Río Piedras, Puerto Rico

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The University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras campus. Its distinctive clock tower is a landmark of both the campus and Rio Piedras.

Río Piedras was a separate municipio in Puerto Rico until 1951 when it was incorporated into San Juan and is now one of its districts. It is the location for the state University of Puerto Rico's largest campus, the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras. In January, 2007 the district's housing projects became the epicenter of drug-related murders, causing the government to bus students to school and consider sending in National Guard troops to patrol the area. Comparisons to the South Bronx and Compton in the 80's are not completely accurate. Regardless of the high incidence in criminality, Rio Piedras is also rich in natural resources and cultural venues. The University of Puerto Rico takes care of the Botanical Gardens of Rio Piedras. The new tren urbano stops at the University of Puerto Rico making it easier for commuters in the urban area to reach the Rio Piedras campus. The university town at the heart of Rio Piedras holds many important book stores such as La Tertulia[1] which recently opens a cafe for the amusement of its visitors and well-known intellectual community in the area.