Barceloneta, Puerto Rico

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Barceloneta, Puerto Rico
Flag of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico
Flag
Nickname: La Ciudad de las Piñas", "El Pueblo de los Indios", "El Pueblo de Sixto Escobar", "Tomás Dávila Martínez
Location within the island of Puerto Rico
Location within the island of Puerto Rico
Country United States
Territory Puerto Rico
Founded July 1, 1881
Government
 - Mayor Hon. Sol Luis Fontanes Olivo (PPD)
 - Senatorial dist. 3 - Arecibo
 - Representative dist. 13
Area
 - Total 36.4 sq mi (94.24 km²)
 - Land 31.7 sq mi (82 km²)
 - Water 4.7 sq mi (12.24 km²)
Population (2000)
 - Total 22,322
 - Density 932.4/sq mi (360/km²)
 - Gentilic Barcelonetences
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
Anthem – "Querido Barceloneta"

Barceloneta is a municipality in Puerto Rico and is located in the north region, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Florida, east of Arecibo and west of Manati. Barceloneta is spread over 3 wards and Barceloneta Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Contents

[edit] History

Barceloneta was founded by Don Dionisio Lenza Feliúpe on July 2, 1881. It was one of the first municipalities created by the Spanish government in Puerto Rico. Barceloneta was named in honor of Barceloneta, a neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain where the founder was born.

Both Barceloneta and Florida were originally part of Manati. Because of its location next to the Manati River, and its natural iguanas in Palmas Altas, Barceloneta was for a while site of an important port activity, not only in the shipment of sugar and salt from the first Sugar Cane Mill (La Catalana, or "the Catalan", but also as a passenger route to New York and Barcelona. Don Bonocio's son was the owner of a sail ship that made those routes.

Barceloneta is also known as the Industrial City, the Pineapple City, The Indian City or/and Sixto Escobar's City

[edit] Flag

The flag is a rectangular adaptation of the former Coat of Arms, as are its colors, with the variation of omitting the flowers of "guajana" (sugar cane flower) and that the blazon's gold and silver are substituted by yellow and white, respectively. The flag contains elements of St George's Cross to honor the patron saint of Catalonia, Saint George and the stripes of the Catalonian national flag, the Senyera, since the town was founded by a Catalan immigrant.

[edit] Coat of Arms

The sugar cane flowers (guajanas) symbolize the source of life of the old agricultural economy of Barceloneta. The blue symbolizes the beaches and marine ports of great importance for industry and commerce. Its crown consists of three towers.

[edit] Barrios

[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)[1]

  • Barceloneta Pueblo
  • Florida Afuera
  • Garrochales
  • Palmas Altas
  • Seboruco
  • Palenque

[edit] Geo/Topography

  • Cambalache Reserve
  • The Grande de Manatí River
  • Palenque

[edit] Anthem

Catholic church in Barceloneta
Catholic church in Barceloneta

Querido Barceloneta
By Luis Felipe Román Ramos

Barceloneta, linda esmeralda
Que un día fundara Llenza Feliú,
Hombres valiosos, grandes mujeres
Te han distinguido a plenitud.

Siempre te llevo, Barceloneta,
En lo profundo del corazón
Rincón Boricua, rincón boricua,
Mi terruñito encantador.

En el espejo de tu gran río
Es donde nace la inspiración
Esplendorosa, esplendorosa,
Cual bella rosa de ensoñación.

Tu hermosa playa, Barceloneta,
Tu sol de oro primaveral
Son un regalo, son un regalo
Del Rey Eterno, Dios Celestial.

[edit] Economic

[edit] Business

Barceloneta has the biggest pharmaceutical complex in the world (14 industries). It is known that these companies have chosen Barceloneta to establish their facilities for its underground water reservoirs. The water in Barceloneta is so pure that it requires very little treatment for use in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

[edit] Tourism

Barceloneta is also famous for its blue sand beaches, due to the high iron content found in the sand.

[edit] Landmarks and places of interest

  • Antiguo Muelle (Old Seaport)
  • Cambalache Reserve
  • Caño Tiburones Marshland
  • La Monserrate Refinery Ruins
  • Las Criollas Beach
  • Marqués de la Esperanza Hacienda Ruins
  • Palmas Altas Beach
  • Sixto Escobar Museum

[edit] Festivals and events

  • Plácido Acevedo Tribute - June
  • Las Criollas Beach Festival - June
  • Typical Musical Festival - June
  • Virgen del Carmen Festivities - July
  • Bomba & Plena Festival - October

[edit] Transportation

Barceloneta has recently added the use of trolly cars free of charge for local transport within the town itself. If your looking to go further than the town limits, there is a station for "carros publicos" or public car transportation.These work like a kind of taxi and, for a small fee, will take you to the next town , for example,Manati.

[edit] Notable "Barcelonetences"

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 18°27′02″N, 66°32′19″W Puerto Rico-Rocks!*