Orange Walk District

Orange Walk District, the third largest district in Belize, is located in the northwest of the country. According to the 2000 census, Orange Walk District has 39,760 residents. This figure has undoubtedly increased along with Belize's rapid population growth in recent years. The residents are primarily Maya Mestizo people. You can also find German Mennonites, Maya Ketchi, and creole people of African descendants.

The capital of the district is Orange Walk Town, known affectionately by locals as "Sugar City", pronounced "shuga city". The name is derived from the fact that a Sugar Processing Plant is located directly on the outskirts of Orange Walk Town.

The main economica base of Orange Walk District is agriculture with sugar cane being the primary crop. Other agricultural crops gaining significance include onions, soya beans, and potatoes. Tourism is slowly gaining in importance to the economy of Orange Walk.

Orange Walk District is home to the Maya ruins of "Lamanai" and the "Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area", a private nature reserve. It also has 2 rivers, the "Rio Hondo" (which forms part of the border with Mexico), and the "New River". The largest body of water in the nation of Belize, the "New River Lagoon" is also located in the Orange Walk District.