Foundation:
Arecibo (ah-re-SEE-boh) has existed as a population nucleus since
the early years of the sixteenth century (1533). In the year 1570 the Taino
Indians entrusted the land to the Spaniards who began to live in the village.
According to history, the name Arecibo comes from an Indian Chief named Arazibo.
The historian, Francisco M. Cadilla, doubts this assertion as he mentions
in his book, "Los Ochonentistas," based on the historian Don Antonio de Herrera,
where he talks about one of the seven mightiest rivers of the time, the Arecibo
River.
In 1614 when the governor of the Island was Don Felipe de Beaumont, due to
its population growth the village was promoted to a town. Governor Don Felipe
de Beaumont with the consent of Bishop Pedro Soler, called it San Phelipe
del Arecibo. In 1778 it was declared Villa, and later was known as "Very Loyal"
(Muy Leal) in 1850.
Arecibo is also known as "La Villa del Capitán Correa" (Captain Correa Villa)
when Lieutenant Antonio de los Reyes Correa on August 5, 1702, with a small
group of armed militia ambushed and repulsed an attack of 40 English soldiers.
They pushed the invaders out to sea with a balance of 22 dead invaders against
1 dead and 3 injured defenders. For this act of bravery he was promoted to
Captain and was given a medal.
Location: Arecibo
is bordered by: the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Utuado and Ciales to the
south, Hatillo to the west, and Barceloneta and Florida to the east.
Area:
330.2 sq km / 127 sq mi
Population:
100,131 (census 2000)
Population Density:
303.2 per sq km / 823.6 per sq mi
People are known as:
Arecibeños
Arecibo is also
known as:
La Villa del Capitán
Correa (Captain Correa Villa)
Muy Leal (Very Loal)
Ciudad del Cetí (Ceti City)
Diamante del Norte (Northern Diamond)
Los Capitanes (The Captains)
Patron:
San Felipe
Apostol
San Felipe Apostol Parish
P.O. Box 577
Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00613-0577
(787) 878-1149
Mass Schedule:
Daily: 6:15am, 7:30am & 12:00md
Saturday: 7:00am & 4:00pm
Sunday: 7:00am, 8:30am & 11:00am
Topography:
Its terrain is
almost level. Correa Hill, located in Sabana Hoyos, has approximately 270
meters (886 feet) only of altitude above sea level. The territory belongs
to the Northern Coastal Valley region, which is adjacent to karst zone characterized
by the presence of caves and wooded hills. The landscape near the coast has
dunes formed by the wind.
Hydrography: The most important
rivers are the Tanamá River, and the Grande de Arecibo River. The Grande de
Arecibo River is born in Monte Guilarte, Adjuntas and ends at Punto Morrillo,
in the Atlantic Ocean. The Tanamá River, born in Utuado in the adjacent mountains
of Adjuntas, flows and refreshes the lands of the barrios of La Esperanza,
Dominguito, Hato Arriba and Tanamá.
Climate: The annual precipitation
is around 53.01 inches and the average temperature is 77.8°F.
Economy: The economy of Arecibo
is due to several factors: plants that manufacture textile products, chemical,
electronic and electrical, and medical instruments among others. It also depends
on services in commerce and agriculture. Another economic factor in Arecibo
is fishing, although in a smaller scale.
Flag: The flag of Arecibo
derives its composition and colors from the Shield of the City. It is divided
vertically in two equal parts.
The left side is blue having a
belt that stands for "Captain Correa", a local military hero from Spanish
times. The other part is yellow with fifteen blue rhombis with the vertices
touching each other and placed in three horizontal rows of five each and five
vertical columns of three each.
Coat Of Arms: The shield is divided by
diagonal lines in golden and blue rhombis with a blue stripe in the superior
part, in which resides an opened five-point crown and which is adorned with
drawings characterizing the art of the Taínos. This combination of symbols
represents the Indian Cacique (Chieftain) from whom the population's name
derives, the governor that erected the town and the hero Captain Correa who
defended it.
The crown remembers the Cacique Francisco Jamaica Arecibo,
converted to Christianity, who reigned the region of the Abacoa, today Arecibo.
The two turtles are symbols of antiquity. The population of Arecibo is one
of the four oldest of the Island. The golden rhombis are part of the shield
of arms of the Governor Felipe de Beaumont y Navarro, Governor of Puerto Rico
(1614-1620) and which had part in the foundation of Arecibo in 1616. The strap
in gold and clasp of silver that borders the shield alludes to Captain Antonio
de los Reyes Correa, of Arecibo. In the strap, in saber letters, it says Very
Loyal (Muy Leal), a motto granted to the city in 1850. The crown mural has
five towers, which means that Arecibo received the title of village. This
occurred in 1778.
Public Schools sorted by educational levels.
Updated: 08/07/2003
Arecibo Region
Arecibo District
Villa
y ciudad te conocí
acariciada por el mar
prodigio es ver cerca de tí
ríos formandose un collar
porque eres tú cuna gentil
de nuestro gran Pachín Marín,
Víctor Rojas también
de Campeche un jardín,
del Capitán Correa, el invicto,
fue un edén.
Arecibo,
Arecibo
yo nunca te podré olvidar,
pueblecito de mis amores
que como tú no hay otro igual.
Por tus atletas y tus héroes
tus hijos te saben querer,
con sus mujeres en sus quereres
gratos recuerdos del ayer.
En el
baseball estrellas son
Rodríguez Olmo con Pellot.
En basketball gran sensación
con John Padilla en Nueva York.
Así también cual campeón
Petaca Iguina es colosal.
Nuestros atletas son bravos
por su ideal por eso
gozan de fama y admiración.
Arecibo,
Arecibo
yo nunca te podré olvidar,
pueblecito de mis amores
que como tú no hay otro igual.
Por tus atletas y tus héroes
tus hijos te saben querer,
con sus mujeres en sus quereres
gratos recuerdos del ayer.
Events:
Bicycle
Competitions - January
Arecibo Carnival - February
Patron Festivities San Felipe Apóstol - May
Playero Festival - July
Folklore Festival - July
Craftsman Fair - September
Ceti Festival - November
Puerto Rico's Flag Centenial - December
Arecibo Observatory
Río Abajo Forest Reserve
Olympic Swiming Facilities
Víctor Rojas Walk
Los Morillos Beach
Los Negritos Beach
Las Tunas Beach
Poza del Obispo Beach
Places
To Visit:
Casa
de Pesca
Casa Ulanga
San Felipe Cathedral
Cueva del Indio Cavern
Dos Bocas Lake
Los Morrillos Lighthouse
Arecibo Observatory
Cambalache Forest Reserve
Distinguished Citizens:
Cayetano Coll y Toste (1850-1930) Doctor & historian
(biography)
Francisco (Pachín) Gonzalo Marín (1897-1963) - Poet, politician &
patriot
(biography)
Manuel Zeno Gandía (1855-1930) Doctor, journalist & politician
(biography)
María Cadilla de Martínez (1894-1951) Professor & writer
(biography)
René Marqués (1929-1979) - Dramatist
(biography)
Foundation:
Arecibo (ah-re-SEE-boh) has existed as a population nucleus since
the early years of the sixteenth century (1533). In the year 1570 the Taino
Indians entrusted the land to the Spaniards who began to live in the village.
Location: Arecibo
is bordered by: the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Utuado and Ciales to the
south, Hatillo to the west, and Barceloneta and Florida to the east. 
