Yabucoa, 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 = Yabucoa, Puerto Rico | nickname = Ciudad del Azúcar", "El Pueblo de Yuca", "Los Bebe Leche

| image_
| population_blank1 = Yabucoeños|population_blank1_title=Gentilic
population_blank2_title = Racial groups
(2000 Census) [ [http://www.topuertorico.org/pdf/2kh72.pdf Demographics/Ethnic U.S 2000 census] ]
population_blank2 = 68.5% White 8.6% Black 0.6% American Indian/AN 0.3% Asian 0.0% Native Hawaiian/PI 13.6% Some other race 8.2% Two or more races|

| map_caption = Location within the island of Puerto Rico
established_date = 1793
leader_title|established_title=Founded| = Mayor | leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Hon. Ángel S. García De Jesús | political party = Partido Nuevo Progresista
leader_party = PNP
leader_title1=Senatorial dist.
leader_name1= 7 - Humacao
leader_title2=Representative dist.
leader_name2 = 34 | area_magnitude = 1 E9 | area_total_km2 = 215.65
area_land_km2 = 143.11| area_water_km2 = 72.55| population_as_of = 2000 | population_note =
population_total = 39246|population_footnotes= | population_density_km2 = 274.2| timezone = AST | utc_offset = -4 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = -4| latitude =
longitude = | website = | footnotes = Anthem – "Yabucoa es mi Pueblo" |

Yabucoa is a small town in the south eastern tip of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas and about one hour from San Juan. Yabucoa is spread over 9 wards and Yabucoa Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Its name is derived from the Taíno word meaning land of water, most likely due to the large number of rivers that water the region. Yabucoa is also known as "La Ciudad del Azúcar" (The City of Sugar).

History

Yabucoa was founded in 1793.

Flag

The design of the flag of Yabucoa is abstract, inspired by the colors of the municipal shield; green, white and violet.

Coat of Arms

In the shield appear two angels the Santos Angeles Custodios, patron saints of Yabucoa. The color purple (violet) field of the shield represents the highest dignity of the angels. The walking sticks are attributes of the traveller, and refer to the holy office of the Angels as guides and companions in man's journey in his earthly life. The canes are adorned with guajana flowers, representing the wealth of the sugar cane. The green land where the angels stand symbolizes the fertile valley in which Yabucoa is located.

Demographics

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

*Aguacate
*Calabazas
*Camino Nuevo
*Guayabotas
*Jácanas
*Juan Martín
*Limones
*Playa
*Tejas
*Yabucoa

Geo/Topography

The Municipality of Yabucoa is located in the south-eastern coast of Puerto Rico. The valley of Yabucoa is surrounded by the hills of the San Lorenzo Batholith on three sides and by the Caribbean Sea on the fourth. The hills surrounding the Yabucoa valley as well as the bedrock underlying the alluvium in the valley are composed of the San Lorenzo Batholith, a large, igneous intrusive body emplaced during the Late Cretaceous (Rogers, 1977; Rogers and others, 1979). The San Lorenzo Batholith is a composite body that is composed of gabbro (Kd), diorite, tonalite, granodiorite, and quartz monzonite. The altitude of the hills surrounding the valley of Yabucoa reaches a maximum of about 650 m at the head of the Río Guayanés basin. The land surface in the Yabucoa valley slopes gently from an altitude of about 30 m above mean sea level, at the western edge of the valley, to sea level where the valley meets the Caribbean Sea.

Anthem

By Dr. Juan A. Quiñones Soto

Yabucoa es mi Pueblo
y mi meta la unidad,
como hermanos laboremos
por Paz y Felicidad.

Fraternalmente estaremos
en pos de un Ideal,
luchar siempre con justicia
con verdad y dignidad.

Nuestro Valle nos inspira,
nuestro Monte, nuestro Mar,
dispuestos siempre estaremos
en la luchar a continuar.

Yabucoa, cuna nuestra,
que Guaracas defendió
toca ahora nuestra herencia
proteger con Fe y Amor.

Con la mente siempre al cielo
nuestra lucha ha de ser
conservarle a nuestros Hijos
esta tierra, este hogar.

Yabucoa es mi Pueblo
y mi meta la unidad,
como hermanos laboremos
por Paz y Felicidad.

Economic

Agriculture

Yabucoa is known for its agricultural prowess because of the surrounding fertile valley that produces a large amount of the island's sugar, plantain and bananas. Yabucoeños are known as the "sugar people" because most of the valley is used for sugar cane growth and because one of the most visible landmarks that can be seen when entering the municipality is the Hacienda Roig sugar mill, which is one of the few sugar mills that is still functioning in Puerto Rico today.

Business

Industrial

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

*Guayanés Beach
*Hacienda Santa Lucía Ruins
*La Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture)
*Roig Refinery
*La Lucia Beach
*El Cocal Beach
*Dead Dog beach [http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/content/accent/epaper/2008/02/13/a1e_MANOS_CAPTIONS_web_0213.html]

Festivals and events

*Sugar Cane Festival - May
*Beach Festival - May
*Carmen Festival - July
*Quebradillas Festival - September
*Patron Celebrations - October
*Festival del Campesino - October
*Martorell Jíbaro Festival - December

Transportation

A tunnel connecting the town of Yabucoa with the town of Maunabo to the south has almost been completed. Upon its inauguration, this tunnel will be the longest on the island.

Education

Important Personalities

Alfonso Lastra Charriez, lawyer, poet and politician.Nydia Velazquez, US Congresswoman (D-NY)Pedro Rivera, Human Fireball

ports

Félix (Nacho) Millán, Mayor League Baseball Player.

Francisco Sostre, Professional Baseball Player.

José A Bibiloni, Famous Amateur Baseball Player.

Alex Cintrón , MLB player (current)

Jerry Morales - MLB player

Puruco Díaz - MLB player

José Muñoz - MLB player

Luis Ortiz - Olympic Silver Medalist - Boxing , 1984 Los Angeles, California

Junior League World Series Champions - Juan A Bibiloni Little League - 1990

References

* [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=05000US72151&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=CO-2 Yabucoa and its barrios, United States Census Bureau]

Photo gallery

Notes and references

External links