Zonians

Zonians (Spanish: Zoneítas, singular: zoneíta, zoniano) are people associated with the Panama Canal Zone, a political entity which existed between 1903 and the absorption of the Canal Zone into the Republic of Panama between 1979 and 1999. Most were American expatriates loyal to the United States. They helped build and maintain the canal. Many Zonians are descendants of the civilian American workers who came to the area during the early 1900s to work and maintain the canal. Many of the Zonians were American citizens born in the Canal Zone or had spent their childhood there. A significant presence of American canal workers remained in the Canal region until its turnover in 1999.

National identity
Some Zonians consider themselves to be Panamanian and U.S. citizens, although quite a few say that they are only American or only Panamanian. This unique relation—physically near Panama yet citizens of the U.S.—makes Zonians a diasporic community, with members turning to online forums (such as the PANAMA-L listserv) to discuss and debate issues such as nationalism, belonging, and national identity.

The Panama Canal Society holds a reunion for Zonians every year, usually in Orlando, Florida.

Notable Zonians

 * John McCain, senior United States senator from Arizona, was the Republican presidential nominee in the 2008 United States election.
 * Rod Carew, professional baseball player
 * John G. Claybourn, civil engineer, Dredging Division Superintendent, the original designer of Gamboa, Panama
 * Karen Hughes, former U.S. Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
 * Frederick W. Leslie, American astronaut
 * Gustavo A. Mellander, Higher education: chancellor, president, and graduate school dean. Authored or co-authored 13 books and over 400 articles on higher education.
 * Richard Prince, painter and photographer
 * Charles S. Spencer, curator of Mexican and Central American Archaeology, American Museum of Natural History
 * Stephen Stills, noted rock musician
 * Lou Sola, Commissioner, Federal Maritime Commission.
 * Frederik Pohl, science fiction writer and editor
 * Sage Steele, anchor ESPN
 * Edward A. Murphy, Jr., aerospace engineer, best known for the eponymous Murphy's law
 * Leo Barker, NFL linebacker for Cincinnati Bengals, 1984–1991
 * Ernest "Red" Hallen, official photographer of the Panama Canal.
 * Shoshana Johnson, US Army soldier taken prisoner during the Battle of Nasiriyah.