Salinas, Puerto Rico

Infobox Settlement

settlement_type =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Puerto Rico

subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =

timezone=AST
utc_offset=-4
timezone_DST=
utc_offset_DST=
unit_pref=Imperial
map_caption =Location of PAGENAME within Puerto Rico.
latNS=N
longEW=W| official_name = Salinas, Puerto Rico | nickname = El Pueblo del Mojo Isleño", "Los Marlins


image_
| population_blank1 = Salinences|population_blank1_title=Gentilic|
Puerto Rico
Country |
Puerto Rico
established_date = 1851 | leader_title|established_title=Founded| = Mayor | leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Hon. Carlos J. Rodríguez Mateo
political party = Partido Nuevo Progresista
leader_party = PNP
leader_title1=Senatorial dist.
leader_name1= 6 - Guayama
leader_title2=Representative dist.
leader_name2 = 30 | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 180.4
population_as_of = 2000 | population_note =
population_total = 31113|population_footnotes= | population_density_km2 = 172.4| timezone = AST | utc_offset = -4 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = -4| latd= |latm= |lats=
longd=|longm= |longs=
population_blank2_title = Racial groups
(2000 Census) [ [http://www.topuertorico.org/pdf/2kh72.pdf Demographics/Ethnic U.S 2000 census] ]
population_blank2 = 74.6% White 10.6% Black 0.4% American Indian/AN 0.1% Asian 0.1% Native Hawaiian/PI 9.8% Some other race 4.5% Two or more races|latitude =
longitude =
website =
footnotes = Anthem – "Salinas" |

Salinas (sah-LEE-nahs) is a small 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 7 wards and Salinas Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

It has long been a fishing spot for Puerto Ricans, known for its beaches, fish variety and the birthplace of the famous "mojito isleño".

Although Salinas doesn't have any commercial airports, there is a military air base there. In addition, there is a military youth camp there, Camp Santiago, which is visited every year by many groups of Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA (see also: Scouting in Puerto Rico) and other children's groups.

History

Salinas was founded in 1841 by Agustín Colón Pacheco.

Flag

On a green rectangular field, five white isosceles triangles equal in size, placed in the center of the flag and forming a row that covers the extent of the background. The green represents the land and the triangles hills of salt from which the name of the town is derived.

Coat of Arms

The shield uses the traditional colors of the town; green and silver. The salt knolls indicate in graphical form the name of the town: Salinas. The fish refer to the fishing. The sugar cane leaves that surround the shield, symbolize the sugar cane plantations.

Demographics

Racial distribution

Barrios (Districts/Wards) [http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/salinas.pdf]

*Aguirre(Aguirre Central, Coquí,San Felipe, Aguirre) *Lapa(Monte Grande, Coco,Parselas Vasquez, Naranjo,Vertedero) *Palmas

*Quebrada Yeguas (Bo. Plena) *Sabana Llana *Río Jueyes(Las 80) *Salinas Pueblo(Pueblo, Playa,Playita)

Geo/Topography

*Gorges;. The Callao, La Palma y Majada and Pasto Viejo.
*Lagoons; Mar Negro and Punta Arctias.
*Rivers; Jájome, Jueyes, Lapa and Salina (Nigua).

Anthem

By Antonio Ferrer Atilano

Salinas, Salinas
el pueblo donde yo nací
sus campos sus montes
son siempre verdes para mí

Salinas, Salinas
yo no te puedo olvidar
tus bellos palmares
te saludan con una canción

Economic

Agriculture

*Salinas is one of the main agricultural producers on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It has large banana and papaya farms in its Coco and Aguirre barrios. The 80 barrio is one the main producers of beef in the south, counting with La Hacienda Las Carolinas which supplies Ganaderia Santiago, a slaughter house, with meat. Salinas also is headquarters for Canto Alegre, a company which specializes in poultry. This company supplies most of Puerto Rico's supermarkets with fresh poultry.

Business

*Apparell, commercial fishing.

Industrial

*Aguirre Sugar Cane Mill, the last operational sugar cane mill in Puerto Rico, Aguirre Central closed its doors in 1993; Electrical and electronic machinery, plastics, sunglasses.

Landmarks and places of interest

*Albergue Olímpico (Olympic Hostel)
*Aguirre Forest
*Antigua Central Aguirre (Sugar Cane Mill)
*Camp Santiago
*Sports Museum
*El Monumento Jibaro
*Playa Salinas

Festivals and events

*Abey Carnival - February
**Abey - Cacique (Chief) of yucayeque-(village) in the area of Abeyno Salinas, Puerto Rico.
*Pescao Festival - June
*Matron Celebration - September
*Festival Del Mojito Isleño

Notable "Salinenses"

Miss Universe - Salinas is famous for being home of several beauties that have had noticeable participation in the international Miss Universe contest. These are former Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2005 Cynthia Olavarria, and the reigning Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera.

*Roberto Alomar, baseball player
*Sandy Alomar, Jr., baseball player
*Sandy Alomar, Sr., baseball player
*Santos P. Amadeo, former senator and constitutional law scholar
*Maeles, iconic figure in town and lovable children figure
*Ricky Ledeé, baseball player
*Angel "Cholo" Espada, famous boxer and former WBA's world Welterweight champion
*Cynthia Olavarria Rivera, former Miss Puerto Rico
*Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza, Miss Universe 2006
*Elizabeth Zayas Ortiz, former Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Maja International 1976
*Manuel Rivera, "MannyMagic" Urban Singer/Songwriter

Academic Achievements

Puerto Rico is not only noted for its numerous celebrities, but also by the number of notable engineers and men and women of science. Salinas is no exception. Although a small town, most of its graduates reach college and some take part in courses of Science and Engineering reaching places like NASA and USAF with high recommendations. In 2007 students Yordano Lopez, Jonathan Colon, and Hector Ayala (Haas studios) entered the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez to enroll in Chemical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering respectively while Rafael Santiago and David Soto entered UPR at Ponce to enroll in Computer Engineering and Computer Science.

Students in Salinas also take part in competitions like Operación Exito (Operation: Success) and enroll in small science and mathematics groups.

References

External links

Map and Directory of Salinas, PR [http://www.direccionespr.com/Town1.aspx?tnid=tL27hrbpXk2JhVPwMz6DoQ=&rid=PIXVxsWnnhDaY= http://www.MapandDirectory.com]