Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Infobox Settlement

settlement_type =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States

subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 = Puerto Rico
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 = Fajardo, Puerto Rico | nickname = Los Cariduros", "La Metrópolis del Sol Naciente


image_caption = Aerial view of Fajardo's basin


image_
| population_blank1 = Fajardeños|population_blank1_title=Gentilic|
| population_blank1 = Fajardeños|population_blank1_title=Gentilic|

---

| map_caption = Location within the island of Puerto Rico
Country |
Puerto Rico
established_date = 1772 | leader_title|established_title=Founded| = Mayor | leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Hon. Aníbal Meléndez Rivera
political party = Partido Nuevo Progresista
leader_party = PNP
leader_title1=Senatorial dist.
leader_name1= 8 - Carolina
leader_title2=Representative dist.
leader_name2 = 36 | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 156.45
area_land_km2 = 81| area_water_km2 = 75.45| population_as_of = 2000 | population_note =
population_total = 40712|population_footnotes= | population_density_km2 = 505.1| timezone = AST | utc_offset = -4 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = -4| latd= |latm= |lats=
longd=|longm= |longs=
latitude =
longitude =
website =
footnotes = Anthem – "Fajardo que aquí en el oriente" |

Fajardo (fah-HAHR-do) is a small but popular city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Fajardo Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Fajardo is the hub of the majority of recreational boating in Puerto Rico and a popular launching port to Culebra, Vieques, and the American and British Virgin Islands. It is also the home to the largest Marina in the Caribbean, called Puerto del Rey. The town contains various hotels; the El Conquistador Resort is one of its most famous hotels.

Off shore near Fajardo few islets can be found: Icacos, Palominos, Palominitos and Diablo, uninhabited coral islands.

History

Fajardo was founded in 1760 by Bravo de Rivera, a Spanish governor. It was originally named Santiago de Fajardo.

Flag

It's a tricolor triband. The upper one is gules (red), symbolizing the color of the shield's border. Silver (white), the center one, standing for the color of the main pieces that appear in the shield and the crown. Azure (blue), the lower one, represents the color of the sky and the sea of Fajardo. Centered is the Coat of Arms of the village (villa) in natural colors.

Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms is formed as a square with a rounded base and stamped at the top with a crown mural of three towers. It has for support, two dolphins and underneath the base a banner with the inscription "FAJARDO DE SANTIAGO".

Demographics

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

*Monte Brisas *Paraiso *Cabezas *Demajagua *Fajardo Pueblo *Florencio *Naranjo *Quebrada Fajardo *Quebrada Vueltas *Río Arriba *Sardinera *Bariada Obrera

Geo/Topography

*Fajardo River
*Aguas Buenas Gorge, Fajardo Gorge, Juan Diego Gorge and the Mata Redonda Gorge
*Aguas Prietas and Grande lagoons

Anthem

By Juan R. Marrero & Cass Harrison

Fajardo que aquí en el oriente,
paciente como un pescador,
atrapas en el horizonte,
el primer rayito de sol.

Lo reflejas en Sardinera
lo esparces a tu alrededor
llevándole luz a Borinquén
que brilla como un prendedor.

Fajardo escogido del cielo
mi pequeño pueblo quiero
decirte que eres orgullo
de todo buen Fajardeño.

Así vivas sierra adentro
o en la playa Puerto Real.
Fajardo que aquí en el oriente,
paciente como un pescador,
atrapas en el horizonte,
el primer rayito de sol.

Lo reflejas en Sardinera
lo esparces a tu alrededor
llevándole luz a Borinquén
que brilla como un prendedor.

Economic

Agriculture

Business

Industrial

Electrical components, metal work, furniture manufacturing.

Due to its rich ports and closeness to smaller islands, Fajardo is also know for its fishing industries.

Tourism

Fajardo is popular among tourists, especially local tourists, because of its seafood, hotels, closeness to the small islands of Palomino, Icaco and Palominito, and the many daily trips that are available to Vieques and Culebra, both by boat and by the four airlines that serve Fajardo Airport: Air Culebra, Air St. Thomas, Isla Nena Air and Vieques Air Link.

Fajardo's perfect beaches are bounded by calm, clear water ideal for snorkeling, Seven Seas Beach, offers plentiful water sports facilities, offshore points for sailing, snorkeling and plenty of scuba diving.

Landmarks and places of interest

*Bioluminiscent Lagoon
*Fajardo Airport
*Old Fajardo Sugar Cane Refinery
*Icacos & Palomino Keys
*Las Cabezas de San Juan
*Isleta Marina
*Natural Reserve Las Croabas
*Puerto del Rey Marina

Festivals and events

*Bicicletada Fajardeña - April
*Kite Festival - April
*Kelly Cup Sailboat Regata - April
*Bomba & Plena Festival - May
*Patron Festivities Santiago Apóstol - July
*Paradise Fiesta - August
*Cocolía Festival - November

Transportation

Education

ports

Fajardo in the past was home to a National Superior Basketball; Baloncesto Superior Nacional BSN basketball team, the Fajardo Cariduros or as they are known in the Island Cariduros de Fajardo. Carlos Arroyo, Edgar Leon and Georgie Torres were three of the most famous players to play for that franchise.

In 2007, the team returned once again to the BSN. The team known as the "Titanes de Morovis" was moved to Fajardo, and was renamed "Cariduros de Fajardo". Unlike the NBA and other sports leagues in the USA, Puerto Rican franchises rarely leave the original name of the franchise when they move to a different city.

Once, there was a basketball team for the Puerto Rican Basketball League known as the "Conquistadores de Fajardo".

Fajardo also has a AA Baseball League team with the same name as the basketball team. They have won two national titles, and as of 2005 they are the team to beat in the Northeast Division.

Notable "Fajardeños"

*Carlos Arroyo - NBA basketball player
*Burbuja - Prominent dachshund of Monte Brisas
*Antonio R. Barceló - Politician, prominent historical figure
*John John Molina - multiple time world boxing champion
*Antonia Novello - Former Surgeon General of the United States
*Peter John Ramos- NBDL basketball player
*Marquita Rivera- first Puerto Rican actress to appear in a major Hollywood motion picture.
*Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabe - Puerto Rican Liberator who fought alongside Simon Bolivar.

References

Photo gallery

External links

* [http://www.puertohost.com/maps/fajardo-map.php Map of Fajardo Puerto Rico]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/prvi/ Historic Places in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary]