Moca, Puerto Rico

Moca (MO-kah) is a northwest municipality of Puerto Rico located in the western region of the island, south of Añasco; southeast of Aguadilla; east of Aguada; and west of Isabela and San Sebastián. Moca is spread over 10 wards and Moca Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

The name of Moca comes from the tree Andira Ínermis whose beautiful pink/purple flowers expose their presence, which are very common in this region.

The Moca tree was officially adopted as the representative tree of the town on February 19, 1972. Moca is famous for its "mundillo" lace. Mundillo is the Puerto Rican name for handmade bobbin lace. It is almost synonymous with the small town of Moca.

[edit] History

Moca known as "La Capital del Mundillo" (The capital of lace) it was founded by Don José de Quiñónez on April 7, 1772. Diverse versions exist on the date of its foundation. Manuel de Ubeda and Delgado, in his "Isla de Puerto Rico. "Estudio histórico, geográfico y estadístico", published in San Juan in 1878, says to us that it was founded on 1774. On the other hand, Cayetano Coll y Toste, in the "Boletín histórico de Puerto Rico", maintains that it was founded on April 7, 1772.

On August 14, 1898, The United States Armed Forces entered and took the town of Moca finding no resistance. On August 8, 1898, after the Spanish-American War officially ended, Puerto Rico became a United States territory as an outcome of the Treaty of Paris of 1898.

[edit] Flag

The rectangular flag consists of a purple equilateral triangular field, the color of the Moca tree flower. In this field appear five point stars, silver-plated, surrounding a greater gold star, also with five points.

[edit] Coat of Arms

It has oblong form. Divided in a silver-plated field and blue sky united by a purple rhombus (diamond shape), the color of the Moca flower. The rhombus has within religious symbolisms. The rhombus is surrounded, in its inferior part, by two branches of the Moca tree; in its superior part, an arc of eleven silver-plated five-point stars. Within the rhombus is a gold monogram (of the Virgin Mary) topped by a Christian crown of the same metal. A silver-lined crown in form of a three-tower castle crowns the shield. On the frontal portion of the crown, carved in gold, the word Moca. The stones of the castle are lined in blue. The doors and windows are purple.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)

Aceitunas
Capá
Cerro Gordo
Cruz
Cuchillas

Marías
Naranjo
Plata
Pueblo Rocha
Voladoras

[edit] Geo/Topography

Localization: 58° 23'N and 67° 06'W of the Meridian of Greenwich. It is located in a small valley, in the skirts of "The Tuna" mountains, at 141 feet (43 m) above sea level.

Climate: Tropical with hardly noticeable seasonal changes. Temperatures throughout the year range between 76 and 98 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 37 °C).

Hydrography: The Culebrinas river crosses its territory from east to west, and its tributaries include the gorges of Los Gatos, Lassalle, de las Damas, Vieja, Los Romanes, the Morones, Higuillo, Chiquita, Yagruma, Echeverria, Aguas Frias, Las Marias, de los Méndez, La Caraíma, Grande, y Dulce. Cerro Moca, Monte El Ojo, Monte Mariquita of the Jaicoa Mountain Range

[edit] Anthem

By Augusto Hernández

Doce barrios, doce estrellas
en nuestra constelación
que queremos con orgullo
y defedemos con tezón.

Sus veredas, sus campiñas,
sus mocas de verde y flor
dan belleza a nuestro suelo
con un radiante esplendor.

Desde el norte de la Sierra
hasta el sur del Culebrinas
laboramos los mocanos
hasta conquistar la cima.

Las nuevas generaciones
se están nutriendo con gloria
del legado que ha dejado
lo héroes de nuestra historia.

[edit] Economic

[edit] Agriculture

Fruits, and some cattle ranching.

[edit] Business

[edit] Industrial

Alarms, clothing, electronic machinery, footwear, plastic products.

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Landmarks and places of interest

Enrique Laguerre House
Enriqueta Hacienda
Julia's Mundillo Shop
Our Lady of Monserrate Parish
The Mercado Castles

[edit] Festivals and events

Shrimp Festival - May
Patron Celebrations - September
Mundillo (lace) Festival - December
Enchaquetao Parranda - December

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Education

[edit] Sports

[edit] Notable "Mocanos"

Dr. Efraín Sánchez Hidalgo - Professor in psychology
Enrique A. Laguerre Vélez - Doctor in philosophy and letters

[edit] References

Moca and its barrios, United States Census Bureau

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] Books about Moca

[edit] Additional Information

[edit] Photo gallery

[edit] External links

	Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
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Cities	Adjuntas \| Aguada \| Aguadilla \| Aguas Buenas \| Aibonito \| Añasco \| Arecibo \| Arroyo \| Barceloneta \| Barranquitas \| Bayamón \| Cabo Rojo \| Caguas \| Camuy \| Canóvanas \| Carolina \| Cataño \| Cayey \| Ceiba \| Ciales \| Cidra \| Coamo \| Comerío \| Corozal \| Culebra \| Dorado \| Fajardo \| Florida \| Guánica \| Guayama \| Guayanilla \| Guaynabo \| Gurabo \| Hatillo \| Hormigueros \| Humacao \| Isabela \| Jayuya \| Juana Díaz \| Juncos \| Lajas \| Lares \| Las Marías \| Las Piedras \| Loíza \| Luquillo \| Manatí \| Maricao \| Maunabo \| Mayagüez \| Moca \| Morovis \| Nagüabo \| Naranjito \| Orocovis \| Patillas \| Peñuelas \| Ponce \| Quebradillas \| Rincón \| Río Grande \| Sabana Grande \| Salinas \| San Germán \| San Juan \| San Lorenzo \| San Sebastián \| Santa Isabel \| Toa Alta \| Toa Baja \| Trujillo Alto \| Utuado \| Vega Alta \| Vega Baja \| Vieques \| Villalba \| Yabucoa \| Yauco
Islands	Culebra \| Mona \| Puerto Rico \| Vieques

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Category: Municipalities of Puerto Rico