History

The same Icaiche chief, Marcus Canul that attacked Settlement 64 in 1870, attacked Orange Walk in 1872. This attack was repulsed by the 1st West India Regiment under Lieutenant Smith, and Marcus Canul himself was killed, reportedly by Fransisco Escalante who had established a store in Orange Walk and was considered wealthy.^[1] After Canul's death the Colony of British Honduras was free of any future indian incursions.

The Savings Bank, headquartered in Settlement 12, established a branch here in 1881.^[2]

1977 - S.I. No. 77 defined Orange Walk's town boundaries.^[3]

1996, July 8 - Town boundaries altered.^[3]

2025, April 1 - All towns in Belize had their boundaries updated.^[4] This brought the Settlement 192, Settlement 466 and Ann Gabourel areas into the Orange Walk Town limits.^[5]

In 1914 a telegraph line existed from Settlement 12 through Settlement 186 to Settlement 64 and beyond. Another line of about 10 miles existed from Settlement 186 to Settlement 115.^[6]

The Catholic School had 211 students in 1927 and 205 in 1928.^[7][8]

In 1893 Orange Walk was made a town.^[9]

In 1949 the police force consisted of 9 officers, with transportation consisting of 1 motorcycle.^[10]

Improved mail and passenger services by motor vessels were established in 1924, the routes being Settlement 12-Settlement 64-Settlement 186 and Settlement 12-Settlement 79-Settlement 387-Settlement 172-Settlement 202. These services were subsidized by the government and mail was carried under contract.^[11]

Religious Institutions

In 1875 the first Catholic church and Fathers residence was established.^[12]

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Reverends

• 1917-1918 Rev. Joseph H. Meuffels^[13][14]
• 1917-1918,1925-1927 Rev. Edward Colgan, S.J.^[13][14][15]
• 1925 Rev. Bernard F. Abeling, S.J.^[15]
• 1927-1928 Rev. Robert A. Henneman, S.J.
• 1928 Rev. Daniel M. Coady, S.J.

Missions

• Settlement 500 (1917-1928)
• Settlement 315 (1917-1928)
• Settlement 9 (1917-1928)
• Richmond Hill (1917-1918)
• Settlement 115 (1917-1928)
• Ship Yard (1917-1918)
• Settlement 97 (1917-1918)
• Settlement 474 (1917-1918)
• Settlement 228 (1917-1918)
• Settlement 215 (1917-1918)
• Settlement 53 (1917-1918)
• Settlement 243 (1917-1918)
• Settlement 269 (1917-1925)
• Settlement 332 (1917-1928)
• Settlement 499 (1917-1918)
• Settlement 235 (1925-1927)
• Settlement 227 (1928)

The Maranatha Church is under the North Belize Mission Conference (Settlement 64) in the Belize Union Mission (Settlement 12) of the Inter-American Division (Miami, Florida) of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In 2025 they had 139 members.^[16]

The Mt. Sinai Church is under the North Belize Mission Conference (Settlement 64) in the Belize Union Mission (Settlement 12) of the Inter-American Division (Miami, Florida) of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In 2025 they had 811 members.^[16]