Peñuelas Municipio Autónomo de Peñuelas | |
---|---|
Town and Municipality | |
Nicknames: "La Capital del Güiro" ("The Güiro Capital"), "El Valle de los Flamboyanes" ("The Valley of the Poinciana Trees") | |
Anthem: "Así es mi pueblo" | |
Coordinates: 18°3′34″N66°43′21″W / 18.05944°N 66.72250°W | |
Sovereign state | United States |
Commonwealth | Puerto Rico |
Settled | 1754 |
Founded | August 15, 1793 |
Founded by | Diego de Alvarado |
Barrios | |
Government | |
• Mayor | Sr. Gregory Gonzalez Souchet (PPD) |
• Senatorial dist. | 5 - Ponce |
Area | |
• Total | 137.42 km2 (53.06 sq mi) |
• Land | 114 km2 (44 sq mi) |
• Water | 23.42 km2 (9.04 sq mi) |
Population (2020) [1] | |
• Total | 20,399 |
• Rank | 59th in Puerto Rico |
• Density | 150/km2 (380/sq mi) |
• Ethnic groups (2000 Census) [2] | 83.3% European 4.5% African 0.3% Arawak 0.1% Asian 0.1% Native Hawaiian/PI 9.4% Some other ethnicity 2.4% Two or more ethnicities |
Demonym | Peñolanos |
Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) |
ZIP Code | 00624 |
Area code | 787/939 |
Major routes | |
Website | www |
Peñuelas (Spanish pronunciation: [peˈɲwelas] , locally [peˈɲwelaʔ] ) is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the Peñuelas Valley on the southern coast of the island, south of Adjuntas, east of Guayanilla, west of Ponce and north of the Caribbean Sea. Peñuelas is spread over 12 barrios and Peñuelas Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the Yauco Metropolitan Statistical Area. Peñuelas is known as "La Capital del Güiro" (The Güiro Capital) and "El Valle de los Flamboyanes" (The Valley of the Royal Poinciana trees). In 2020, Peñuelas had a population of 20,399.
In 1754, a group of workers had settled over the Bay of Tallaboa. Later gradually retreated deeper into the valley, heading tobarrios the most fertile land which would then be part of the town of Peñuelas. For the year 1788, approximately 80 families inhabiting the valley, which focused mainly on agriculture and livestock. Peñuelas Township was founded August 25, 1793 by Diego de Alvarado. [3]
By 1874, the town had been developed and had a population of 9,206, according to a census of that year. The town had four main roads, some streets, a brick church and the town hall, which also served as a prison, barracks and a cemetery.
On March 1, 1902 the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico approved a law to consolidate certain municipal districts, so Peñuelas neighborhoods were attached to the municipality of Ponce. In 1905, the same Assembly repealed the law and Peñuelas became once again a municipality.
The first incident of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolt of 1950 occurred during the early hours of October 29, 1950 in Peñuelas when the insular police of that town surrounded the house of the mother of Melitón Muñiz Santos, the president of the Peñuelas chapter of the Nationalist Party in the barrio Macaná, under the pretext that he was storing weapons for the Nationalist Revolt. Without warning, the police fired upon the Nationalists in the house and a firefight between both factions ensued, which resulted in the death of two Nationalists and the wounding of six police officers. [4] Nationalists Melitón Muñiz Santos, Roberto Jaume Rodríguez, Estanislao Lugo Santiago, Marcelino Turell, William Gutiérrez and Marcelino Berríos were arrested and accused of participating in an ambush against the local insular police. [5]
On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Peñuelas, an estimated 1,500 homes were completely destroyed and 500 were partially destroyed. [6] With its winds and rainfall, the hurricane triggered numerous landslides in northern Peñuelas. [7] [8]
Peñuelas is located on the southern coast, slightly west of the center. [9]
Rivers near Peñuelas include:
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Peñuelas is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo". [10] [11] [12] [13]
Within barrios are communities: For example, the Santo Domingo comunidad ('community') in Santo Domingo barrio and the Tallaboa community in the barrio of Encarnación.
Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions) [14] and subbarrios, [15] are further subdivided into smaller areas called sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others. [16] [17] [18]
Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Peñuelas: Maldonado neighborhood (Los Chinos), Santo Domingo barrio, Comunidad Caracoles, and Comunidad La Moca in Tallaboa Alta. [19]
Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Peñuelas was 12,129.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 12,129 | — | |
1910 | 11,991 | −1.1% | |
1920 | 13,598 | 13.4% | |
1930 | 13,278 | −2.4% | |
1940 | 14,789 | 11.4% | |
1950 | 14,931 | 1.0% | |
1960 | 14,887 | −0.3% | |
1970 | 15,973 | 7.3% | |
1980 | 19,116 | 19.7% | |
1990 | 22,515 | 17.8% | |
2000 | 26,719 | 18.7% | |
2010 | 24,282 | −9.1% | |
2020 | 20,399 | −16.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [20] 1899 (shown as 1900) [21] 1910-1930 [22] 1930-1950 [23] 1960-2000 [24] 2010 [12] 2020 [25] |
There are 15 beaches in Peñuelas. [26] The main attractions in Peñuelas are:
Manufacturing, refinery.
Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Peñuelas is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Gregory Gonsález Souchet, from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Gonsález was elected at a special election in 2018 after the incumbent Walter Torres Maldonado stepped down from the mayoral position.
The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district V, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Ramón Ruiz and Martín Vargas Morales, from the Popular Democratic Party, were elected as District Senators. [27]
The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms. [28]
It has a rectangular bottom in canary yellow and stands for the sun, symbol of the physical life. In the center it has a purple or violet cross: symbol of Christianity and its ecclesiastical order; it represents the spiritual life. The cross purple extends to all the points of the yellow rectangle. [29]
The adornment above the shield, a stone wall, represents the perpetuity. The cross represents Santo Cristo de la Salud that "stopped the sea from flooding Peñuelas". The purple arm represents the priesthood and the town of Peñuelas. The canary yellow represents the sun. The blue and white symbolize the choppy sea and the regal ensign represents the faith in Christianity, "In God We Trust". [29]
Peñuelas celebrates its patron saint festival in late October / early November. The Fiestas Patronales de San Jose is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment. [30]
Other festivals and events celebrated in Peñuelas include: [9]
Peñuelas AA Amateur Baseball team is called Los Petroleros de Peñuelas (The Peñuelas' Oilers.) The origin of this name dates back to the days when Peñuelas was home to a major petro-chemical complex known as CORCO. Although CORCO closed operations in 1980, the name stuck throughout the years.
Also known as Luis "Tite" Arroyo's hometown, a baseball hero. Another hometown hero is Ivelisse Echevarria, who was inducted into the International Federation Softball Hall of Fame in 2003 and is considered by many to be the greatest softball pitcher born in Puerto Rico. Myrian "Betty" Segarra, who was inducted into the International Federation Softball Hall of Fame in 2003 and the best first base in the woman softball in Puerto Rico.
Peñuelas' public bus service ("la guagua") connects passengers to Ponce city (east) and Guayanilla (west).
There are 24 bridges in Peñuelas. [31]
6 Elementary schools, 4 Intermediate Schools, 1 High School
San Lorenzo is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the eastern central region, north of Patillas and Yabucoa; south of Gurabo; east of Caguas and Cayey; and west of Juncos and Las Piedras. San Lorenzo is spread over twelve barrios and San Lorenzo Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Ceiba is both a small town and a municipality in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the north-east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, south of Fajardo, north of Naguabo and southeast of Río Grande. Located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan, Ceiba is spread over 7 barrios and Ceiba Pueblo. It is part of the Fajardo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Yabucoa is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas. Yabucoa is spread over 9 barrios and Yabucoa Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Comerío is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico in the center-eastern region of island, north of Aibonito; south of Naranjito and Bayamón; east of Barranquitas; and west of Cidra and Aguas Buenas. Comerío is spread over 7 barrios and Comerío Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Guayanilla is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the southern coast of the island, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Adjuntas, east of Yauco; and west of Peñuelas and about 12 miles (19 km) west of Ponce. Guayanilla is spread over 16 barrios and Guayanilla Pueblo. It is part of the Yauco Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Hatillo is a town and municipality located in Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spread over nine barrios and Hatillo Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Las Marías is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located north of Maricao; southeast of Añasco; south of San Sebastián; east of Mayagüez; and west of Lares. Las Marías is spread over 13 barrios and Las Marías Pueblo.
Las Piedras, is a town and municipality in east Puerto Rico located in the central eastern region of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Canóvanas and Río Grande; east of Juncos and San Lorenzo; and west of Naguabo and Humacao. Las Piedras is spread over 7 barrios and Las Piedras Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Luquillo is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northeast coast, northwest of Fajardo; and east of Rio Grande. Luquillo is spread over 5 barrios and Luquillo Pueblo. It lends its name to the Sierra de Luquillo, where El Yunque National Forest is located. It is part of the Fajardo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Río Grande is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the eastern edge of the Northern Coastal Valley, north of Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba; east of Loíza and Canóvanas and west of Luquillo. Río Grande is spread over eight barrios and Río Grande Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. A big portion of El Yunque National Forest, including El Yunque's peak, is located within the municipality.
Canas is one of the 31 barrios in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Coto Laurel, Guaraguao, Quebrada Limón, Real, San Patricio, and Marueño, and the coastal barrio of Capitanejo, Canas is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios. It borders the municipality of Peñuelas. Along with Playa, Bucana, Vayas and Capitanejo, Canas is also one of Ponce's five coastal barrios. It was founded in 1831.
Quebrada Limón is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Coto Laurel, Guaraguao, Marueño, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Quebrada Limón is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios. It borders the municipality of Peñuelas. It was founded in 1878.
Tallaboa Alta Barrio is a barrio in the municipality of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 3,784.
Macaná is a barrio in the municipality of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 803.
Cuebas is a barrio in the municipality of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 449.
Encarnación is a barrio in the municipality of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 1,378.
Santo Domingo is a barrio in the municipality of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 5,761.
Tallaboa Poniente is a barrio in the municipality of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 696.
Tallaboa Saliente is a barrio in the municipality of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 244.
Peñuelas barrio-pueblo is a barrio and the administrative center (seat) of Peñuelas, a municipality of Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 1,422.
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