Cristobal is a small port town in Panama with an approximate population of fifty thousand as counted in 2010. Let’s start with a fun fact. Cristobal is actually a name in the Spanish language, and shared by Christopher Colombus who was the explorer after whom this place was named
History
Cristobal is the port near Panama that was first built by the Panama Railways Company. In the mid-eighteenth century, they cleared the mud out of 650 acres of Manzanillo Island to build a headquarters for themselves as well as a port for traveler convenience. Then, in the late 1800s, when the French Canal Company came to find this port, it was hardly a port but only a swamp. The French used the soil from the excavation to create a landfill area which, was later called Christophe Colombe, which was the Spanish translation for Cristobal Colon.
Later in 1904 when Panama got its independence from Colombia, the canal commission set up its headquarters in Cristobal, but by then, the United States had already purchased the French Canal enterprise in Panama and secured the use and control of the Canal Zone. The assets of the Panama Railroads were also considered in the Canal Zone and all the facilities it provided were included under the Canal Zone as well.
In order to build the Panama Canal, Americans needed Cristobal as it was an important part of the plan. Just like the city of Colon was at the time of American construction of the railroad, Cristobal was also used all day for carrying out construction materials, canal workers, and supplies for the workers and dependents. It was the port nearest and why it was used so much. The main focus was building up the town beside the existing French and railroad facilities.
Evolution Of The City
Soon, by the 1900s, the city had a population of about two thousand people, five hundred of whom were American. Only in a year, the population raised to double where a quarter of the population was American. The employees working in the construction site were divided into two categories, mainly the gold roll which designated the white Americans, and the silver roll employees who were West Indian laborers on the site. For these employees, houses were being built, but some of them just had to be housed in the boxcars due to lack of sufficient housing (most of them were silver rolls only). That year, the existing hospitals of French and Panama were also refurbished.
In 1906, a women’s club was founded in the city as well, under which fraternal orders were also active. Many such clubs and commissionaires were built and they were highly active in the city. Soon, every basic facility that a city needs got built in Cristobal, like fire stations, hospitals, police stations, temples, and also churches.
Shipping companies started coming to the city, which was known as Steamship Row, as soon as the inauguration of the port was done. That time, the tip of the island was converted into a fort named De Lesseps, which meant that the new residential areas for the Americans would be needed, possibly disturbing the main motive for why the port was built. But it was soon solved by expanding the city along the Colon beach and this area was named New Cristobal.
Between the years 1917 and 1938, the city of Colon was expanded and an elementary school was built in 1918 and a high school in 1933. This was the year Colon witnessed its greatest economic prosperity. The port now had almost two thousand new employees. It was the mid-1950s when the greatest transformation took place in Cristobal; there was a big change in the population because they shifted to the areas in Margarita and Coco Solo, which had a direct impact on the expansion of the town and port. This change got the population down from 1955 to 562. About five tracts of land of about 48.5 acres were transferred to the Republic of Panama. Even the high school got shifted from New Cristobal to Coco Solo.
Places to Explore Near Cristobal
Now, that you know what history this town holds, you might be more interested to know what there is to explore in the present days.
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is one of the loveliest wonders in the engineering world and is a link between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. It is also one of the largest engineering projects that has ever taken place, and also the longest one, taking about thirty-three years to complete. Tourists love to visit here and take pictures of the wildlife around. If you adore nature and wildlife, this is a great option to visit.
Gamboa Rainforest
You will get to experience adventures here, perform a number of activities, and also explore the natural attractions. You will have Gatun Lake, the locals, and sightseeing all at your fingertips – a lovely combination.
Shopping Hub
And you’ll be able to shop your favorite brands in sportswear or electronics in an air-conditioned, duty-free mall. Prices will be one-third of the price available in popular cities. You can also shop local items, like colorful hammocks or beaded necklaces. Painted ceramics and carvings are another attraction here in the shopping hub of Panama. You will have a great time shopping here.
Cristobal Port
The Cristobal port is a major transit point for commercial ships and even leisure cruises. Visiting the port will be a worthwhile addition to your trip. It has many historical points that you can visit.
Visiting is ideal anytime because the temperature does not fluctuate much over the year. In fact, do not expect the temperature to fall below 77F (25C) at any time. You might like the rainy season between May and November, but the humidity is almost 90% during the rainy season.
Conclusion
Plenty of sightseeing and an abundance of history for you to explore, this place will be an amazing experience. If you just want to avoid that fast city living, this is a good place for you to chill and relax for some time. Pack your bags today and visit now.
What’s Nearby?
