Patillas, 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 Patillas, Puerto Rico within Puerto Rico.
latNS=N
longEW=W| official_name = Patillas, Puerto Rico | nickname = La Esmeralda del Sur", "Los Melones


image_
| population_blank1 = Patillenses|population_blank1_title=Gentilic|
| population_blank1 = Patillenses|population_blank1_title=Gentilic|

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| map_caption = Location within the island of Puerto Rico

established_date = 1811 | leader_title|established_title=Founded| = Mayor | leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Hon. Roberto Ramos
political party = Partido Popular Democratico
leader_party = PPD
leader_title1=Senatorial dist.
leader_name1= 7 - Humacao
leader_title2=Representative dist.
leader_name2 = 34| area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 153.62
area_land_km2 = 125| area_water_km2 = 28.62| population_as_of = 2000 | population_note =
population_total = 21843|population_footnotes= | population_density_km2 = 163.9| timezone = AST | utc_offset = -4 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = -4| latd= |latm= |lats=
longd=|longm= |longs=
latitude =
longitude =
website =
footnotes = Anthem – "Patillenses" |

Patillas (pah-TEE-yahs) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern coast, south of San Lorenzo; west of Yabucoa and Maunabo; and east of Guayama and Arroyo. It is spread over 15 wards and Patillas Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

History

During the mid-18th century there already existed a relatively large number of dispersed neighbors in the Valley of Patillas and along the southeastern coast of the island of Puerto Rico. During this time frame, there was an establishment of a sugar cane mill which took advantage of the agricultural potential the valley provided. As this establishment provided a good source of income for the neighbors it also was the main reason for the town's foundation in 1811. Mrs. Adelina Cintrón, owner of "La Finca Patillas", donated almost convert|8|acre|m2 of land for the foundation. Most of the neighbors then relocated towards the west side of the proposed site called "Cacao Bajo". The name "Patillas" is originally an indigenous name for a native type of watermelon. The large abundance of this fruit in the area, along with the land donation from the original owner, lead for the town's name.

Flag

Design
The art design was a creation of Pedro de Pedro in 1977. Each symbol on the flag was defined by Pedro J. Rivera Arbolay. The legal assessor was the Licenciado Roberto Beascochea Lota.

Description
Four green rectangles on the corners symbolize the valleys and mountains of this great town. These rectangles are separated by a golden cross simbolizing the fidelity towards the town's religious patron "El Santo Cristo de la Salud". Superimposed in the middle of the golden cross is an emerald, thus the nickname "La Esmeralda del Sur".

Coat of Arms

The crow with a piece of bread in its beak, bird that saves the life to San Benito Abad, patron of the town, from being poisoned with a piece of bread. The castle with three windows symbolizes the captivity of Santa Barbara, matron of Patillas in the first years of the foundation and the devotion to the Santísima Trinidad. The cross represents Santo Cristo de la Salud. The two crossed machetes underneath the cross represent the peasants' struggle in the sugar cane plantations and the origins of [economic development. The three towers in the superior part mean that Patillas is categorized as a town. The watermelon leaf, fruit that abounded in the west of Patillas, is the reason for the name of the town. The motto "Ora Et Labora", means Pray and Work; motto of the religious order of San Benito Abad.

Demographics

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

*Apeadero *Bajo *Cacao Alto *Cacao Bajo *Egozcue

*Guardarraya *Higueros *Jacaboa *Jagual *Mamey *Marín

*Mulas *Muñoz Rivera *Pollos *Providencia *Quebrada Arriba *El Real

*Ríos *Mamey Chiquito

*Recio
*El Bajo

Geo/Topography

*Gorges are: Barros, Colones, Farallón, Guano, Hicacos, Hormiga , Mulas, Quebrada Arriba and Sonadora.
*Rivers are: Chico, Grande de Patillas,Jacaboa and Marín

Anthem

Patillenses By Andrés Plaud Soto (April 1985)

Patillenses, ¡Veis la luz,
de la antorcha y su esplendor,
que ilumina en noble gesta de amor...
la ruta que recorrió,
el que por ti ayer luchó,
en las lides de los campos del honor!

No olvidéis otras proezas
en las Artes del Saber,
producto de otros hermanos,
que este pueblo vio nacer.

Sus conquistas celebramos
con solemne admiración:
¡Hosana mis compueblanos...
Les brindo mi corazón!

Economic

Agriculture

Business

Industrial

Tourism

Tourist sector is currently in development.

Landmarks and places of interest

*Charco Azul (lake)
*Charco Los Tres Chorros (lake)
*Carite-Guavate Forest
*Escondida Beach
*Guardarraya Beach
*Charco de la vuelta
*Villa pesquera Beach
*Lago de Patillas
*Guavate forest and place to eat

Festivals and events

*Patron Celebrations - March
*Emerald of the South Carnival - April
*Monte y Mar Festival - July
*Flour Festival - December
*Ñame Festival - December

Transportation

Education

ports

Emilio "Millito" Navarro (born September 26, 1905 in the city of Patillas, Puerto Rico) was the first Puerto Rican to play baseball in the Negro Leagues.

Notable "Patillenses"

*Edmundo Disdier — Musician and composer
*Ramón Lebrón — First secretary of the court
*Sigfredo Badillo Rivero — Poet

References

Footnotes

Books about Patillas

Additional Information

Photo gallery

External links