# Punta Gorda > capital of the Toledo district **Wikidata**: [Q883362](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q883362) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punta_Gorda,_Belize) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/punta-gorda-q883362 ## Summary Punta Gorda is a city in Belize and the capital of the Toledo District. Founded in 1802, it is located at coordinates 16.1°N, 88.8°W at an elevation of 9 meters above sea level, and had a population of 5,406 people as of the 2022 census. ## Key Facts - **Classification**: City; capital of the Toledo District - **Country**: Belize - **Founded**: 1802 - **Population**: 5,406 (2022 census); 706 (1904 census) - **Population breakdown (2022)**: 1,581 households; 2,810 males; 2,597 females - **Coordinates**: 16.1°N, 88.8°W - **Elevation**: 9 meters above sea level - **Time zone**: Central Time Zone - **UN/LOCODE**: BZPND - **Official website**: http://www.puntagordabelize.com/ - **Aliases**: PG, P.G., プンタゴルダ, プンタ・ゴルダ (ベリーズ) ## FAQs **What is the population of Punta Gorda?** As of the 2022 census, Punta Gorda has a population of 5,406 people living in 1,581 households. The population consists of 2,810 males and 2,597 females. **When was Punta Gorda founded?** Punta Gorda was established in 1802, making it a settlement with over two centuries of history in southern Belize. **Where is Punta Gorda located?** Punta Gorda is situated in southern Belize at coordinates 16.1°N, 88.8°W within the Toledo District, which it serves as the capital. It sits at an elevation of 9 meters above sea level. **What administrative role does Punta Gorda serve?** Punta Gorda functions as the capital city of the Toledo District, serving as the primary urban center and administrative hub for this region of Belize. ## Why It Matters Punta Gorda holds significant administrative importance as the capital of the Toledo District, Belize's southernmost and least developed district. This administrative role positions it as a governmental and logistical center for the region. The city's steady population growth—from just 706 residents in 1904 to over 5,400 in 2022—demonstrates its enduring relevance as a population center in southern Belize. Its coastal location at 9 meters elevation near the Gulf of Honduras makes it strategically positioned for maritime activities, reflected in its UN/LOCODE designation BZPND. The city maintains digital presence through its official website and is documented across 30 Wikipedia language editions, indicating international recognition and relevance. ## Notable For - Administrative capital of Toledo District - Over 220 years of continuous settlement since 1802 - Population growth of approximately 667% between 1904 and 2022 - International maritime recognition via UN/LOCODE BZPND - Documentation in 30 different Wikipedia language editions - Recognition by major international knowledge bases including Encyclopædia Britannica, Library of Congress, and National Library of Israel ## Body ### Geography and Location Punta Gorda is positioned at coordinates 16.1 degrees north latitude and 88.8 degrees west longitude in southern Belize. The city sits at a low elevation of 9 meters above sea level, characteristic of coastal settlements in the region. It operates within the Central Time Zone. The city is located within and serves as the capital of the Toledo District, the southernmost district of Belize. Its geographic identifiers include GeoNames ID 3581398, GNS Unique Feature ID -1150073, and OpenStreetMap Relation ID 3394396. ### Demographics and Population The population of Punta Gorda has experienced substantial growth over more than a century of recorded census data. The 1904 census recorded a population of 706 residents. By 2022, the most recent census recorded 5,406 residents, representing significant urban expansion. The 2022 census provides detailed demographic breakdowns: 1,581 households, 2,810 males, and 2,597 females, indicating a slightly male-skewed gender distribution. Census data is maintained by the Statistical Institute of Belize. ### History Punta Gorda's inception dates to 1802, establishing it as one of the older settlements in Belize. The city has maintained continuous habitation for over two centuries, growing from a small settlement of just over 700 people in the early 20th century to a mid-sized city by Belizean standards today. ### Administrative Status and Governance As a city classified as a "large human settlement," Punta Gorda serves the dual administrative function of being both located within and serving as the capital of the Toledo District. This dual status positions it as the primary urban center for the district's governmental and administrative functions. ### International Identifiers and Cataloging Punta Gorda is cataloged in numerous international knowledge systems and databases: - **Library Systems**: Library of Congress Authority ID n81129212; National Library of Israel J9U ID 987007562030105171; GND ID 7543505-6; VIAF ID 141907578 - **Geographic Databases**: GeoNames ID 3581398; Freebase ID /m/017828; Who's On First ID 421201237 - **Location Codes**: UN/LOCODE BZPND; WOEID (Where On Earth ID) 57424 - **Encyclopedia References**: Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID place/Punta-Gorda ### Digital Presence and Documentation Punta Gorda maintains an official website at puntagordabelize.com. The city is documented across extensive digital knowledge platforms, with a sitelink count of 33 and presence on Wikipedia in 30 languages including Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian among others. The English Wikipedia title is "Punta Gorda, Belize." Visual documentation includes an image of the central area (Центральная часть) and a page banner hosted on Wikimedia Commons, categorized under "Punta Gorda, Belize." The city is also indexed in the Curlie directory at Regional/Central_America/Belize/Toledo/Localities/Punta_Gorda/. ## References 1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 2. [The Statistical Institute of Belize](https://sib.org.bz/census/2022-census/) 3. [Source](https://raycaye.com/the-history-of-belize/) 4. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0 5. GeoNames 6. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/bz.htm)