Colón, city, Cuba

Colón (kōlōn`), city (1994 est. pop. 44,000), Matanzas prov., W central Cuba. It is a rail hub and commercial center for the surrounding agricultural region. Colón's sugar industry has declined since the mid-19th cent., although it remains an important part of the economy. The city was founded in 1836.

Colón, city, Panama

Colón, city (1990 pop. 140,908), Panama, at the Caribbean end of the Panama Canal. Colón, the second largest city in Panama, was surrounded by, but not part of, the former Panama Canal Zone. Colón is an important port, commercial center, and tourist destination. It was made a free trade zone in 1953 and is the world's second largest duty-free port (the principal tourist attraction). The city was founded in 1850 by Americans working on the trans-Panama railroad and was named Aspinwall until 1890. Built on a swampy island, the city was often scourged by yellow fever until the sanitary work associated with the construction of the canal was completed under W. C. Gorgas.