Chepo, Panamá Province facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chepo
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Corregimiento
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 Chepo
Location in Panamá Province
Chepo
Location in Panama
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| Country |  Panama |
| Province | Panamá |
| District | Chepo |
| Area | |
| • Land | 438.6 km2 (169.3 sq mi) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 20,420 |
| • Density | 46.6/km2 (121/sq mi) |
| Population density calculated based on land area. | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| Climate | Am |
Chepo is a town in Panama. It is a corregimiento, which is a type of local division, located in the Chepo District of Panamá Province. In 2010, about 20,420 people lived in Chepo. It is the main town of the Chepo District.
Chepo is located just five kilometers south of the important Inter-American Highway. It is a growing town that is almost like a suburb of Panama City. You can find a gas station, a hospital, an ATM, and many different stores in Chepo. There are also plans for a new highway to connect Pacora to Chepo, which will help the town grow even more.
Chepo's History and Location
Chepo has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1990, its population was 8,971. By 2000, it had increased to 12,734 people. This growth shows how Chepo has become a more important center in the region.
Chepo and the Darién Gap
The Darién Gap is a large area of undeveloped swampland and forests that separates Panama from Colombia. For a long time, Chepo was known as the place where the Pan-American Highway ended in Panama. Beyond Chepo, the highway stopped, and the jungle of the Darién Gap began. The highway would then start again in Turbo, Colombia.
Because of this, Chepo used to be a very important stop for people traveling through the area. It was a place where goods were moved from one type of transport to another. It was also a starting point for people going on adventure trips into the jungle.
However, things changed around 2008. A paved highway was completed that stretched about 230 kilometers further into the region, reaching a town called Yaviza. This new road meant that much of the travel and economic activity that used to happen in Chepo moved to other towns like Metetí or Yaviza.
See also
In Spanish: Chepo para niños
