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US federal appeals court stated that Panama's ex-leader, Manuel Noriega, could be extradited to France. Ricardo Martinelli won presidential elections; Canada signed free trade deal with Panama. Panama ended 2009 with a population of 3600000 people, which represents an increase of 62000 people compared to 2008.

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Fatal shooting of union leaders triggered violent clashes between police, construction workers in Panama City. Russian warship sailed through Panama Canal for first time since WWII. Noriega released from Florida prison after serving 17 years of sentence for drug trafficking.

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Mireya Moscoso elected Panama's first woman president. Panama took full control of Canal. In accordance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, officially hands over control of the Panama Canal, putting the strategic waterway into Panamanian hands for the first time.

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President Arias opened vote to women. General Omar Torrijos Herrera, national guard chief, ousted president Arias, imposed a dictatorship. General Omar Torrijos died in plane crash.

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Panama canal completed; US declared Panama Canal Zone neutral.  With the passage through of the Ancon, an American cargo-passenger ship.The Canal was built primarily to make a faster way to the West Coast for American settlers in the 19th Century.

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US acquired control of Panama Canal zone for $10 Million. The US took over construction of Panama Canal; Panama adopted US dollar as its currency.  Many people died building the Panama Canal : Of the 56,000 workers employed between 1904 and 1913, roughly 5,600 were reportedly killed.

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Panama signed treaty with US, allowed US to build railway across Isthmus.  Transiting the Panama Canal is one of the greatest spectacles in travel. It is an artificial 82 km (51 mi) waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.

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Panama became independent of Spain; joined confederacy of Gran Colombia, comprised of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia. Independence of Panama from Spain was accomplished through a bloodless revolt between 10 November 1821 and 28 November 1821. Seizing the opportunity, when the Spanish governor left Panama to march on rebellious Ecuadorians, José de Fábrega led a push for independence

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Pirate Henry Morgan defeated Spanish defenders, captured Panama.  Landing on the Caribbean coast and traversing the isthmus before he attacked the city, which was on the Pacific coast. The battle was a rout, although the privateers profited less than in other raids.

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In 1519 Panama City was founded by the Spanish governor  Pedro Arias de Ávila,  not long after conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa first saw the Pacific.  Panama declared its independence from Colombia on November 3, 1903, and Panama City was firmly established  as the capital. The Spanish settlement became an important center of government church authority.