Belize City is the largest city in the Central American country of Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras. The population of Belize City is 67,964, with neighboring suburbs adding up to about 80,000. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and industrial hub. Several cruise ships drop anchor outside the port and are tended by local citizens. The city was almost entirely destroyed in 1961 when Hurricane Hattie swept ashore on 31 October. It was the capital of British Honduras (as Belize was then named) until the government was moved to the new capital of Belmopan in 1970.
