Colón City, Caribbean seaport and free trade zone in Colón Province, Panama
Colón is a port city on Panama's Caribbean coast, stretching across Manzanillo Island and linked to the mainland by a causeway. The settlement includes three modern harbors that serve the entrance of the canal.
The settlement was founded in 1850 by American railroad workers as Aspinwall and received its current name in 1890 to honor Christopher Columbus. Engineer William Crawford Gorgas transformed the swampy terrain by building waterworks and sewerage systems that made the ground suitable for housing.
Many residents trace their roots to Caribbean workers who arrived during the canal construction, and this heritage appears in the neighborhood's music and food traditions. In the streets near the harbor, you often hear Caribbean rhythms and see small shops offering regional dishes.
The free trade zone from 1953 sits in the city center and is open to visitors who register as buyers. The harbor district is spread out, and moving between different parts is easiest by taxi or shared minibus.
The original town layout follows a rectangular grid that came directly from American engineering plans and remains visible at many intersections today. In some spots, you can still see wooden Caribbean-style buildings from the early railroad era.
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