Jump to content

Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Coordinates:18°19′33″N65°39′09″W/ 18.32583°N 65.65250°W/18.32583; -65.65250
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Fajardo" redirects here. For other uses, seeFajardo (disambiguation).

Fajardo
Municipio Autónomo de Fajardo
TownandMunicipality
Ocean view in Fajardo
Aerial view of Fajardo's basin
Flag of Fajardo
Flag
Coat of arms of Fajardo
Coat of arms
Nicknames:
"Los Cariduros", "La Metrópolis del Sol Naciente"
Anthem:"Fajardo que aquí en el oriente"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Fajardo Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Fajardo Municipality
Coordinates:18°19′33″N65°39′09″W/ 18.32583°N 65.65250°W/18.32583; -65.65250
Sovereign stateUnited States
CommonwealthPuerto Rico
Founded1772
Barrios
9 barrios
Government
•MayorJosé Aníbal “Joey” Meléndez Méndez(PNP)
• Senatorial dist.8 - Carolina
• Representative dist.36
Area
• Total60.41 sq mi (156.45 km2)
• Land31 sq mi (81 km2)
• Water29.13 sq mi (75.45 km2)
Population
(2020)[1]
• Total32,124
• Rank38thin Puerto Rico
• Density530/sq mi (210/km2)
DemonymFajardeños
Time zoneUTC−4(AST)
ZIP Codes
00738, 00740
Area code787/939
Major routes

Websitefajardopr.org

Fajardo(Spanish pronunciation:[faˈxaɾðo]) is atownand amunicipalitypart of theSan Juan-Caguas-Fajardo Combined Statistical AreainPuerto Rico.

Fajardo is the hub of much of the recreational boating in Puerto Rico and a popular launching port toCulebra,Vieques,and theU.S.andBritish Virgin Islands.It is also home to the largest marina in the Caribbean, calledPuerto del Rey.The town contains various hotels and inns.

Offshore, near Fajardo, a few islets can be found. These areIcacos,Isla Palomino,Palominito, and Diablo, among other uninhabited coral islands and barrier reefs.

History

[edit]

Fajardo was founded in 1760, 1773 or 1774 (depending on the authority) asSantiago de Fajardo.It was one of the locations used by the American troops toinvade Puerto Rico.On August 1, 1898 theUSS Puritanunder the command of CaptainFrederic W. Rodgers,sailed the coastline near the city of Fajardo when he spotted theFaro de Las Cabezas de San Juan(Cape San Juan lighthouse), which was supposed to be the landing site for theUS Armyin Puerto Rico. Rodgers ordered some of his men ashore, including Puerto Rican volunteers, with the mission to post theAmerican flagatop the lighthouse.

On November 14, 1824, in what was dubbed the"Foxhardo" Affair,US Naval OfficerDavid Porterlanded at Fajardo with 200 seamen and marines, threatening to destroy Fajardo because one of his men had been arrested in Puerto Rico. For taking this action without US approval, Porter was later court-martialed.[2]

After theSpanish–American War,Puerto Rico was ceded bySpainunder the terms of theTreaty of Paris of 1898and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, theUnited States Department of Warconducted acensusof Puerto Rico and determined that the population of Fajardo was 16,782.[3]

On September 20, 2017Hurricane Mariastruck the island of Puerto Rico. In Fajardo, the hurricane triggered numerous landslides with its strong winds and significant amount of rainfall.[4][5][6]

Geography

[edit]

Fajardo is a coastal municipality with a number ofislets.[7]

  • Fajardo River
  • Aguas Buenas Gorge, Fajardo Gorge, Juan Diego Gorge and the Mata Redonda Gorge
  • Aguas Prietas and Grande lagoons

Barrios

[edit]
Subdivisions of Fajardo.

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Fajardo is subdivided intobarrios.The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as"el pueblo".[8][9][10][11]

  1. Cabezas(Las Croabas)
  2. Demajagua
  3. Fajardo barrio-pueblo[12]
  4. Florencio
  5. Naranjo
  6. Quebrada Fajardo
  7. Quebrada Vueltas
  8. Río Arriba
  9. Sardinera

Sectors

[edit]

Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable tominor civil divisions)[12]and subbarrios,[13][14][15]are further subdivided into smaller areas calledsectores(sectorsin English). The types ofsectoresmay vary, from normallysectortourbanizacióntorepartotobarriadatoresidencial,among others.[16][17][18]

Special Communities

[edit]
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 ofsocial 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 Fajardo: Obrera neighborhood, Roosevelt neighborhood, Mansión del Sapo, Maternillo, Media Luna, Sector Camacho, Vevé Calzada, and Vieques en el Aire.[19]

Tourism

[edit]
View of the church in the Fajardo town square

Fajardo is a tourist destination, especially among local tourists, because of itsseafood,hotels, closeness to the small islands ofPalomino,Icacosand Palominito, and the many daily trips that are available toViequesandCulebra,both by boat and by the four airlines that servedFajardo Airport(now closed):Air Culebra,Air St. Thomas,Isla Nena AirandVieques Air Link.[citation needed]

Fajardo has 46 beaches.[20]Fajardo's beaches are bounded by calm, clear water ideal forsnorkeling.Seven Seas Beachoffers plentiful water sports facilities, offshore points forsailing,snorkeling and plenty ofscuba diving.

Fajardo is also home to one of the fewBioluminescent Lagoonsin the world. Nightly trips are offered by kayak by local companies who give educational tours.

Landmarks and places of interest

[edit]

To stimulate local tourism, thePuerto Rico Tourism Companylaunched theVoy Turistiendo( "I'm Touring" ) campaign, with a passport book and website. The Fajardo page listsReserva Natural de Las Cabezas de San Juan,Cayo Icacos,andHacienda Chocolat,as places of interest.[21]

Street scene near Fajardo plaza and square
Reserva Natural Cabezas de San Juan
Aerial view of El Conquistador Resort and Harbor

Economy

[edit]
Island off the coast of Fajardo

Industry

[edit]

Electrical components, metal work, furniture manufacturing. Fajardo is also home to pharmaceutical and bio-sciences companies.

Due to its rich ports and closeness to smaller islands, Fajardo is also known for its fishing industries.

Culture

[edit]

Festivals and events

[edit]
Fountain in Fajardo's plaza

Fajardo celebrates itspatron saintfestival in July. TheFiestas Patronales de Santiago Apostolis a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[26][7]The festival has featured live performances by well-known artists such asTito Nieves,Johnny VenturaandSonora Ponceña.[27]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Fajardo include:

  • Bicycletada Fajardeña - April
  • Kite Festival - April
  • Kelly Cup Sailboat Regata - April
  • Bomba& Plena Festival - May
  • Paradise Fiesta - August
  • Cocolía Festival - November

Sports

[edit]

Fajardo Soccer Stadiumis a soccer-specific stadium inFajardo,Puerto Rico,35 miles east ofLuis Muñoz Marín International Airport(SJU).
The 3,800 capacity stadium was developed at a cost of $3.9M,[28]and opened December 12, 2015 and is home venue ofPuerto Rico Sol.

Fajardo in the past was home to a National Superior Basketball; Baloncesto Superior NacionalBSNbasketballteam, theFajardo Caridurosor as they are known in the Island Cariduros de Fajardo.George Torres,Mario MoralesandMario Butlerwere three of the most famous players to play for that franchise.[citation needed]

In 2007, the team returned once again to theBSN.The team known as the "Titanes de Morovis" was moved to Fajardo, and was renamed "Cariduros de Fajardo". Unlike theNBAand other sports leagues in the United States, Puerto Rican franchises rarely leave the original name of the franchise when they move to a different city.

Once, there was a basketball team for the Puerto Rican Basketball League known as the "Conquistadores de Fajardo".

Fajardo also has a AA Amateur Baseball Team Los Cariduros de Fajardo and have won over 10 sectional championships, 3 time national runners-up in 1974, 2003 and 2005, and 3 times national champions in 1954, 2004 and 2010.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
190016,782—
191021,13525.9%
192014,302−32.3%
193016,32114.1%
194020,40525.0%
195022,1168.4%
196018,321−17.2%
197023,03225.7%
198032,08739.3%
199036,88214.9%
200040,71210.4%
201036,993−9.1%
202032,124−13.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[29]
1899 (shown as 1900)[30]1910-1930[31]
1930-1950[32]1960-2000[33]2010[10] 2020[1]
Ethnicity - Fajardo, Puerto Rico - 2010 Census[35]
Ethnicity Population % of Total
European 23,964 64.8%
African 6,864 18.6%
Native AmericanandAlaska Native 258 0.7%
Asian 73 0.3%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 4 0.0%
Some other ethnicity 3,822 10.3%
Two or more ethnicities 1,986 5.4%

As of 2000, speakers ofEnglishas a first language accounted for 13.76% of the population.[36]

Government

[edit]
Main article:Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by amayor,elected every four years. The current mayor of Fajardo isAníbal Meléndez Rivera,of theNew Progressive Party(PNP). He was elected at the1988 general elections.

The city belongs to thePuerto Rico Senatorial district VIII,which is represented by two Senators. In 2012,Pedro A. RodríguezandLuis Daniel Riverawere elected as District Senators.[37]

Transportation

[edit]
Bridge on PR-971 between Fajardo and Ceiba nearLas Tinajas, Charco FrioandHacienda Tinajas,two tourist attractions located just inside the eastern side of theEl Yunque National Forest

There are 20 bridges in Fajardo.[38]

Diego Jiménez Torres Airportwas Fajardo's airport and handled commercial airline flights to the city, but it was permanently closed in 2015.

Symbols

[edit]

Themunicipiohas an official flag and coat of arms.[39]

Flag

[edit]

Fajardo's flag is a tricolor triband. The upper band is gules (red), symbolizing the color of the shield's border. Silver (white), the center band, stands for the color of the main pieces that appear in the shield and the crown. Azure (blue), the lower band, represents the color of the sky and the sea of Fajardo. Centered is the coat of arms of the village (villa) in natural colors.[40]

Coat of arms

[edit]

The coat of arms is formed as a square with a rounded base and stamped at the top with a crown mural of three towers. It is supported by two dolphins, and underneath the base a banner with the inscription “Santiago de Fajardo”.[40]

Notable Fajardeños

[edit]

See also:Category:People from Fajardo, Puerto Rico
[edit]
  • Condos on Isleta Marina, a private island of Fajardo
    Condos on Isleta Marina, a private island of Fajardo
  • Paved walkway and building in Fajardo
    Paved walkway and building in Fajardo
  • Beach in Fajardo
    Beach in Fajardo
  • Funicular at El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo
    Funicular at El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo
  • Pier at Cabezas
    Pier at Cabezas
  • Las Croabas
    Las Croabas

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census".The United States Census Bureau.Archivedfrom the original on December 1, 2021.RetrievedAugust 25,2021.
  2. ^Sweetman, Jack (March 25, 2023).American naval history: an illustrated chronology of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-present– via Internet Archive.
  3. ^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.163.Archivedfrom the original on November 15, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 29,2020.
  4. ^"Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico".USGS Landslide Hazards Program.USGS.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2019.RetrievedMarch 3,2019.
  5. ^"Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico"(PDF).USGS Landslide Hazards Program.USGS.Archived(PDF)from the original on March 3, 2019.RetrievedMarch 3,2019.
  6. ^"María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. Los sectores montañosos de Fajardo fueron los más vulnerables"[Maria, a name we will never forget. The mountainous regions of Fajardo were most vulnerable].El Nuevo Día(in Spanish). June 13, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on September 11, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 11,2022.
  7. ^ab"Fajardo Municipality".enciclopediapr.org.Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH).Archivedfrom the original on August 23, 2020.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
  8. ^Picó, Rafael; Buitrago de Santiago, Zayda; Berrios, Hector H. (1969).Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios.San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969.Archivedfrom the original on December 26, 2018.RetrievedDecember 30,2018.
  9. ^Gwillim Law (May 20, 2015).Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998.McFarland. p. 300.ISBN978-1-4766-0447-3.RetrievedDecember 25,2018.
  10. ^abPuerto 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 February 20, 2017.RetrievedDecember 30,2018.
  11. ^"Map of Fajardo at the Wayback Machine"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 24, 2018.RetrievedDecember 29,2018.
  12. ^ab"US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition".factfinder.com.US Census. Archived fromthe originalon May 13, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 5,2019.
  13. ^"P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 000 (2010 Census): Fajardo 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 August 23, 2020.RetrievedAugust 22,2020.
  14. ^"P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 001 (2010 Census): Fajardo 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 August 23, 2020.RetrievedAugust 22,2020.
  15. ^"P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 002 (2010 Census): Fajardo 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 August 23, 2020.RetrievedAugust 22,2020.
  16. ^"Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)".Puerto Rico Budgets(in Spanish).Archivedfrom the original on June 28, 2019.RetrievedJune 28,2019.
  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,ISBN978-0-9820806-1-0
  18. ^"Leyes del 2001".Lex Juris Puerto Rico(in Spanish).Archivedfrom the original on September 14, 2018.RetrievedJune 24,2020.
  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,ISBN978-0-9820806-1-0
  20. ^"Las 1,200 playas de Puerto Rico [The 1200 beaches of Puerto Rico]".Primera Hora(in Spanish). April 14, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on December 12, 2019.RetrievedDecember 12,2019.
  21. ^Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando(in Spanish). Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico. 2021.
  22. ^abSoler-López, Luis R."Laguna Grande Limnology".USGS Caribbean Water Projects.Archivedfrom the original on February 23, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 23,2019.
  23. ^"Trams of the World 2017"(PDF).Blickpunkt Straßenbahn. January 24, 2017. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on February 16, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 16,2017.
  24. ^"Image of the El Conquistador Resort funicular".Archived fromthe originalon February 17, 2017.RetrievedNovember 2,2017.
  25. ^"Bioluminescent Bay Fajardo, Puerto Rico".Biobayfajardo.com.Archivedfrom the original on March 7, 2017.RetrievedApril 3,2022.
  26. ^"Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico".Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores(in Spanish).Archivedfrom the original on February 26, 2020.RetrievedJuly 17,2020.
  27. ^"Fiestas Patronales y Carnaval Fajardeño 2014".sondeaquiprnet.El Gobierno Municipal de Fajardo.Archivedfrom the original on October 10, 2014.RetrievedAugust 14,2023.
  28. ^"Millonaria inversión en Fajardo: Se abre paso el soccer en la Metrópolis del Este | Periódico Presencia".www.presenciapr.com.December 16, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on March 15, 2018.RetrievedMarch 14,2018.
  29. ^"U.S. Decennial Census".United States Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon April 26, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 21,2017.
  30. ^"Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899".War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico.Archivedfrom the original on July 16, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 21,2017.
  31. ^"Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910"(PDF).United States Census Bureau.Archived(PDF)from the original on August 17, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 21,2017.
  32. ^"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.RetrievedSeptember 21,2014.
  33. ^"Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000"(PDF).United States Census Bureau.Archived(PDF)from the original on July 24, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 21,2017.
  34. ^"Population and Housing Unit Estimates".United States Census Bureau.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 1996.RetrievedSeptember 21,2017.
  35. ^"Ethnicity 2010 census".RetrievedNovember 10,2011.[permanent dead link]
  36. ^MLA Data Center Results for Fajardo, Puerto RicoModern Language Association.Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  37. ^Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio GeneralArchivedFebruary 2, 2013, at theWayback Machineon CEEPUR
  38. ^"Fajardo Bridges".National Bridge Inventory Data.US Dept. of Transportation.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 19,2019.
  39. ^"Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios".LexJuris de Puerto Rico(in Spanish).Archivedfrom the original on January 20, 2021.RetrievedJune 15,2021.
  40. ^ab"FAJARDO".LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico(in Spanish). February 19, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on February 19, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 17,2020.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fajardo,_Puerto_Rico&oldid=1223387491"