Geography
Chame District (Distrito de Chame) is one of the districts of Panamá Province in the Republic of Panama. It lies on the Pacific coast, northwest of Panama City, and includes a portion of the Panamanian shoreline along the Gulf of Panama. The district’s terrain ranges from coastal lowlands to inland hills.
Administrative divisions
The district is divided into several corregimientos (sub‑districts). The primary corregimientos are:
- Chame (capital)
- Las Lajas
- La Negra
- Chagua
- Villa de Los Santos
Area and population
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Panama, the district covers an area of approximately 950 km². The 2010 national census recorded a total population of about 19,800 residents. Updated figures from later censuses have not been published in widely available English‑language encyclopedic sources.
Economy
The local economy is largely based on agriculture, fishing, and increasingly on tourism, particularly beach‑related activities in coastal villages such as Chame and Las Lajas. Small‑scale livestock raising and the cultivation of crops such as corn, rice, and fruit are also common.
History
Chame District was established as a separate administrative unit during the re‑organization of Panama’s provinces and districts in the early 20th century. Historical records indicate that the area was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples before Spanish colonization. The district’s development accelerated in the mid‑20th century with improvements in road infrastructure linking it to Panama City.
Transportation
The Pan‑American Highway (Carretera Interamericana) runs through the district, providing road connections to the capital and to neighboring districts. Public buses and private taxis are the main forms of public transport within the district.
All information presented is based on publicly available governmental and encyclopedic sources; where specific data are lacking, the entry reflects the limits of current encyclopedia coverage.
