colspan="2|2022<ref name="2022 Belize Census">{{cite web |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fsib.org.bz%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FCensus2022_GeneralCharacteristics.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |title=Census 2022 |access-date=2025-04-18}}</ref>
|-
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
|-
| [[Qʼeqchiʼ|Qʼeqchi Maya]] || 13,691 || 45.81% || 18,352 || 49.43% 
|-
| [[Mestizo]] || 5,324 || 17.81% || 7,114 || 19.16%
|-
| [[Mopan people|Mopan Maya]] || 4,507 || 15.08% || 5,682 || 15.30% 
|-
| [[Belizean Creole people|Creole]] || 1,022 || 3.42% || 1,840 || 4.95% 
|-
| [[Indo-Caribbean|East Indian]] || 1,421 || 4.75% || 1,518 || 4.09% 
|-
| [[Garifuna]] || 1,417 || 4.74% || 1,515 || 4.08%
|-
| [[Europeans|European]]:<br />* German ([[Mennonites in Belize|Mennonite]])<br />* British (Anglo-Celtic)||480<br />''239<br />241''||1.61%<br />''0.80%<br />0.81%'' || 861<br>''729<br>132'' || 2.32%<br>''1.96%<br>0.35%''
|-
| Other || 189 || 0.63% || 144 || 0.39%
|-
| Not stated || – || – || 98 || 0.26%
|-
| Mixed || 1,834 || 6.14% || – || –
|-
| '''Total''' || '''29,885''' || '''100%''' || '''37,124''' || '''100%'''
|}

===Language===
According to the 2010 census, [[Mayan languages]] are spoken by 68.4% of the population. This makes Toledo the only district in Belize where native languages are spoken by a majority. <ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2017 |type=JPG |title=Languages spoken in Belize |url=http://sib.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Languages-Infographic-773x1024.jpg |access-date=2023-05-21 |lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218024216/http://sib.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Languages-Infographic-773x1024.jpg |archive-date=2018-02-18 }}</ref>

On the 2010 census, about 18% of the population were native spanish speakers. Only 12.6% of the population had English as their first language, making it by far one of the least english-speaking districts of Belize.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Blue Creek River, Belize.jpg|Blue Creek River, Belize
File:Monkey River Village, Toledo District, Belize.jpg|Monkey River Village
File:San Miguel Branch, Toledo District, Belize.jpg|San Miguel Branch
File:Swasey Branch, Toledo District, Belize.jpg|Swasey Branch
File:Looking towards the Maya Mountains from the fire watchtower.jpg|Bladen Reserve looking towards the Maya Mountains
File:Southern Highway, Toledo District, Belize.jpg|Southern Highway
</gallery>

==Transportation==
The Toledo District is served by the paved [[Southern Highway|Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway]], as well as several bush roads to the many rural villages in the District. Regular bus service is provided by Punta Gorda-based James Bus Line, shuttling passengers between the other districts, and Punta Gorda is served by several daily commuter flights on Tropic Air, Maya Island Air and several small, family-run bus services that transport passengers to and from the rural villages.

[[File:jroad.JPG|thumb|Dump-Jalacte Road looking East just East of Santa Cruz Village]]

==Events==
Each year, during the [[Commonwealth Day]] weekend, Toledo hosts the Chocolate Festival of Belize. The festival features [[chocolatier]]s from across the country as well as [[chocolate]]-related arts and crafts.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Chocolate Festival of Belize|journal=The Toledo Howler|year=2013|volume=6|issue=2|page=1}}</ref> According to the project coordinator for the Toledo Cacao Growers Association Thomas Tillett, the Association currently has a membership of about 1,100 cacao farmers.<ref>Jones, Patrick.[http://www.patrickjonesbelize.com/2014/05/25/toledo-celebrates-cacao-festival/ Toledo Celebrates Cacoa Festival.] "Breaking Belize News (Belize Media Group News)." 25 May 2014 (retrieved 25 May 2014)</ref>

==Indian Reservations==
{{div col}}
*Aguacate Indian Reservation, Toledo
*Black Creek Indian Reservation, Toledo
*Blue Creek Indian Reservation, Toledo
*Crique Sarco Indian Reservation, Toledo
*Graham Creek Indian Reservation, Toledo
*Hinchasones Indian Reservation, Toledo
*Machaca Indian Reservation, Toledo
*Xpicilha Indian Reservation, Toledo
{{div col end}}

==Notable architecture==
Several significant ancient Mayan sites are extant in [[ruined]] form in the Toledo District. [[Nim Li Punit]] is a Classic Period Mayan site<ref>''Nim Li Punit'', published by the Department of Archaeology, Belmopan, Belize, Project ACP-RPR 544, Cubola Productions, March, 1999</ref> with ballcourts and carved [[stela]]e.  [[Lubaantun]] is a drystone constructed site with ruined [[pyramid]]s and stone tombs.<ref>[http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18136 C.Michael Hogan, ''Lubaantun'', 2007, The Megalithic Portal, editor: A. Burnham]</ref>

== Notable people ==
*[[Cristina Coc]], Maya community leader<ref>{{cite news|ref={{harvid|''The San Pedro Sun''|2008}}|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Our Belize Community—Cristina Coc|url=http://www.sanpedrosun.com/old/08-024.html|access-date=6 December 2016|newspaper=[[The San Pedro Sun]]|date=10 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112526/http://www.sanpedrosun.com/old/08-024.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|location=San Pedro Town, Belize}}</ref>
*[[Juan Coy]], politician

==See also==
* ''[[The Forgotten District]]'', a documentary film about ecotourism in Toledo

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://visittoledobelize.com Official website] - with maps and area attractions
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110610002913/http://belize.fm/toledo-district-belize-t/ Toledo District at belize.fm]
* [http://belizenews.com/howler/ The Toledo Howler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920101327/http://belizenews.com/howler/ |date=2010-09-20 }} - quarterly newspaper published by the BTIA Toledo Chapter
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0803219032 How to Cook a Tapir] - a Belize memoir, documenting the author's year-long working honeymoon in the Toledo District
* [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934937657 Treehouse Perspectives - Living High on Little] - the story of the Salisbury family's move and new life in Punta Gorda
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716222923/http://www.piedrablanca.org/belize-ecotourism-power-govt.htm Governmental influence on ecotourism in Toledo] - Influence or interference?

{{Districts of Belize}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Toledo District| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Belize]]