Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Santurce is a district or barrio in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The name Santurce comes from Basque, and in that language it is written as San Turtzi , which literally translates to St. George.

[edit] History of Santurce

Originally settled by the native Tainos, the area later became home to a significant population of slaves of African ancestry who arrived from the neighboring Danish Virgin Islands. Due to the abundance of crabs found in the area, the district became commonly known as “Cangrejos” (the Spanish word for crabs). Throughout the centuries, the district continued to grow due to it’s location at the crossroads between San Juan and its southern suburbs.

In 1876, Pablo Ubarri, an engineer from the Basque Country region of Spain arrived on the island to help in the construction of a railroad system. Many years later after his arrival he is granted the title of Count of Santurce by the Spanish Crown. With his newly acquired title and influence, the district is renamed after his title. The neighboring Condado also received its present-name from Ubarri’s title, as the district’s name literally translates to “county” (which in medieval tradition is land granted by a monarch to a count)

During most of the 1930s and up to the 1950s, Santurce along with neighboring district Miramar becomes one of the most vibrant areas of the capital. However, by the 1970s, most of the district had fallen into decay and it hasn’t been able to recapture the luster and vibrance it once had.

Today, the district is starting to see a resurgence in importance and life as many business and local establishments such as bars, clubs, and restaurants have opened their doors to locals and tourists alike due to the importance of trade and tourism in San Juan.

[edit] Santurce in sports

Santurce currently has a basketball team and in the past had a baseball team for over 70 years. Both teams are known as the Santurce Crabbers, because of the original name of the district.

Main article: Santurce Crabbers (baseball)

Santurce was one of the original teams in Puerto Rico's Professional Baseball League. They were the first Puerto Rican team to win the Caribbean World Series (in 1951) and the first to win a second Series (in 1953). In total, Santurce won 12 domestic titles from 1951 until 2000, and five Caribbean World Series. However, after several years of declining attendance, the team moved to Manatí in 2004.

Main article: Santurce Crabbers (basketball)

In basketball, the Crabbers currently play in the Coliseo de Puerto Rico for important games and the Coliseo Mario Morales for games against teams from small towns. The attendance for games at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico is usually between 7,000 and 12,000 and for games in the Coliseo Mario Morales is between 500 and 1,000. They have won 7 tittles (1962, 1966, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003) and have been runners-up 4 times (1942, 1951, 1952, 1964 and 2006).

[edit] Trivia

Important places in Santurce:

Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferre - The biggest preforming arts center in the island
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico - The Puerto Rican Art Museum
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo - Modern Art Museum

Famous individuals born in Santurce include: