Arroyo, Puerto Rico

Arroyo (Spanish pronunciation: [aˈroʝo]) is a municipality located along the southern coast of Puerto Rico and bordered by the Caribbean Sea, east of the municipality of Guayama and northwest of the municipality of Patillas. Arroyo is spread over 5 barrios and Arroyo barrio-pueblo (the downtown area and administrative center). It is part of the Guayama Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Arroyo
Town and Municipality
Malecón de Arroyo
Flag
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 

"Pueblo Grato"
"Los Bucaneros"
Anthem: "Arroyo"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Arroyo Municipality
Coordinates: 17°57′57″N 66°03′41″W
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
FoundedDecember 25, 1855
Barrios
Government
 • MayorEric Bachier Román (PDP)
 • Senatorial dist.6 - Guayama
 • Representative dist.30 
Area
 • Total23.0 sq mi (59.6 km2)
 • Land15 sq mi (39 km2)
 • Water8.0 sq mi (20.6 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total19,117
 • Density830/sq mi (320/km2)
Demonym(s)Arroyanos
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00714
Area code(s)787/939
Major routes
Websitewww.municipiodearroyo.com

History

The town of Arroyo was officially founded on December 25, 1855. However, some historians believe there were previous settlements in the area even previous to the Spanish colonization. It is believed that the name of Arroyo (which means "creek" in English) is derived from a small water stream where travelers stopped to freshen up before continuing on their way.[1][2]

There are four different versions about the founding of the town, including that it was formed when a small group of people from the neighbor town of Guayama came to the region looking for a port to export and import merchandise.[2] Still, a local newspaper called La Gaceta de Puerto Rico published in 1868 that Arroyo was founded in 1852. Between 1859 and 1860, City Hall signed agreements to open streets and build a town square and a sewer system for the town.

In 1858, Samuel Morse introduced wired communication to Latin America when he established a telegraph system in Puerto Rico, then a Spanish Colony. Morse's oldest daughter Susan Walker Morse (1821–1885), would often visit her uncle Charles Pickering Walker who owned the Hacienda Concordia in the town of Guayama. During one of her visits she met and later married Edward Lind, a Danish merchant who worked in the Hacienda La Henriqueta in Arroyo.[3] Lind purchased the Hacienda from his sister when she became a widow. Morse, who often spent his winters at the Hacienda with his daughter and son-in-law, set a two-mile telegraph line connecting his son-in-law's Hacienda to their house in Arroyo. The line was inaugurated on March 1, 1859, in a ceremony flanked by the Spanish and American flags.[4][5] The first lines transmitted by Samuel Morse that day in Puerto Rico were:[3]

"Puerto Rico, beautiful jewel! When you are linked with the other jewels of the Antilles in the necklace of the world's telegraph, yours will not shine less brilliantly in the crown of your Queen!"

Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Arroyo was 4,867.[6]

In 1902, Puerto Rico's Legislative Assembly approved a law to consolidate certain municipalities. According to it, Arroyo would be merged with Guayama starting on July 1 of that year. However, the law was revoked in 1905 returning Arroyo to its municipal status.

In early 1999, the U.S. Congressional record documented a commendation of Arroyo, on its 100-year relationship with the U.S., noting that many citizens of Arroyo have fought and died in wars for the U.S., such as Virgilio Sánchez and Raul Serrano.[7]

Geography

Arroyo belongs to the alluvial plains sub-region of Ponce-Patillas known as the Southern Coastal Valley. The area is very dry although its plains are productive thanks to artificial irrigation.[8]

Hurricane Maria

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria triggered numerous landslides in Arroyo with the significant amount of rainfall.[9][10]

Barrios
Subdivisions of Arroyo.

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Arroyo is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a small barrio referred to as "el pueblo", near the center of the municipality.[11][12][13]

  1. Ancones
  2. Arroyo barrio-pueblo[14]
  3. Guásimas
  4. Palmas
  5. Pitahaya
  6. Yaurel

Sectors

Barrios (which are like minor civil divisions)[14] and subbarrios,[15] in turn, are further subdivided into smaller local populated place areas/units called sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.[16][17][18]

Special Communities
See also: Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development

Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Arroyo: the Marín neighborhood, Palmas barrio, Yaurel barrio, and the San Felipe-Arizona zone.[19]

Water features

The Nigua River crosses the municipality from north to south. Its hydrographic system is completed by a series of smaller rivers. There is also a mineral water spring in the Virella Colony.[8]

Demographics

Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the see of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Arroyo was 4,867.

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19004,867—
19106,94042.6%
19207,0741.9%
19308,19915.9%
194010,74631.1%
195012,93620.4%
196013,3152.9%
197013,033−2.1%
198017,01430.5%
199018,91011.1%
200019,1171.1%
201019,5752.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1899 (shown as 1900)[21] 1910-1930[22]
1930-1950[23] 1960-2000[24] 2010[12]

Tourism
Faro Punta de las Figuras, Arroyo

Landmarks and places of interest

There are eight beaches in Arroyo.[25]

Among the places of interest in Arroyo are the Enrique Huyke Monument, dedicated to the educator and athlete, and the Samuel Morse Monument, dedicated to the American inventor of the telegraph. Casa de Aduana is a museum located in Arroyo.[26]

Other landmarks are La Cora Hacienda, Las Palmas Beach,[27] Punta Guilarte,[28] Punta de Las Figuras Lighthouse and the Arroyo Sugar Cane Train.[29]

Culture

Festivals and events

Arroyo celebrates its patron saint festival in July. The Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Sra. del Carmen is a religious and cultural celebration in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[30][26]

A traditional carnaval is held during the month of February. Fiesta Negra, which celebrates the African heritage of the island, is held during March. The Festival del Pescao is celebrated in November.[26]

Sports

Although Arroyo doesn't have a professional sports team, it has several amateur teams in Class A category.

Cultural/art venues

The Museo Antigua Aduana is a historic building that now showcases art by local artists, such as Angel Cora.[31] In 2011, the Cine Renacimiento (Renaissance Cinema), which was founded in 1922, re-opened after a little over a year of construction to transform into a theater space compatible with new uses and now known as Teatro Renacimiento (Renaissance Theater). It is located at Morse St. (PR-178) and Arizona 7 St.[32]

Economy
Old sugar mill in Arroyo

During past centuries, Arroyo was known for the production of sugar in the Central Lafayette,[33] a sugar mill.[8][34]

In recent years, manufacture and pharmaceutical industries have taken control of the economy of Arroyo. Stryker Corporation, a developer of medical implants and other surgical equipment, has a production plant in the town.

Government
Main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

Since its foundation, Arroyo's municipal government has been led by a mayor, with its first mayor being Marcelino Cintrón. The current mayor is Eric Bachier Román. The city also has a municipal legislature that handles local legislative matters.[26]

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Miguel Pereira Castillo and Angel Rodríguez Otero were elected as District Senators.[35]

Symbols

Arroyo's flag has two horizontal bands of equal size. The upper band is color orange, while the lower one is black. In the middle of the flag lies Arroyo's coat of arms.[1][36]

The coat of arms is also split in two sections. The upper section features a church in a blue field a church with a rosary to the right and a flower to the left. The lower section features two silver telegraph poles on green hills. At the bottom, waving stripes of blue and silver, with a fish below them. Above the shield, lies a crown of three towers filled in with purple. Below there's a banner with the motto, Arroyo Pueblo Grato.[1]

Education

Education is handled by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Arroyo has seven elementary schools, three junior high schools, and one high school.

Transportation
Tren del Sur
Puerto Rico Highway 3 in Arroyo

During the peak of the sugarcane industry in the island, Arroyo was part of the railroad system of the island, with trains hauling production to other municipalities in the island. A small portion of that train remained in use until recently for tourism purposes, under the name of Tren del Sur.

To reach Arroyo, visitors have to take the Puerto Rico Highway 3. However, there are other rural roads available to reach the municipality.

There are 13 bridges in Arroyo.[37]

Notable people
  • Central plaza in Arroyo barrio-pueblo
  • Our Lady of Carmen Parish church
  • Casa Aduana in Arroyo
  • Pier in Arroyo

See also

References
  1. "Arroyo Municipality Founding History and Symbols". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  2. "Gobierno Municipal de Arroyo" (PDF). www.municipiodearroyo.com/. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  3. "NY/Latino Journal; Taking the PE Out of PRT; by: Rafael Merino Cortes; July 20, 2006". Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
  4. "150th. Anniversary of the Foundation of Arroyo, Puerto Rico". Archived from the original on 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
  5. "Welcome to Puerto Rico". Archived from the original on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
  6. Joseph Prentiss Sanger; Henry Gannett; Walter Francis Willcox (1900). Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office (in Spanish). Imprenta del gobierno. p. 162. Archived from the original on 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  7. Congress (1955). Congressional Record. Government Printing Office. pp. 5–. GGKEY:U89J4XBC3CK. Archived from the original on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  8. "Arroyo Municipality General Info (Location, Square Miles, Economy and Geography)". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  9. "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico". USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived from the original on 2019-03-03. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  10. "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico" (PDF). USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-03-03. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  11. Gwillim Law (20 May 2015). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4766-0447-3. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  12. Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  13. "Map of Arroyo at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  14. "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on 13 May 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  15. "P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Arroyo Municipio, PR" (PDF). www2.census.gov. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  16. "Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)". Puerto Rico Budgets (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  17. Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (first ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  18. "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  19. Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza:Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (Primera edición ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, p. 273, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  20. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  21. "Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899". War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  22. "Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  23. "Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  24. "Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  25. "Las 1,200 playas de Puerto Rico [The 1200 beaches of Puerto Rico]". Primera Hora (in Spanish). April 14, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
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  27. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Playa Las Palmas
  28. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Punta Guilarte
  29. Peffer, Randall (2002-10-01). Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet Publications. p. 240. Which is the only working railroad on the island, (outside the one in the park at Bayamón)
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  32. Eurospace, Inc. (2011). "Teatro Renacimiento Arroyo, P.R.: A NEW SCENARIO". eurospaceblog (Blog). Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  33. "Lafayette". jaimemontilla.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  34. Nadia Amoroso (27 February 2015). Representing Landscapes: Digital. Routledge. pp. 255–. ISBN 978-1-317-55323-6. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  35. Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived January 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
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  38. "Escritoras de la América Hispánica: Una obra dramática de Carmen Bozello". Escritoras de la América Hispánica. Archived from the original on 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
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