Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico

Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico
Municipality
Flag
Nickname(s): "Tierra de Campeones", "La Ciudad de los Potros"
Anthem: "En un pedazo del sur estás presente"
Location of Santa Isabel in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 17°57′58″N 66°24′18″W / 17.96611°N 66.40500°W / 17.96611; -66.40500Coordinates: 17°57′58″N 66°24′18″W / 17.96611°N 66.40500°W / 17.96611; -66.40500
Country	United States
Territory	Puerto Rico
Founded	October 5, 1842
Government
• Mayor	Enrique "Quique" Questell Alvarado (PNP)
• Senatorial dist.	6 - Guayama
• Representative dist.	30
Population (2010)
• Total	23,274
Demonym(s)	Santaisabelinos
Time zone	AST (UTC-4)
Zip code	00757

Santa Isabel (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsanta isaˈβel], Saint Elizabeth) is a municipality of Puerto Rico (U.S.) located in the southern coast, south of Coamo; east of Juana Díaz; and west of Salinas. Santa Isabel is spread over 7 wards and Santa Isabel Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is the principal city of the Santa Isabel Micropolitan Statistical Area and is part of the Ponce-Yauco-Coamo Combined Statistical Area.

Santa Isabel is known as "La Ciudad de los Potros" ("The City of the Colts").

History

Santa Isabel was founded on October 5, 1842 by Antonio Vélez.

Geography

• Aguirre State Forest
• Rivers; Río Cayures, Río Coamo, Río Descalabrado and Río Jueyes.

Cityscape

Neighborhoods

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

• El Malecón (boardwalk)
• Indian Museum
• Jauca Beach
• Hacienda Alomar Ruins

Economy

Agriculture

The surrounding areas produces fruits and vegetables. Campo Fresco, a Puerto Rican company, owns a plant in Santa Isabel, from where they produce Jugos Lotus juice and other well known drink brands.^[2]

Industry

Aerospace electrical and electronic, metal products and nutritional products.

Culture

Festivals and Events

• Agroferia Santa Isabel - April
• Carnaval de Baloncesto Barrio Ollas - July
• Patron Celebrations - July
• City Foundation Anniversary - October
• Encendido Navideño Barriada Felicia, Calle Elifaz Ostolaza - November

Schools

Elementary

• Escuela Martín G. Brumbaugh
• Escuela John F. Kennedy
• Escuela Esther Rivera
• Escuela Ana L. Rosa Tricoche
• Escuela Apolonia Valentín
• Escuela Ana Valldejuly
• Escuela Emilio Casas

Middle School

• Escuela Manuel Martín Monserrate

High School

• Escuela Elvira M. Colón

Second Units

• Escuela S.U. Pedro Meléndez (Playita Cortada)

Private Education

• Colegio Evangélico Fuente De Sabiduría (K-6)
• Colegio LOGOS

Sports

Santa Isabel is known as "Tierra de Campeones" (Land of Champions) because of its rich sports tradition (especially in Baseball). The city is home to the Santa Isabel Potros baseball team. The Potros won the 1992 National Championship of the Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Puerto Rico. The team plays its home games at Estadio Municipal Luis Guillermo Moreno.

Government

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. Enrique "Quique" Questell (of the New Progressive Party) was elected at the 2004 general election.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Miguel Pereira Castillo and Angel M. Rodríguez were elected as District Senators.^[3]

Symbols

Flag

The flag is divided horizontally in three stripes of same the width: white the superior one, yellow the central one and red the inferior one, may be ornamented with sugar cane stems or without them.

Alternate flag of Santa Isabel with sugar cane stem ornamentation

Coat of Arms

The crowned It stands for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary (Isabel in Spanish). The shells are a symbol for St. James the patron saint of the town, as well as for the many shells found near the town.

Notable "Santaisabelinos"

• Adolfo L. Monserrate Anselmi - former member Puerto Rico House of Representatives
• Carmelo Colón Rivera - Educator, Spanish Language Doctor, Poet.
• Hiram Vega Cruz - Educator and composer.
• Denny Agosto Vega - Musician, drummer, band member (Polyesnso).
• César Miranda Rodríguez
• Benito Santiago - Baseball player; won unanimously the 1986 the National League Rookie of the Year Award with the San Diego Padres.
• Elvira M. Colón - Teacher.
• Carlos Muñoz - Student from Escuela Superior Elvira M. Colón, the first from Santa Isabel to win Premios El Nuevo Día Educador
• Melwin Cedeño - Actor, comedian, Merengue musician, and singer.
• Carlos Colón, Sr. - professional wrestler known as "El Acróbata de Puerto Rico". Owner of the World Wrestling Council (WWC). Former WWE wrestler. Inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2014.
• Mario Ortiz - Accomplished trumpet player, arranger and band leader of the 60's.
• Elvin F. Torres Serrant - Musical Director of Limi-T 21. Released their first album in 1990 breaking new grounds in the genre of Merengue.
• Javier Bermúdez - Lead singer of Limi-T 21.
• Luigi Texidor - Singer for La Sonora Ponceña, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican All-Stars and Fania All-Stars.
• Pedro María Descartes - Legislator, mayor and leader of the Autonomist Movement during the 18th century.
• Melvin Rivera Velázquez - Journalist, historian and head of Global Bible Publishing of the United Bible Societies. Editor of the Santa Isabel history blog www.santaisabelpr.com.
• Carlos Correa - Baseball player; First Overall Pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, 2015 American League Rookie Of The Year, Shortstop for the Houston Astros.
• Carlos Irrizarry - Painter.
• Irving Rodríguez Negrón - Engineer; First "Santaisabelino" or local person to get the Certification of United States National certified Professionals in Supply Chain. Rodríguez is responsible to get some important changes in APICS course about carrying costs, inventory control and planning. His ideas are used by Procter & Gamble Nationwide.
• Mariano Civico - Salsa Singer.
• Roque Delpín Reyes - Former Mayor 1993-1997.
• Dr. José D. Quiles Rosas - Current president of Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Puerto Rico, former Santa Isabel Potros team owner.

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans
• History of Puerto Rico
• Did you know-Puerto Rico?

References

External links

• Crest of the City
• Evaluation of Groundwater Quality and Selected Hydrologic Conditions in the South Coast Aquifer, Santa Isabel Area, Puerto Rico, 2008-09 United States Geological Survey

¡Historia viva de Santa Isabel! http://www.santaisabelpr.com]