Salinas, Puerto Rico

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Coordinates: 18°06′52″N, 66°10′05″W

Salinas, Puerto Rico
Flag of Salinas, Puerto Rico
Flag
Nickname: El Pueblo del Mojo Isleño", "Los Marlins
Location within the island of Puerto Rico
Location within the island of Puerto Rico
Country Puerto Rico
Territory
Founded 1851
Government
 - Mayor Hon. Carlos J. Rodríguez Mateo (PNP)
 - Senatorial dist. 6 - Guayama
 - Representative dist. 30 
Area
 - Total 69.7 sq mi (180.4 km²)
Population (2000)
 - Total 31,113
 - Density 446.5/sq mi (172.4/km²)
 - Gentilic Salinences
 - Racial groups
(2000 Census) [1]
74.6% White
10.6% Black
0.4% American Indian/AN
0.1% Asian
0.1% Native Hawaiian/PI
9.8% Some other race
4.5% Two or more races
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
Anthem – "Salinas"
This article is about a Municipality located in Puerto Rico. For other places with a similar name, see Salinas.

Salinas (sah-LEE-nahs) is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama. Salinas is spread over 7 wards and Salinas Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

It has long been a fishing spot for Puerto Ricans, known for its beaches, fish variety and the birthplace of the famous "mojito isleño".

Although Salinas doesn't have any commercial airports, there is a military air base there. In addition, there is a military youth camp there, Camp Santiago, which is visited every year by many groups of Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA (see also: Scouting in Puerto Rico) and other children's groups.

Contents

[edit] History

Salinas was founded in 1841 by Agustín Colón Pacheco.

[edit] Flag

On a green rectangular field, five white isosceles triangles equal in size, placed in the center of the flag and forming a row that covers the extent of the background. The green represents the land and the triangles hills of salt from which the name of the town is derived.

[edit] Coat of Arms

The shield uses the traditional colors of the town; green and silver. The salt knolls indicate in graphical form the name of the town: Salinas. The fish refer to the fishing. The sugar cane leaves that surround the shield, symbolize the sugar cane plantations.

[edit] Demographics

Demographic distribution


[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)[3]

  • Aguirre

(Aguirre Central, Coqui,San Felipe, Aguirre)

  • Lapa

(Monte Grande, Coco,Parselas Vasquez, Naranjo,Vertedero)

  • Palmas
  • Quebrada Yeguas
  (Bo. Plena)
  • Sabana Llana
  • Río Jueyes

(Las 80)

  • Salinas Pueblo

(Pueblo, Playa,Playita)

[edit] Geo/Topography

  • Gorges;. The Callao, La Palma y Majada and Pasto Viejo.
  • Lagoons; Mar Negro and Punta Arctias.
  • Rivers; Jájome, Jueyes, Lapa and Salina (Nigua).

[edit] Anthem

By Antonio Ferrer Atilano

Salinas, Salinas
el pueblo donde yo nací
sus campos sus montes
son siempre verdes para mí

Salinas, Salinas
yo no te puedo olvidar
tus bellos palmares
te saludan con una canción

[edit] Economic

[edit] Agriculture

  • Salinas is one of the main agricultural producers on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It has large banana and papaya farms in its Coco and Aguirre barrios. The 80 barrio is one the main producers of beef in the south, counting with La Hacienda Las Carolinas which supplies Ganaderia Santiago, a slaughter house, with meat. Salinas also is headquarters for Canto Alegre, a company which specializes in poultry. This company supplies most of Puerto Rico's supermarkets with fresh poultry.

[edit] Business

  • Apparell, commercial fishing.

[edit] Industrial

  • Aguirre Sugar Cane Mill, the last operational sugar cane mill in Puerto Rico, Aguirre Central closed its doors in 1993;

Electrical and electronic machinery, plastics, sunglasses.

[edit] Landmarks and places of interest

  • Albergue Olímpico (Olympic Hostel)
  • Aguirre Forest
  • Antigua Central Aguirre (Sugar Cane Mill)
  • Camp Santiago
  • Sports Museum
  • El Monumento Jibaro
  • Playa Salinas

[edit] Festivals and events

  • Abey Carnival - February
    • Abey - Cacique (Chief) of yucayeque-(village) in the area of Abeyno Salinas, Puerto Rico.
  • Pescao Festival - June
  • Matron Celebration - September
  • Festival Del Mojito Isleño

[edit] Notable "Salinenses"

Miss Universe - Salinas is famous for being home of several beauties that have had noticeable participation in the international Miss Universe contest. These are former Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2005 Cynthia Olavarria, and the reigning Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Map and Directory of Salinas, PR http://www.MapandDirectory.com