Quebradillas, Puerto Rico

Infobox Settlement

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image_size=300px
image_caption=View of the Train Tunnel and coast line of Guajataca Beach
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 = Quebradillas, Puerto Rico | nickname = La Guarida del Pirata", "La Ciudad Pirata", "La Ciudad del Cooperativismo", "El Rincón de Guajataca"


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| population_blank1 = Quebradillanos|population_blank1_title=Gentilic|
| population_blank1 = Quebradillanos|population_blank1_title=Gentilic|

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| map_caption = Location within the island of Puerto Rico

established_date = June 7, 1823|established_title=Founded| leader_title = Mayor | leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Hon. Heriberto Velez Velez
political party = Partido Popular Democrático| leader_party = PPD
leader_title1=Senatorial dist.
leader_name1= 3 - Arecibo
leader_title2=Representative dist.
leader_name2 = 15| area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 71.66
area_land_km2 = 60| area_water_km2 = 11.66| population_as_of = 2000 | population_note =
population_total = 25338|population_footnotes= | population_density_km2 = 424.1| timezone = AST | utc_offset = -4 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = -4| latd= |latm= |lats=
longd=|longm= |longs=
latitude =
longitude =
website =
footnotes = Anthem – "De lejos canto, porque anhela el corazón" |

Quebradillas (ke-brah-DEE-yahs) is a municipality of the island of Puerto Rico, located in the north-western shore bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of San Sebastián; east of Isabela; and west of Camuy. Quebradillas is spread over 18 wards and Ponce Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Quebradillas is called "La Guarida del Pirata" (The Pirate's Hideout) in the old days before Quebradillas was a town this place was known to be a hideout for Pirates. A well known beach in the area, Puerto Hermina, is home to an old structure known to have been a hiding place for pirate's and their contraband.

History

The town was founded in 1823 by Don Felipe Ruiz. This town derives its name from the large amount of streams flowing through it. The name literally means "small streams".

Flag

It has two red quarters. The red stands for struggle, effort and sacrifice. The other two quarters have each five (5) green and white stripes, similar to those that appear in the shield.

Coat of Arms

The three waved stripes represent the quebradillas, over the green background of the vegetation. The fish and the walking stick (distinctive of the traveler), are insignias of San Rafael Arcángel, by allusion from the episodes narrated in the book of Tobías in the Old Testament.

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

Geography

Quebradillas is home to one of the 20 designated forest preserves in Puerto Rico, the Guajataca Forest. It is also home to the beautiful man-made reservoir, Guajataca Lake (2.5 mi/4 km long), where you can fish for largemouth bass, peacock bass, tilapia and bluegill (in Spanish known as "chopa"). You can also go hiking or camping. The Boy Scouts of America maintain a campground on the lake. The name Guajataca comes from the name of a Taíno Indian chief who lived in this area. This Indian chief also gives his name to Guajataca Beach to the north where a river flowing from Guajataca Lake meets the Atlantic Ocean. Guajataca Beach is popular with surfers and is known for its white sands and wild waters. This beach is ideal for sunning and collecting seashells.

Anthem

By Guillermo Venegas Lloveras

De lejos canto, porque anhela el corazón
cantarle a este rincón que no se olvida.
De lejos canto, mi más sentida canción
que llena de recuerdos nuestras vidas.

Hay que ver como de noche la luna
va castigando el palmar,
y con látigos de plata
va azotando inútilmente el mar.

Y se ven maravillosos
como duendes en retozo,
los destellos intranquilos
en el límpido cristal.

Noche, sutil maravilla
yo vi en Quebradillas
a noche más linda
que pude soñar.

Cálida, salpicada de estrellas,
romance y querellas canciones
que tienen sabor tropical.

Economic

Business

A small shopping center called Quebradillas Plaza is located in this municipality along with some manufacturing industries.

An event that marked negatively in the decade of the 1990 was the disappearance of the tax exemptions to the private corporations [section 936 of the code of the US Internal Revenue Service ] , which at the time was the ideal excuse for the closing of one of the greater manufacturers of textiles in the northwest area of the island. This decline of the industry of the needle occurred similarly in the bordering cities like Isabela and Camuy, generating a regional economic decline as the locals greatly depended on these jobs. In nearby towns like Hatillo, Mayagüez and Aguadilla, the arrival of megastores and new shopping centers attracted the jobs that used to be in Quebradillas,helping to create the general vision of the town as "ghostly" because there is little movement in the city.

At the same time, since the Island lacks media of massive public transportation, students and workers resort to the private cars as mode of transportation, given that the only road to access the important cities, the Puerto Rico Highway 2, is maintained congested most of the day.

Ironically, the town possesses two tunnels that at the beginning of the 20th century were utilized by a steam driven trains that traveled through the Island. The disappearance of the same one is considered as one of the most ironic facts of the modern history of Puerto Rico, since they were very extensive ways and built through earthly bluff and of great utility, that today its absence only recommends more the life by the dependence for the vehicle way of transportation, already the Island lacks useful ports, except that of San Juan, and the proposed Ponce.

The economy, already entered the 21st century, is based on the sale of retail. Great quantity of small business are wagered in the two main ways that cross Quebradillas, mainly of light hardware, bakeries, coastal restaurants, those of fast food in the helmet of the town and workshops of automobile service. It also contains various banks and cooperatives of savings and credit.

The cooperatives of savings and credit are more notable by their introspection in common and cultural activities with participation in festivals of typical music [Festival of the Gourd in December] , the sports activities and the educational ones.

Tourism

*Quebradillas Tourism Line: [phone]

Landmarks and places of interest

*El Merendero (Scenic Park and Ocean Look-Out)
*Guajataca Lake Reservoir (Inland)
*Guajataca Beach and the Train Tunnel
*La Cabeza del Indio (Indian Head at Puerto Hermina Beach)
*The Old Liberty Theater (Downtown)
*Noah's Arc (Petting Zoo and Put-Put Golf)
*Puerto Hermina Beach Pirate Ruins
*El Puente Blanco (Old Train White Bridge)

Festivals and events

*Three Kings Wake - January
*Kite Festival - February
*Guajataca Carnival - February
*Patron Celebrations - October
*Guajataka Beach Skateboard Downhill Races - January

Transportation

Education

*High Schools
**Manuel Ramos Hernandez
**Juan Alejo de Arizmendi
*Private Schools
**Colegio San Rafael
*Public Schools
**Eugenio Maria De Hostos
**Luis Muñoz Rivera
**Honorio Hernandez
**Pedro Albizu Campos
*Elementary Schools
**Ramon E. Betancez
**Ramon Avila Molinari
**Ramon Saavedra
**Jose De Diego

ports

*Basketball
*Surfing - Guajataca Beach and Puerto Hermina (Pirates Cove)
*Skateboarding - Downhill and San Jose Skatepark
*Baseball - Los Cocos Park

Notable "Quebradillanos"

*Guillermo Venegas LLoveras - Composer
*Luis Germán Cajigas - Painter
*Raymond Dalmau- Basketball Player
*Vicenta Deliz - Teacher
*Luis Carlos López Borges - Engineer; first Puerto Rican to received several specific awards in the Federal Government at the age of 23.
*Manuel Ramos Hernández - Teacher
*Maria T. Amador - Painter
*Neftalíe Rivera - Basketball Player

References

External links

* [http://www.quebradillaspr.com Non-commercial webpage with photos of the town and their people (past and present)]
* [http://puerto_rico9.tripod.com/fishing2.htm Information about Quebradillas and Lake Guajataca]