Dangriga
| Dangriga | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Dangriga Town | |
Dangriga Aerial
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| Nickname(s): Griga (Dang), The Culture Capital | |
 Dangriga
|
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| Coordinates: 16°58′N 88°13′W / 16.967°N 88.217°W | |
| Country |
 Belize
|
| District | Stann Creek |
| Constituency | Dangriga |
| Founded | 1802 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Francis Humphreys (UDP) |
| Elevation | sea level m (0 ft) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 9,593 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 10,108 |
| Demonym(s) | 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. Dangriga is served by the Dangriga Airport. Commonly known as the "culture capital of Belize" due to its influence on punta music and other forms of Garifuna culture, Dangriga is the largest settlement in southern Belize.
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 San Ignacio, Belmopan and 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).
The population is mostly a mixture of Garinagu, Kriols and Mestizos. According to the Statistical Institute of Belize, Dangriga's population in 2010 was 8,767 – 4,302 males and 4,465 females.
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, while holding a central place in the history of the Catholic church and Catholic education in Belize. Dangriga is also where the Caribbean music, Punta Rock, originated and where some of Belize's folk bands can be found.
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