Punta Santiago | |
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Barrio | |
![]() View of ocean and beach from a boardwalk in Punta Santiago | |
![]() Location of Punta Santiago within the municipality of Humacao shown in red | |
Coordinates: 18°09′52″N65°45′02″W / 18.164424°N 65.750547°W [1] | |
Commonwealth | ![]() |
Municipality | ![]() |
Area | |
• Total | 3.17 sq mi (8.2 km2) |
• Land | 2.20 sq mi (5.7 km2) |
• Water | 0.97 sq mi (2.5 km2) |
Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 4,723 |
• Density | 2,146.80/sq mi (828.88/km2) |
Source: 2010 Census | |
Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) |
ZIP Code | 00741 |
Punta Santiago is a barrio and fishing community located in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2020 was 3,716. [3] [4] Located in the estuary of Humacao, Punta Santiago is famous for its fishing heritage, its iconic pier and Cayo Santiago, popularly known as Monkey Island (Spanish: Isla de de los Monos) after its Rhesus macaque population. The barrio is also the home of the Humacao Nature Reserve and the Punta Santiago Beach and Vacation Area. [5] Punta Santiago is one of the most vulnerable barrios to flooding and complete destruction whenever hurricanes enter Puerto Rico through the area of Humacao.
The fishing village of Punta Santiago was originally called Playa de Humacao as it was the closest beach to Humacao Pueblo, the historic and administrative downtown area of Humacao. [6] The community of Punta Santiago used to be part of two former barrios of Humacao, one called Humacao Playa and the other called Mabú. By the end of the 19th century barrio Mabú had been eliminated and incorporated into barrio Playa, now renamed Punta Santiago after the geographical headland or point (punta) where the fishing village is located. [7]
Since December 1938, Cayo Santiago, located immediately off Punta Santiago, has been the home to a population of free roaming Rhesus macaques imported from India by the School of Tropical Medicine in San Juan, the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the University of Puerto Rico.
The area where the Humacao nature reserve is located today saw a number of bunkers and defensive infrastructure built during the Second World War, including a lookout post at the top of El Morrillo hill. [8] This area which contains a number of mangrove and Pterocarpus forests was later proclaimed a wildlife refuge in 1986. [9]
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. The hurricane eye entered the island close to Punta Yeguas in Yabucoa, not far from Punta Santiago. The barrio was particularly vulnerable to the associated storm surges. According to Father José Colón, the local Catholic priest, the hurricane caused the total flooding of Punta Santiago. [10]
"The town was flooded from all directions, from the ocean, rain and nearby rivers..."
Punta Santiago was one of the most impacted communities in the aftermath of the hurricane. It was the location of the viral image of an SOS message written on one of the roads of the community. [11] The Punta Santiago Vacation Center was greatly affected by the hurricane, and it remained abandoned by 2023. [12]
In 2019, updated flood zone maps show that because of its location- where most cyclones enter the island, Humacao is one of the most vulnerable areas of Puerto Rico. [13] Humacao was working on flood mitigation plans and shared that its barrios located on the coast; Antón Ruíz, Punta Santiago, Río Abajo, Buena Vista and Candelero Abajo barrios, are prone to flooding and in danger of being completed destroyed by a hurricane. [14]
The barrio was in Spain's gazetteers [15] until 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 an unincorporated territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the combined population of Punta Santiago and San Francisco barrios was 1,754. [16]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1910 | 988 | — | |
1920 | 1,201 | 21.6% | |
1930 | 1,847 | 53.8% | |
1940 | 2,185 | 18.3% | |
1950 | 2,498 | 14.3% | |
1960 | 2,433 | −2.6% | |
1980 | 5,750 | — | |
1990 | 5,900 | 2.6% | |
2000 | 5,524 | −6.4% | |
2010 | 4,723 | −14.5% | |
2020 | 3,716 | −21.3% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) [17] 1910-1930 [18] 1930-1950 [19] 1980-2000 [20] 2010 [21] 2020 [22] |
The population of Punta Santiago in 2020 was 3,716, a 21.3% decrease from 4,723 in 2010. [4]
Humacao is a city and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 12 barrios and Humacao Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Salinas is a town and municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama. Salinas is spread over 5 barrios and Salinas Pueblo.
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.
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.
Maunabo is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Maunabo Valley on the southeastern coast, northeast of Patillas and south of Yabucoa. Maunabo is spread over eight barrios and Maunabo Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current mayor of the town is Jorge L. Márquez Pérez and the population in 2020 was 10,589.
Naguabo is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the east coast of the island bordered by the Vieques Passage, north of Humacao; south of Río Grande and Ceiba; and east of Las Piedras. Naguabo is spread over 8 barrios and Naguabo Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Rincón is a popular beach town and municipality of Puerto Rico founded in 1771 by Don Luis de Añasco, who previously founded Añasco in 1733. It is located in the Western Coastal Valley, west of Añasco and Aguada. Rincón is spread over 9 barrios and Rincón Pueblo. It is part of the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Toa Alta is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast of the island, north of Naranjito; south of Dorado and Toa Baja; east of Vega Alta and Corozal; and west of Bayamón. Toa Alta is spread over eight barrios and Toa Alta Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo metropolitan statistical area. There are nine barrios in Toa Alta and altogether in 2020 had a population of 66,852. Río de la Plata, is a large river that runs through Toa Alta. Toa Alta celebrates its patron saint festival in May.
Toa Baja is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast, north of Toa Alta and Bayamón; east of Dorado; and west of Cataño. Toa Baja is spread over five barrios, including Toa Baja Pueblo. Toa Baja is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. Toa Baja is located fifteen minutes by car from San Juan and two hours from Ponce.
Cayo Santiago, also known as Santiago Island, Isla de los monos, is located at 18°09′23″N65°44′03″W, 0.59 mi (0.95 km) 0.6 mi (1.0 km) to the east of Punta Santiago, Humacao, Puerto Rico.
Río Abajo is a barrio in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 7,495.
Buena Vista is a barrio in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 3,519.
Lares is a barrio in the municipality of Lares, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 3,405.
Antón Ruíz is a barrio in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 3,496.
Candelero Abajo is a barrio in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 5,135.
Machos is a barrio in the municipality of Ceiba, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 3,567.
Humacao barrio-pueblo is a barrio and the administrative center (seat) of Humacao, a municipality of Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 3,862.
Humacao Nature Reserve, or the Punta Santiago Nature Reserve, is a nature reserve located in the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico, between the municipalities of Humacao and Naguabo (Río). The 3,000-acre nature reserve was established in 1986 to protect and preserve the remaining Pterocarpus forest ecosystem in the area, along with its surrounding wetlands and mangrove forests.
Punta Petrona is a cape and protected area located in southern Puerto Rico, in the Felicia 1 district of the municipality of Santa Isabel. Located in the Caribbean Sea coast, it is bordered by the Rincón Bay to the east, and the bight of Caja de Muertos to the west. Punta Petrona contains a mangrove forest and it is surrounded by small keys that serve as a habitat for the West Indian manatee. It is also an important coral reef area frequented by sea turtles. The area is protected as the Punta Petrona Natural Reserve, part of the wider Aguirre State Forest; however, the Puerto Rican Planning Society revealed in 2018 that this nature reserve did not have the proper state management and classification regulations.
Nature Reserve of Puerto Rico is a title and special designation given by the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico to specific natural areas or features throughout the territory. All nature reserves in Puerto Rico are protected by Puerto Rico Law #150, first approved on August 8, 1988, better known as the Puerto Rico Natural Heritage Program Act that seeks to protect the natural resources of the island for the purpose of natural preservation and tourism. These are managed by different agencies within the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, public-private partnerships such as the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico and its management unit Para la naturaleza, and other grassroots and community institutions and programs.