# History In the 1980s Chan Pine Ridge was just a collection of houses with only 2 small streets running through the village and a couple of trails leading off to the sugar fields.DOS 1980 In 2015 the village's water tank was torn down and the land it stood on was sold to Belize Water Services without the consent of the villagers, angering them. The land had originally been donated by Belize Sugar Industries.https://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/501456/chan-pine-ridge-village-water-tank-sold.html In 2019, due to black ashes falling on the village from the nearby BSI factory and causing health issues, the residents pleaded the Department of Environment to do something about it.https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2019/01/06/chan-pine-ridge-residents-concerned-about-pollution-near-bsi/ The broom-makers of Chan Pine Ridge also suffered from the pollution as the hay they used to make brooms was drying up and dying,https://7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=49468 ## Chan Pine Ridge Agricultural & Trade Fair The fair dates back to 1966 and was initiated by villagers Tiburcio Gomez, Valerio Torres, Santiago Torres, Gonzalo Torres, as well as Eugenio Cob. This committee decided that the fair would be held annually in line with Baron Bliss Holiday and the first fair was carried out at the Amalia Farm on a plot of land belonging to the late Valerio Torres. For two years the fair was a success, then the committee invited Area Representative Hon. Elijio “Joe” Briceño to see if they could get a larger area for the fair. So they cleared 30 acres of land for a permanent show grounds and a horse race track and a football field. Because of the COVID pandemic in March of 2020, the fair was discontinued and later the area was planned to be subdivided into lots. ## Boundaries In 2024 the village council suggested subdividing the race track into 150 lots as the village didn't have any more land for it's residents. However, it sparked protests as residents didn't want to let go of their recreational space even though there were no horse races anymore.https://lovefm.com/chan-pine-ridge-community-divided-over-land-subdivision-proposal/ ## Education The Chan Pine Ridge Community Library was founded by Miss Jenny Soto-Banks and opened its doors on May 31, 2007. Since 2008 Ms. Minelia Carillo served as the community librarian.https://www.bnlsis.org/chan-pine-ridge-community-library-0 ## Infrastructure On November 4, 2014 the newly renovated and renamed Tower Hill/Chan Pine Ridge Airstrip was inaugurated as the Alfredo Martinez Chan Pine Ridge Airstrip in commemoration of the Belizean ambassador to Guatemala. The airstrip, 3,200 ft. long, was repaved with hot mix and painted to international standards, costing $1.2 million. The project was funded by the GOB and the Belize Airports Authority.https://amandala.com.bz/news/tower-hillchan-pine-ridge-airstrip-inaugurated/ On October 31, 2025 the Government of Belize Press Office announced that the Chan Pine Ridge Road had been paved.https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1530763791154779 # Etymology **Chan** is a Yucatec Maya word meaning "small", thus *Small Pine Ridge* becomes **Chan Pine Ridge**.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chan_Pine_Ridge