Quebradillas, Puerto Rico

Subdivisions of Quebradillas.

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Quebradillas is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo".[2][3][4]

1. Cacao
2. Charcas
3. Cocos
4. Guajataca
5. Quebradillas barrio-pueblo[5]
6. San Antonio
7. San José
8. Terranova

Barrios (which are like minor civil divisions)[5] 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.[6][7][8]

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 Quebradillas: Guajataca, Montadero, Parcelas Italas in Terranova, San Antonio, and Sector Las Piedras Barrio Cocos.[9]

Welcome sign for El Arca de Noé (Noah's Ark), a former private zoo in Quebradillas

There are 6 beaches in Quebradillas.[16]

The town of Quebradillas had a private zoo called El Arca de Noé (Noah's Ark), which was in operation for about 50 years. In 2012 when its owner was 90 years old and could no longer care for the animals, they were moved to Mayagüez.[17][18]

The main attractions of Quebradillas are:

• El Merendero (Scenic Park and Ocean Look-Out)
• Guajataca Lake Reservoir (Inland)
• La Cabeza del Indio (Indian Head at Puerto Hermina Beach)
• The Liberty Theater (Downtown) [19]
• El Museo de Muñecas (Doll Museum)[houses over 1,000 Barbie dolls] - in Barrios Cocos
• Puerto Hermina Beach Pirate Ruins[20]
• El Puente Blanco (Old White Train Bridge)
• Casa Rafols-Iribas, site of Casa de la Cultura Cacique Mabodamaca (non-profit organization dedicated to preserve the culture, the arts and the historical sites of the town of Quebradillas)
• Los Chorritos Pirata (aquatic park)
• Mini golf course
• Miradero Guajataca

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

An event which negatively affected the region in the decade of the 1990s was the disappearance of 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 mega stores 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 mass public transportation, people must resort to private cars (known as carro publico, public car in English) used as a bus as a mode of transportation. This, coupled with the fact that the only road to access the important cities, the Puerto Rico Highway 2, is congested most of the day, makes it difficult for people in the area to find work and thus contributes to the general economic decline.

Ironically, the town possesses one tunnel that at the beginning of the 20th century was utilized by steam driven trains that traveled throughout the Island. The disappearance of the same is considered as one of the most ironic facts of the modern history of Puerto Rico, since these railways were very extensive, built through earthly bluffs and were of great utility. Today, their absence only aggravates the problem of mass transit and the dependence on privately owned vehicles as the only method of transportation.[21]

The economy, entering into the 21st century, is based on retail sales. Many small businesses are located along the two main thoroughfares that cross Quebradillas. These consist mainly of light hardware, bakeries, pharmacies, seafood restaurants, American fast food chains and automobile car repair shops.

The town has bank branches for Banco Popular and local savings and credit Unions. These credit unions are most noted for their involvement in common and cultural activities, sponsoring and participating in festivals of typical music [Festival of the Gourd in December], sports and educational activities.

Quebradillas celebrates its patron saint festival in October. The Fiestas Patronales de San Rafael Arcangel is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[1][22]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Quebradillas include:

• Wake of the Three Kings – January
• Kite festival – February
• Guajataca Carnival – January/February
• Serenade to mothers – May
• Serenade to fathers – June
• Cultural Festival – December

The town's official basketball team is Los Piratas'[23] who have won a dramatic number of tournaments in the past. Presently the team has made a "comeback" and has won the championship of the island (2013).

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

It has two red quarters. The red stands for struggle, effort and sacrifice. The other two quarters have each five green and white stripes, similar to those that appear in the shield.[25]

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.[25]