Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
||||||
| Nickname: "La Ciudad del Toa", "Cuna de Poetas", "Los Ñangotaos", "Ciudad del Josco" | ||||||
| Gentilic: "Toalteños" | ||||||
| Location | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||
| Government | ||||||
| Founded | 1751 | |||||
| Mayor | Hon. Luis Collazo "Jumbo" | |||||
| Political party | PNP | |||||
| Senatorial district | 3 - Arecibo | |||||
| Representative district | 11 | |||||
| Geographical characteristics | ||||||
| Area | ||||||
| Total | 71.08 km² | |||||
| Land | 70.88 km² | |||||
| Water | .20 km² | |||||
| Population | ||||||
| Total (2000) | 63,929 | |||||
| Density | /km² | |||||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | |||||
| Anthem – "Cuna de historia y de grandes poetas" | ||||||
Toa Alta (TO-ah AHL-tah) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast of the island, north of Naranjito; south of Dorado and Toa Baja; east of Vega Alta and Corozal; and west of Bayamón. Toa Alta is spread over 8 wards and Toa Alta Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
Contents |
[edit] History
Toa Alta located west of the capital city of San Juan, the town was founded in 1751 making it one of the oldest towns on the Island. The construction of the San Fernando Rey church in the town square began in 1752. The name Toa Alta comes from the Taino word for valley, "Thoa". Over the years, agriculture became an important economic force in the area. At the peak of the agricultural economy, the town was also known as the "Granja de los Reyes Católicos" (the Farm of the Catholic Kings). The town is also called "Ciudad del Josco". The town is commonly known by its nickname "La Cuna de los Poetas," or "Cradle of Poets," due to the numerous Spanish-language poets who were born there, such as Abelardo Diaz Alfaro and the musician Tomás "Masso" Rivera.
[edit] Flag
Horizontally divided in three, the bottom and top red stripes double the size of the center yellow stripe. In the upper left corner a yellow eight point star.
[edit] Coat of Arms
The shield in gold, a red board with a silver sword topped with a gold crown of the same metal, to each side two small shields in red, the right-hand one with a tower in gold and the left-hand one with a gold eight point star, a three tower crown lined in black with red openings. Motto: Non Deserit Alta.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)
|
|
[edit] Geo/Topography
Toa Alta Northern Coastal Plain and to the karst zone.
[edit] Anthem
By Israel Rivera Náter
¡Cuna de historia y de grandes poetas;
Así es mi valle de verde tambor;
Valle hermosísimo, donde Abelardo
cinceló en lágrimas su gesta de amor!
¡Valle de luchas y de profundo llanto
donde Morales, nuestro héroe y cantor;
esculpió en letras de oro y de sangre
la libertad sagrada en nuestro corazón!
¡Oh Toa Alta, mi pueblo inmortal
tu gente levanta con orgullo
la radiante bandera de tu fundación!
¡Oh Toa Alta, mi pueblo inmortal
me abrazaré a tu escudo,
a la tierra y al honor!
Cuna de hermosas mujeres.
¡Oh tierra josca de mi ensoñación;
donde las cuerdas de un cuatro
encantado remolinó a los pájaros
y éstos en su empeño despertaron a Dios.
Revolcaron la cama
de un noble trovador
que una tarde de lluvia
le regaló una décima
como ofrenda de amor.
Vivan por siempre, por siempre vivan,
la raza, el empeño y el amor.
Vivan la fauna, el cielo, la montaña y el valle
en que se bañan con tus noches estrelladas
que amanecen galanas con la hermosa
sonrisa del inolvidable sol.
[edit] Economic
[edit] Agriculture
- Important milk producer
[edit] Business
[edit] Industrial
- Scientific instruments, food, clothing, leather articles, rubber and plastic articles
[edit] Tourism
[edit] Landmarks and places of interest
- Legendary Tree
- Masso Rivera Municipal Teather
- Masso Rivera Statue
- Recreo Egozcué Plaza
- San Fernando Rey Parish
- Villa Tropical Recreation Center
[edit] Festivals and events
- Chopa Marathon - March
- Patron Celebrations - May
- Typical Musica - November
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Education
[edit] Sports
[edit] Notable "Toalteños"
- Dayanara Torres Delgado, Miss Universe 1993 and former wife of salsa-star Marc Anthony.
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] Books about Toa Alta
[edit] Additional Information
[edit] Photo gallery
[edit] External links
