Aibonito, 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 Aibonito, Puerto Rico within Puerto Rico.
latNS=N
longEW=W| official_name = Aibonito, Puerto Rico | nickname = La Ciudad de las Flores", "La Ciudad Fría", "El Jardín de Puerto Rico", "La Nevera De Puerto Rico


image_
| population_blank1 = Aiboniteños|population_blank1_title=Gentilic| map_caption = Location within the island of Puerto Rico
Country |
Puerto Rico
established_date = March 13, 1824|established_title=Founded| leader_title = Mayor | leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Hon. José Alberto Díaz Robles
political party = Partido Popular Democrático
leader_party = PPD
leader_title1=Senatorial dist.
leader_name1= 6 - Guayama
leader_title2=Representative dist.
leader_name2 = 27 | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 81.61
area_land_km2 = 81.6| area_water_km2 = .01| population_as_of = 2000 | population_note =
population_total = | population_density_km2 = | timezone = AST | utc_offset = -4 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = -4| latd=18 |latm=08 |lats=24
longd=66|longm=15 |longs=58
website =
footnotes = Anthem - "Aibonito" |
pushpin_

Aibonito (ei-bo-NEE-to) is a small mountain town in Puerto Rico located in the Mountain range of Cayey, north of Salinas; south of Barranquitas and Comerio; east of Coamo; and west of Cidra, and Cayey. Aibonito is spread over 8 wards and Aibonito Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Aibonito is located on a relative high elevation (its main plaza is the highest in the island at 2,401 ft/731 m above sea level), thus cooler year round than many of island towns.

History

The first Catholic church in Aibonito was built in 1825. The building was replaced by the current church, which was started in 1887 and completed in 1897. The name of the town of Aibonito is a corruption of the Taino word Jatibonicu and derives its name from Jatibonicu. Aibonito's local Taino Indian Cacique (Chief) was called Orocobix and his yucayeque or tribe was known as the Jatibonicu Taino.

Flag

Blue for the sky, white for air purity, red for love of the own motherland, and gold (yellow) for the traditional Hispanic values.

Coat of Arms

The shield is divided in four corners or quarters. The superior left corner represents the Asomante where last battles of the Hispano-American War took place, symbolized by the sword.

In the right corner we find: a white band symbolizing the fog that covers the Aiboniteños valleys and mountains in winter; on a blue field, a purple color flower typical of the region and declared official by the organizers of the First Festival of the Flowers in 1969; and in the inferior end a golden lily to remember San José, patron of the Parochial Church of the town and also symbolizing Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez, first Puerto Rican Cardinal of the Catholic Church. The bottom left corner on a blue background is placed the gold tower of the Manresa House to symbolize the spiritual value that such institution represents for all Puerto Rico. In the right corner a divided mountain of green color which represents the San Cristóbal Canon with a seashell in the superior part that symbolizes Apostle Santiago

Demographics

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

Geography

Mountains; Asomante (2,042 ft), La Sierra (2,394 ft) and the Torre Degetau (2,109 ft).

Rivers; Aibonito, Cuyon, La Plata and Usabon.

Anthem

By Santa Guevara Marrero

Aibonito, Aibonito, Aibonito
donde vieron mis ojos la luz
son tus flores las flores más bellas
y tu cielo más puro y azul

Te recuerdo con mucho cariño
nunca, nunca te podré olvidar
Aibonito, Aibonito, Aibonito
eres tú mi pueblito ideal.

Aibonito mi pueblo querido
donde todo es belleza y bondad,
recordando tus lindos paisajes
me embarga la felicidad.

Dios Bendiga mi pueblo tan lindo
Aibonito, mi pueblo natal
tu belleza es incomparable
y tu clima que no hay otro igual.

Economic

Agriculture

Mainly flowers, some tobacco and coffee
Large chicken producer such as "Pollos To-Ricos" hailed from here.
Cattle production

Business

The Factory Baxter is of the biggest one in the Caribbean, It produces medical tools for the hospitals and other medical uses.

Industrial

Clothing, furniture and tapestry as well as pottery and ceramics;

Tourism

Festivals are one of the main tourist attractions, as well as looking around the landmarks and places of interest, People love to buy, flowers and the little trees they bring, that come from there. The Festival Of The Flowers is always full in July.

Landmarks and places of interest

*Cañon de San Cristóbal - Barranquitas between Aibonito
*Casa Manresa - Aibonito
*La Piedra de Degetau - Aibonito
*La Trinchera de Asomante - Aibonito

Festivals and events

*Fiestas de Pueblo - May
*Aibonito is known for its flowers, and every year, many visitors from other Puerto Rican areas and other countries are attracted to Aibonito's annual "Festival de las Flores" ("Festival of the Flowers"). - July
*Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Celebrations) - July
*Festival del Pollo - August
*Maratón del Pavo - November
*Festival de la Montaña - November

Climate

Aibonito holds the record for the lowest temperature in Puerto Rico. That is convert|40|°F|°C|abbr=on on March 9th, 1917. Aibonito is the second or first in the lowest temperature, Adjuntas is its competition. Aibonito can reach a very low temperature and a highone too. the town because the elevation is very windy,wind chills in tthe upper 30s occur in ttthe winter months, that's he called the refrigerator of Puerto Rico.

ports

Aibonito has a BSN basketball franchise, the "Polluelos de Aibonito". In 1986, with such players as "Angel Cachorro Santiago", Enrique Aponte, Willie Melendez and Panama's Rolando Frazer, the Polluelos, sponsored by To-Ricos, beat the defending champions "Jose Piculin Ortiz" and his "Atleticos de San German" in seven games (game seven score: 94-92 Aibonito) to win their only championship. In 1987, the Polluelos reached the finals once again, but that time, they lost in seven games to the "Titanes de Morovis". Recently, the Polluelos have not been able to see action on the BSN's tournaments because of economic problems.

Aibonito also practice's Volleyball, Soccer and Tennis.

Notable "Aiboniteños"

*Dr. Rubén Berríos Martínez (1939- ) - Senator, President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) and Honorary President of the Socialist International
*José Ortíz - basketball player
*Juan Martínez Capó - Writer
*Manuel Alvarez Nazario (1924- ) - Professor & writer
*Rafael Pont Flores - Journalist
*Obie Bermudez - Singer
*Taino Almestica - First man to circumnavigate Puerto Rico in a seakayak.
*Ramón Vázquez- Texas Ranger Baseball PlayerPapito de La Plata

Cesar Lan - atleta

References

External links

* [http://www.topuertorico.org/city/aibonito.shtml Welcome to Puerto Rico Aibonito]
* [http://puertohost.com/maps/aibonito-map.php Map of Aibonito Puerto Rico]
* [http://www.miaibonito.com Mi Aibonito]