Canóvanas, Puerto Rico

Canóvanas (kah-NO-vah-nahs) is a Municipio in Puerto Rico, located in the northeastern region, north of Juncos and Las Piedras; south of Loíza; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Canóvanas is spread over 7 wards and Canóvanas Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Canóvanas along with San Juan,Bayamón, Carolina, Guaynabo, Cataño, Toa Baja,Trujillo Alto,Caguas,Toa Alta one of the cities that comprises the so called Metropolitan Area of Puerto Rico.

Large numbers of African slaves lived in the Canóvanas area. Because of this, a considerable large number of Canóvanas' population is black.

In 1983, an infamous criminal act occurred in Canóvanas when police tried to intervene in a dispute between a landowner and a group of homeless people that built their wooden houses in Villa sin Miedo. The dispute occurred because of disagreements and breaking of verbal contract between the parts. During the dispute, one policeman was shot on his lung and died shortly after, many other officers and residents were injured in a case that received wide media attention in Puerto Rico.

1 History
- 1.1 Coat of Arms
2 Demographics
- 2.1 Barrios (Districts/Wards)
- 2.2 Geo/Topography
3 Anthem
4 Economic
5 Sports
6 Notable "Canovanenses "
7 External links

[edit] History

Juan R. Calderón founded Canóvanas in 1909. Canóvanas derives its name from a local Indian chief Canobaná (Canovanax).

[edit] Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms today contains the following symbolisms: The colors gold and violet taken from the banner of the "Hijos y Amigos Ausentes de Canóvanas" (Absent Children and Friends of Canóvanas), The crown (castle) symbolizing municipality, the broken chain symbolizing the discontinuation of Canóvanas as a district of Loíza. The crown in the center symbolizing and recalling the supreme hierarchy of the Cacique Canobaná, The laurels indicatiing the 23 consecutive wins (one leaf for each win) of the "Loíza Indians" basketball team, establishing a record in Puerto Rico. The basket in the middle of the leaves represents the team and its accomplishments. The rising sun and its 16 rays of light indicating the sprouting of a new municipality in Puerto Rico and the number of the incumbent mayors, respectively, before Canóvanas was separated from Loíza. The inscription in the banner recalls: the name of the Cacique and the dates of the installation of the municipal seat of Loíza in Canóvanas, November 30, 1909; and its creation August 15, 1970.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)

Canóvanas
Canóvanas Pueblo
Campo Rico
Cubuy
El Verde

Hato Puerco
Las Lomas
Las Mercedes
Toma Agua
Torrecilla Alta

[edit] Geo/Topography

The Grande de Loíza river

[edit] Anthem

Canóvanax By Doris Sandra Estrada Jiménez

Es mi pueblo natal entre los pueblos,
puente fijo en el tiempo mirando al porvenir.
Defendiendo con furia del paso de los siglos,
la simiente del indio que se negó a morir.

Sus hijos son hilera de luceros que adornan
la frente del guerrero que dio vida a su ser:
Hernaíz, Mister Arroyo, los reyes del canasto
y el monstruo de este siglo que nadie pudo ser.

Roca tallada y barro, piel cobriza y areyto
son el alma de un pueblo que defendió su historia.
Los hijos del futuro recordarán al indio
que vivirá por siempre grabado en su memoria.

Contemplo en la ventana del tiempo, los recuerdos
de un poblado de antaño vino en mi corazón
campanas en la plaza, campos verdes y calles
con ritmo de tambores en inmortal canción.

Y al paso de los años es su historia
recuerdo del maíz yuca y bohique.
Hamacas del pasado meciéndose en el tiempo
y un manojo de estrellas coronando un cacique.

[edit] Economic

[edit] Agriculture

Coffee, fruits, sugar cane vegetables; cattle and poultry

[edit] Business

[edit] Industrial

Apparel, footwear, chemical agents, electrical and electronic equipment

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Landmarks and places of interest

Antigua Lechería (Old Dairy)
Central Canóvanas Ruins
El Comandante Racetrack
El Español Bridge
Jesús T. Piñero's House
Old Ceiba Tree
Villarán Park

[edit] Festivals and events

Cross Festivities - May
Matron Festivities - October
Christmas In The Country - December

[edit] Sports

Canóvanas was also home of a large number of Taíno Indians. Because of this, Canóvanas' professional sports teams have traditionally been nicknamed the Indios. In 1983, BSN's Indios won Puerto Rico's national basketball championship and they repeated in 1984, but they eventually disappeared during the 1990s. The Indias women's volleyball team has also won a number of championships. In Horse-racing, Canóvanas is home to El Nuevo Comandante, Puerto Rico's most famous horse track, since 1972.

[edit] Notable "Canovanenses "

Benjamín Morales
Enrique Sánchez Cappa
Dr. Francisco F. Mundo
Jesus T. Piñero - First puertorrican governor (not elected)
Juan Calzada González
Julio Jiménez
Rafael José Albandoz
Rey Francisco Quiñones
Andres Matias
Eric I. Estrada

[edit] External links

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