Ancón, Panama

Ancón
Country	Panama
Province	Panamá
Population  (2008)
• Total	10,634

Ancón is a "corregimiento" in central Panama (sometimes considered a suburb small town within actual Panama City), 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. The township was originally located around this hill, and was created to house employees of the Panama Canal during its construction. As part of the construction effort, the historic Gorgas Army Hospital was founded and built on the slope of the hill. The first ship to officially transit the canal, the SS Ancon, was named after the district. The community continued to serve as housing for employees of the Panama Canal Company until 1980 when parts of it began to be turned over to the country of Panama as a part of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Modern Ancón is a corregimiento (the Panamanian equivalent of a "suburb" in the United States) of Panama City, serving mainly as a residential area (and now uses the Gorgas Army Hospital building as the Panamanian Oncology Hospital - but primarily for the research and investigation of cancer. The area also houses the Panamanian Supreme Court, just a few feet away from the Gorgas Army Hospital building, and several Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute buildings for research into tropical biology). In 2008, its population was estimated at 10,634. Ancon is a also parish from the District of Panama, located in the Panama Canal adjacent area.

History

The area where the district of Ancon is located was always conceived as a place of transit. From the time of the Spanish arrival in the country (in 1501), it was thought to build there a road between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, an idea that was materialized with the construction of the Panama Canal.

During the years when the Panama Canal was under the control of the United States, many administrative facilities , military bases and communities were built in the adjacent areas, forming part of the former Panama Canal Zone. When these areas were reverted to Panama, under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, several alternatives were proposed to integrate the the district to the city of Panama. The current district of Ancon was create when a new political-administrative division for the reverted areas was adopted, by Act No. 18 of August 29th, 1979, itself amended by Law No. 1, October 27th, 1982. The areas located in the Pacific sector became part of this district, while those located into the Atlantic were incorporated into the district of Cristobal, in the province of Colon. Even today, they are characterized by a strong U.S. urban architectural style.

Economy

Due to its geographical location, the district of Ancon is of great importance for the economy of Panama. There are located most of the administrative facilities and services from the Panama Canal. In the area of Balboa is located the port of Panama city. In this district is also located the Administrative Unit of Reverted properties of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, established in 2007 as a replacement for the former Inter-Oceanic Region Authority. Many of the buildings belonging to the former U.S. military bases are today home locations of panamanian governmental and nongovernmental institutions,such as the City of Knowledge, the main science and technology park in the country, in the area of the former Fort Clayton.

Besides its importance in the fields of trade and intermodal transportation, the district is becoming increasingly relevant in terms of services and tourism. Ancon counts with the Airport Marcos A. Gelabert, the Grand National Transportation Terminal and Albrook Mall, the largest and one of the most modern mall in the country.

Causeway of Amador.

Places of Interest

The district of Ancon includes the Parque Natural Metropolitano, a vast extension of jungle a few minutes from the city and its highest elevation, the famous Ancon Hill. In urban areas, you can visit several historical sites of the Panamanian capital, the building where is located the headquarters of the Panama Canal Authority, popularly known as Administration Building. The Causeway, a section of which runs over the sea, joining three small Pacific islands, is also known as the Amador Causeway and is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the city, with marinas, restaurants, bars and discotheques. There is also the Figali Convention Center and the Museum of Biodiversity, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, is currently in construction.

Sources

• World Gazeteer: Panama – World-Gazetteer.com