Fort Clayton facts for kids
Fort Clayton was a military base for the United States Army. It was located in what used to be the Panama Canal Zone. This area is now part of the country of Panama.
About Fort Clayton
Fort Clayton was located in Panama, not far from the famous Panama Canal. It was northwest of a town called Balboa, Panama. The base closed in 1999. This happened because of special agreements known as the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. These treaties gave Panama control over the Panama Canal and the land around it.
Many important military groups were based at Fort Clayton. These included the Southern Command Network and the 193rd Infantry Brigade. The main office for United States Army South was also there before it moved to Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. A group called the 534th Military Police Battalion helped keep order on all the military bases on the Pacific side of Panama.
Fort Clayton had many homes for military families. It also had barracks, which are buildings where soldiers live. Some parts of the base had great views of the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal. These locks are like water elevators that help ships move through the canal.
Today, the land where Fort Clayton once stood is used for different things. It has homes, schools, and is also the main area for the "Ciudad del Saber" (City of Knowledge). This is a special place for education and research.
Schools at Fort Clayton
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) ran schools for children of American military families. Fort Clayton Elementary School was one of these schools. Curundu Elementary School was also located at Fort Clayton. For older students, the DoDEA had Curundu Middle School and Balboa High School in Panama.
See also
- List of former United States military installations in Panama
- Naval Base Panama Canal Zone
In Spanish: Fuerte Clayton para niños
