San Sebastián Plaza |
Foundation:
The original name was San Sebastián (sahn se-bahs-tee-AHN),
de las Vegas y el Pepino, because of its location in an extensive
valley protected by mountains, watered by the Culebrinas and Guatemala
rivers, and by the locally wooded hills called "pepinos" (cucumbers),
characteristic of the karst zone. Authorization to found the town
dates from 1752. It is said that its founder was don Cristóbal
González, neighbor of the area. After seven years (1759) the construction
of the first parish was culminated and placed under the patronage
of San Sebastián Mártir. Later in 1808 and 1812 the House of the
King and the City Council were built, respectively.
During the first
years of its foundation, after exploiting the forests and ruining
the forest wealth, the economy was mainly based on cattle and
equine raising, sugar cane, coffee, cotton, tobacco, rice and
fruits were also cultivated.
In the 1815 numerous immigrants arrived to Pepino who introduced
capital and slave manual labor, that stimulated the economic development.
One decade later Pepino counted on 53 wooden sugar refineries,
4 stills that processed sugar cane melases, and the produced coffee,
cotton and fruits. In 1823 the first primary school of the town
was founded and in 1828 the population had already exceeded 9,000
inhabitants. Eighteen years later Pepino counted with more than
100 homes, two primary schools and the municipal population exceeded
10,000 inhabitants.
In 1868 the historical
episode known as the "Grito de Lares", (Lares Revolt) took place.
One of the more important Revolutionary Groups in the organization
of the revolt was the "Porvenir" of Pepino, whose most outstanding
members were Manuel Cebollero, Eusebio Ibarra, Cristóbal Castro,
Cesáreo Martínez, Clodomiro Abril and Francisco José Méndez. The
facts, which correspond to the History of Puerto Rico, consisted
of the taking of Lares and the
frustrated attack against Pepino.
In 1869 the Government
authorized the name of Pepino be changed to San Sebastián. In
1919, like a inheritance of its past, the following public buildings
existed in San Sebastián: The House of the King, slaughter house,
meat market, the Municipal and Lunatic hospitals, the cemetery
chapel and the Municipal Public square.
Location:
It borders with Isabela and Quebradillas to the north, south with
Las Marías, west with Moca and Añasco and east with Lares.
Area:
137.8 sq km / 53.0 sq mi
Population:
44,204 (census 2000)
Population Density:
320.7 per sq km / 834.0 per sq mi
People are known as:
Pepinianos
|
San Sebastián is also known as: |
San Sebastián
Del Pepino
Los Pepinianos
Cuna de la Hamaca
Los Patrulleros |
Wards:
Census 2000:
Population by Wards - San Sebastián |
Habitants |
|
Aibonito |
2,116 |
|
Alto Sano |
1,282 |
|
Bahomamey |
2,740 |
|
Calabazas |
2,458 |
|
Cibao |
1,218 |
|
Cidral |
453 |
|
Culebrinas |
4,006 |
|
Eneas |
912 |
|
Guacio |
733 |
|
Guajataca |
700 |
|
Guatemala |
2,919 |
|
Hato Arriba |
1,991 |
|
Hoya Mala |
3,505 |
|
Juncal |
2,075 |
|
Magos |
242 |
|
Mirabales |
624 |
|
Perchas 1 |
1,024 |
|
Perchas 2 |
1,072 |
|
Piedras Blancas |
2,562 |
|
Pozas |
3,713 |
|
Robles |
1,595 |
|
Salto |
2,887 |
|
San Sebastián Town |
1,952 |
|
Sonador |
1,425 |
|
Total |
44,204 |
Source:
Census 2000
Political Division - Administrative:
|
Patron: |
San Sebastián Mártir
Parroquia San Sebastián Martir
Apartado 801
San Sebastián, P.R. 00685
(787) 896-1028
Mass Schedule:
Monday thru Friday: 7:00am & 6:15pm
Saturday: 6:15pm
Sunday: 7:00am, 8:15am, 9:30am, 10:30am & 6:15pm |
San Sebastián Parish
|
Topography: It
is located in the Interior Central Mountains. In general, its terrain
is slightly elevated although it counts with numerous small elevations
or wooded hills, known as "pepinos", from where the name of San
Sebastián Del Pepino comes from.
Hydrography:
It is watered by the Grande de Añasco, Culebrinas, Guajataca rivers,
several affluents and the dam known as the Guajataca Lake.
Economy:
Agriculture (cattle and sugar cane).
Average Salary: $ 249.01 weekly (1998)
Flag: It consists of a rectangular
flag of the usual proportions, crossed by a white waved band that
separates its red superior part from the inferior one, that is green.
The red color symbolizes the patron San Sebastián Mártir and the revolt
of September 24, 1868, where the town witnessed the bloody events
originated by the Revolutionary Movement of Lares; the color green
represents the mountains of Pepino; and the white waved band, the
Culebrinas River.
|
|
Coat Of Arms: The three arrows
represent Patron Saint of the population, San Sebastián Mártir,
officially named in 1869. The arrows constitute the attribute of
this Saint. According to tradition he was killed with arrows by
his pursuers, giving this way testimony of faith. The arrows that
appear in the old seal of the population perpetuate the use of its
symbolism. The red color of the shield has in addition another symbolism;
the faith of the martyr. It recalls that San Sebastián was the first
town of Puerto Rico in the course of a combat operation, blood for
the national freedom of Puerto Rico was spilled. It was in effect,
in the plaza of the town, next to the Parochial Church, on September
24, 1868, where by the gun fire of loyal milicianos of the Spanish
regime, Venancio Roman fell along with other patriotics of Lares
who came to occupy the military quarters of Pepino.
San Sebastián Public Schools
|
Name |
Level |
Telephone |
Address |
|
AGUSTÍN ACEVEDO HERNÁNDEZ |
Elementary |
(787) 896-2105 |
PO Box 4704 |
|
AIBONITO BELTRÁN |
Elementary |
(787) 896-4362 |
PO Box 977 |
|
ÁNGEL GUERRERO LUGO |
Elementary |
(787) 896-2888 |
PO Box 4704 |
|
ÁUREA FUENTES MÉNDEZ |
Elementary |
(787) 896-4100 |
PO Box 5220 |
|
FRANCISCO LUGO ROSA |
Elementary |
(787) 280-0863 |
HC-05 Box 42005 |
|
GUILLERMO CARDE |
Elementary |
(787) 896-0199 |
PO Box 1220 |
|
INÉS MENDOZA |
Elementary |
(787) 280-1863 |
PO Box 4704 |
|
JOAQUÍN ORONOZ RODÓN |
Elementary |
(787) 896-1775 1680 |
Ave. Emerito Estrada |
|
JUAN CARDONA RODRÍGUEZ |
Elementary |
(787) 896-1425 |
PO Box 4644 |
|
JUANA B. GUZMÁN |
Elementary |
(787) 280-4072 |
PO Box 662 |
|
JULIO CANCEL (ANEXO) |
Elementary |
(787) 896-0115 |
PO Box 1220 |
|
JULIO CANCEL FACUNDO |
Elementary |
(787) 896-1072 |
PO Box 1220 |
|
MARÍA S. DEL RÍO |
Elementary |
(787) 896-0166 |
Bo. Robles Carr. # 466 km 3 hm |
|
MINIMA ORONOZ |
Elementary |
(787) 896-4669 |
PO Box 7000 Suite 70 |
|
PABLO CARDONA |
Elementary |
(787) 896-5940 |
PO Box 4704 |
|
PERCHAS RABEL I. |
Elementary |
(787) 896-6492 |
PO Box 4704 |
|
RAMÓN M TORRES |
Elementary |
(787) 896-1135 |
PO Box 5443 |
|
ERNESTINA MÉNDEZ |
Intermediate |
(787) 896-1745 |
Suite 138 |
|
NARCISO RABELL CABRERO |
Intermediate |
(787) 896-1164 |
PO Box 1619 |
|
PERCHAS ROSARIO |
Intermediate |
(787) 896-4497 |
PO Box 4704 |
|
EMILIO SCHARON RODRÍGUEZ |
Secondary |
(787) 896-4142 |
PO Box 4691 |
|
BERNARDO MÉNDEZ JIMÉNEZ |
Secondary |
(787) 896-5980 |
PO Box 1676 |
|
CARMELO SERRANO CUBANO |
Secondary |
(787) 896-6810 |
PO Box 1676 |
|
MAXIMINO A. SALAS |
Secondary |
(787) 896-2838 |
PO Box 2855 |
|
NUEVA SUPERIOR VOCACIONAL |
High School |
(787) 896-1430 |
PO Box 1277 |
|
PATRIA LATORRE |
High School |
(787) 896-3970 |
PO Box 5379 |
|
Hymn: |
Lirics Juan Avilés Medina
Music Guillermo Figueroa
Van
más de dos siglos de historia de vida,
vida con historia, siempre Florecida
de esperanzas nuevas, de anhelo y de afán,
con el gran prodigio de la Fe Cristiana
que abrió los caminos de ayer al mañana
bajo el nombre Augusto de San Sebastián.
Somos
de los llanos, somos de la sierra,
somos de los valles, somos de la tierra
que lleva muy hondo clavada en su entraña
la feliz historia del Río Culebrinas, l
as nobles leyendas de hazañas taínas
y la historia escrita con sangre de España.
Tenemos
orgullo, forjamos cultura,
labramos rencores, sentimos bravura,
guardamos amores en el corazón.
Pero en un instante, cultura y rencores,
bravura y ternura y orgullo y amores
se postran de hinojos a nuestro Patrón.
Deprisa
vivimos la vida de día;
vamos al progreso con la gallardía
de un pueblo que marcha con paso seguro.
Y el Viejo Pepino de los pepinianos
sigue siendo el pueblo de miles
de hermanos que van siempre unidos. |
San Sebastián Library
San Sebastián Town Hall |
|
Events: |
Patron Celebrations - January
Three Kings Festival - January
Festival of the Heifer - January
Hamac Festival - July |
|
Places To Visit: |
Barandillo
Robles Waterfall
Sombrero Hill
Guajataca Lake
Merchant Plaza
Salto de Collazo |
|
Distinguished Citizens: |
Juan F. Acosta - Composer & muscian
(biography)
Sinforoso Vélez Arocho - First Puerto Rican to participate
in WW1.
Delia Margarita (Margie) Castro Alberty - Opera singer
Dr. Salvador Arana Soto - Historian |
San Sebastián Mayors 1898 - Present
|
Year |
Mayor |
Year |
Mayor |
|
1898-1904 |
José González Hernández |
1941-1945 |
Juan Evangelista Cortes |
|
1904-1910 |
Narciso Rabell Cabrero |
1945-1956 |
Arcadio Estrada Linares |
|
1910-1924 |
Manuel Rivera Negroni |
1956-1969 |
Rafael Méndez Cabrero |
|
1924-1925 |
Narciso Rabell Cabrero |
1969-1977 |
Ramón Román Hernández |
|
1925-1929 |
Antonio Sagardía Torrens |
1977-1981 |
Carmelo Méndez López |
|
1929-1929 |
Pedro Echeandía Vélez |
1981-1989 |
Ramón Román Hernández |
|
1929-1933 |
Getulio Echeandía Vélez |
1989-1992 |
Silverio Salas Quintana |
|
1933-1937 |
Manuel Méndez Liciaga |
1992-2005 |
Justo Medina Estévez |
|
1937-1941 |
Joaquín Oronoz Font |
2005 - Present |
Javier Jiménez |
Source:
Municipio de San Sebastián
|
Mayor: |
Hon. Javier Jiménez (PNP)
P.O. Box 1603
San Sebastián , P.R. 00685
(787) 896- 1550 |
|
2004 General Election Results
Municipality of San Sebastián
|
| |
|
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
Percent |
|
|
JAVIER JIMENEZ |
13,832 |
51.77% |
|
|
AMILCAR MENDEZ MORALES |
11,979 |
44.83% |
|
|
REYNALDO ACEVEDO VELEZ |
671 |
2.51% |
|
|
*OTHERS |
237 |
0.89% |
|
|
Total |
26,719 |
|
|
Breakdown of Others |
|
Reported Voting Centers Participation
|
|
Direct Nomination |
6 |
|
Registered Voters |
31,375 |
|
Blank |
140 |
|
Votes |
26,719 |
|
Null |
91 |
|
Participation Percent |
85.16% |
|
Reported Voting Centers: 105 out of 105 for
100.00% |
|
Total Registered |
31,375 |
|
Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico
|
