capital of Belize. It is located near the town of Roaring Creek, in the Belize River valley 50 miles (80 km) inland from Belize City, the former capital on the Caribbean coast. The new capital was conceived after Hurricane Hattie and an associated tidal wave did extensive damage to Belize City in 1961. The site was chosen to be far enough inland to avoid a recurrence of disastrous flooding. Construction was begun in 1966, with funds from a United Kingdom grant. In 1970 government offices were moved to the new capital; housing construction went on through the 1970s. Most of the residents of Belmopan are government employees and their families. Pop. (2007 est.) 16,435.