Ceiba, Puerto Rico

Ceiba, Puerto Rico
Municipality

Flag
Nickname(s): Los Come Sopas", "La Ciudad del Marlin", "Los Sin Sopa"
Anthem: "Ceiba"

Location of Ceiba in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°14′17″N 65°37′40″W / 18.23806°N 65.62778°W / 18.23806; -65.62778Coordinates: 18°14′17″N 65°37′40″W / 18.23806°N 65.62778°W / 18.23806; -65.62778
Country United States
Territory Puerto Rico
Founded April 7, 1838
Government
 • Mayor Hon. Angelo Cruz Ramos (PNP)
 • Senatorial dist. 8 - Carolina
 • Representative dist. 36
Area
 • Total 77.33 sq mi (200.28 km2)
 • Land 27.2 sq mi (70.5 km2)
 • Water 50.11 sq mi (129.78 km2)
Population (2010)
 • Total 13,631
 • Density 180/sq mi (68/km2)
Demonym(s) ceibeños
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
Zip code 00735, 00742

Ceiba (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈseiβa], Kapok) is a small municipality in northeast Puerto Rico (U.S.). It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the north-east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, south of Fajardo, north of Naguabo and southeast of Río Grande. Located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan, Ceiba is spread over 7 wards and Ceiba Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the Fajardo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Ceiba, situated near Fajardo, used to be home of an American military Naval base, the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. Most of the units there were relocated and the base was closed in 2004. Ex-governor Sila María Calderón suggested turning the property into a major international airport, to serve as a relief to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, and to increase the number of international airlines that operate into Puerto Rico. She was met with skepticism about these plans from such groups as environmentalists, economists and others, but in 2008, José Aponte de la Torre Airport was inaugurated at the base's former site.

Locals are commonly known as "Los Come Sopa" (The Soup Eaters). Even though there is no official reason as to why they are called this, a few stories have been suggested. Among the tales is the belief that since the town did not have a local meat market people had to travel long distances in order to buy some meat and therefore mostly ate soup.

Ceiba is also known as "La Ciudad del Marlin" (The town of the Marlin).

History

Ceiba was founded on April 7, 1838 by Luis de la Cruz. Ceiba derives its name from an Indian word Seyba, which is the name for a famous tree that grows in the island, the Ceiba pentandra (Kapok).

Geography

Ceiba is home of the Ceiba Forest (787) which extends along the coastline between Ceiba and Fajardo. 95% of the forest is classified as mangrove. Various species of birds can be seen as well as turtles and manatees. Its rivers includes; Río Daguao, Río Demajagua and Río Fajardo.

The municipality extends northwest into the seas between Fajardo and Culebra and thereby includes the reefs and islets named Arrecifes Hermanos and Arrecifes Barriles.[1] The reef are closest to the coastal barrio (ward) of Machos, but barrio boundaries are not defined in that area.[2]

Cityscape

Barrios

  • Ceiba Pueblo
  • Chupacallos
  • Daguao
  • Guayacán
  • Machos
  • Quebrada Seca
  • Río Abajo
  • Saco

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

Culture

Festivals and events

Sports

Former IBF world Jr. Middleweight boxing champion Carlos Santos hails from Ceiba. Ceiba also has an amateur AAA baseball team Los Marlins de Ceiba. Chi-Chi Rodriguez, Pro golfer is from Ceiba.

Religion

As in most towns of Puerto Rico it was founded on the Christian ideas and faith statements of the Roman Catholic Church which prevailed in previous centuries through Spaniard tradition. The town still maintains a central Roman Catholic church which can be found in the town square.

Economy

Manufacturing (plywood, apparel, hardware products).

Transportation

José Aponte de la Torre Airport offers commercial (mostly domestic) flights on four airlines; it also houses an MD-82 jet donated by American Airlines to local air mechanics students.

Notable people from Ceiba

- Carlos Santos - former IBF Junior Middleweight Champion of the World.

- Luis Vigoreaux - radio and television show host, announcer, comedian and producer. Luis Vigoreaux was found murdered in one of Puerto Rico's most intriguing celebrity's scandal; as his wife Lydia Echevarria arranged his murder on January 17, 1983.

- Domingo Quiñones - although born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey; Domingo Quiñones moved to Ceiba at the early age of 4 and lived there until the age of 14.

- Pablo Casals - built his home in Ceiba at the age of 80; the place was known as "El Pesebre".

- Rogelio Figueroa Garcia - was born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico; however, was raised in Parcelas Aguas Claras (Barrio El Corcho)in Ceiba. He is a Puerto Rican engineer, a politician, and the co-founder of the Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico (PPR) political party.

- Julio L. Matta - is a retired Sergeant Major from the United States Army who completed nearly 28 years of distinguished military service. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and multiple Army Meritorious Service Medals among many different military commendations for his dedicated military service.

- McJoe Arroyo - IBF Super Flyweight world boxing champion

Government

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Ceiba is Angelo Cruz Ramos, of the New Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected at the 2012 general elections.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VIII, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Pedro A. Rodríguez and Luis Daniel Rivera were elected as District Senators.[3]

Symbols

Flag

Ceiba's flag derives its design and colors from the municipal coat of arms. This maintains the same symbolism given to the coat of arms. It is made of two vertical lines of the same width, red in the left side and green on the right. The red side depicts a yellow cross.

Shield

It depicts a shield with golden field with a Ceiba tree in the middle. In the upper part of the shield it has a red horizontal line with a golden cross in the middle and two golden flowers in each side. The cross symbolizes the Christian faith as well as a recognition to Don Luis de la Cruz who founded the town. The golden flowers represent sugar cane flowers. Above the shield there is a golden Spanish fort.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Census 2000 map of Ceiba Municipio
  2. ↑ Census 2000 map of Machos barrio
  3. ↑ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived 2012-12-03 at the Wayback Machine. on CEEPUR
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