Panama City

Panama City (pop. 625,100), capital of Panama, on the Gulf of Panama, at the Pacific entrance to the canal. Mainly a modern industrial city, it owes its growth to the building of the canal. The city was founded in 1672, after the original Panama, founded by Pedrarias the Cruel (1519) 4 mi (6.4 km) distant, had been sacked by Sir Henry Morgan (1671). The city also served as port for the shipment of Andean gold during Spanish colonial days.

See also: Panama.