Yabucoa, Puerto Rico

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Yabucoa
Municipio Autónomo de Yabucoa
Town and Municipality
Statue representing Puerto Rican soldier who fought in Vietnam and Korea
Statue representing Puerto Rican soldier who fought in Vietnam / Korea, in front of a government building
Flag of Yabucoa
Flag
Coat of arms of Yabucoa
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
"Ciudad del Azúcar", "El Pueblo de Yuca", "Los Bebe Leche"
Anthem: "Yabucoa es mi Pueblo"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Yabucoa Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Yabucoa Municipality
Coordinates: 18°03′02″N 65°52′46″W / 18.05056°N 65.87944°W / 18.05056; -65.87944Coordinates: 18°03′02″N 65°52′46″W / 18.05056°N 65.87944°W / 18.05056; -65.87944
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
FoundedOctober 3, 1793
Founded byCarlos Morales
Barrios
10 barrios
Government
 • MayorRafael "Raffy" Surillo (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist.7 - Humacao
 • Representative dist.34 Ramón Luis Cruz
Area
 • Total83.26 sq mi (215.65 km2)
 • Land55.26 sq mi (143.11 km2)
 • Water28.01 sq mi (72.55 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total30,426
 • Density370/sq mi (140/km2)
Demonym(s)Yabucoeños
Racial groups
[2]
 • White68.5%
 • Black8.6%
 • American Indian/AN0.6%
 • Asian0.3%
 • Other
Two or more races		13.6%
8.2%
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00767
Area code(s)787/939
Major routesPR primary 901.svg PR secondary 181.svg Ellipse sign 3.svg Ellipse sign 182.svg
Toll plate yellow.svg
PR primary 53.svg

Yabucoa (Spanish pronunciation: [ʝaβuˈkoa]) is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas. Yabucoa is spread over 9 barrios and Yabucoa Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

The region of what is now Yabucoa belonged to the Taíno region of Guayaney, which covered a portion of the southeast region of Puerto Rico.[3] The region was led by cacique Güaraca. After the Spanish colonization, the region of Yabucoa belonged to Humacao, and its territory was mostly used for cattle and farming. Yabucoa, as a town, was founded on October 3, 1793 when Don Manuel Colón de Bonilla and his wife, Doña Catalina Morales Pacheco, donated the lands to the people.[4][5]

Hurricane Maria[]

Maria as it was making landfall near Yabucoa on September 20, 2017

Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017 as a high-end, category 4 hurricane, knocking out power to the entire island (and also affected access to clean water). The hurricane came in through Yauboca[6] and triggered numerous landslides, caused widespread flooding and damaged critical infrastructure.[7][8][9][10]

Elderly were especially affected[11] because many homes were completely destroyed.[12]

Map of landslides in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017

Many elderly living in Yabucoa died as a result of Hurricane Maria. People on oxygen machines died with the lack of electrical power. In June, 2018 the administrators of the municipality stated that they noticed an uptick in mortality rates (deaths) and were relaying the information since February, of 2018 but the government of Puerto Rico was not interested in hearing about it. Many more deaths were occurring than expected. An entire new section to the cemetery was built following the hurricane and the deaths that followed.[13]

As of June 12, 2018, eight months after the hurricane, more than 30% of Yabucoa homes were still without electrical power, stated the mayor of Yabucoa, Rafael Surillo. He stated there were 4,000 residences with between 12,000 and 15,000 residents without electrical power, of 36,000 residents. Large swaths of Yabucoa municipality including Guayabota, Tejas, Juan Martín, Calabazas, Limones and Aguacate barrios, and 100% of Jácanas were without electrical power for nine months, some since Hurricane Irma had hit a week prior to Hurricane Maria.[13][14]

Geography[]

The municipality of Yabucoa is located in the south-eastern coast of Puerto Rico. The Valley of Yabucoa is surrounded by the hills of the on three sides and by the Caribbean Sea on the fourth. The hills surrounding the Yabucoa Valley as well as the bedrock underlying the alluvium in the valley are composed of the San Lorenzo Batholith, a large, igneous intrusive body emplaced during the Late Cretaceous (Rogers, 1977; Rogers and others, 1979). The San Lorenzo Batholith is a composite body that is composed of gabbro (Kd), diorite, tonalite, granodiorite, and quartz monzonite. The , a fork of the Sierra de Cayey in the Cordillera Central runs through its south. Santa Elena is one of its most prominent peaks with an altitude of 1,870 feet (570 meters). Santa Elena is located in Juan Martin ward. Pandura Peak rises 1,693 feet (516 meters) above sea level. Pandura is located in the Calabazas ward. The altitude of the hills surrounding the Valley of Yabucoa reaches a maximum of about 2,130 feet (650 meters) at the head of the Río Guayanés basin. The land surface in the Yabucoa Valley slopes gently from an altitude of about 98 feet (30 meters) above mean sea level, at the western edge of the valley, to sea level where the valley meets the Caribbean Sea.[15]

Barrios[]

Subdivisions of Yabucoa

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Yabucoa is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo".[16][17][18][19]

  1. Aguacate
  2. Calabazas
  3. Camino Nuevo
  4. Guayabota
  5. Jácanas
  6. Juan Martín
  7. Limones
  8. Playa
  9. Tejas
  10. Yabucoa barrio-pueblo

Sectors[]

Further information: List of barrios and sectors of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico

Barrios (which are like minor civil divisions)[20] in turn are further subdivided into smaller local populated place areas/units called sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.[21][22][23]

Special Communities[]

See also: Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development
Entrance sign to Comunidad Ingenio

Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Yabucoa: Ingenio, Jacanas Granja, Playa Guayanés, Tejas Trinidad, and Urbanización Jaime C. Rodríguez.[24][25]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
190013,905—
191017,33824.7%
192019,62313.2%
193021,91411.7%
194027,43825.2%
195028,8105.0%
196029,7823.4%
197030,1651.3%
198031,4254.2%
199036,48316.1%
200039,2467.6%
201037,941−3.3%
202030,426−19.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[26]
1899 (shown as 1900)[27] 1910-1930[28]
1930-1950[29] 1960-2000[30] 2010[18] 2020[31]

Tourism[]

Landmarks and places of interest[]

  • Guayanés Beach and pier[32]
  • Kyle Rembis beach
  • Hacienda Santa Lucía Ruins
  • La Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture)
  • Roig Refinery
  • El Cocal Beach aka El Guano
  • Public skatepark
  • Playa Lucia Beach
  • Petroleum Refinery[33]

Economy[]

Agriculture[]

Olein Recovery Corp. in Yabucoa in 2006

Yabucoa is known for its agricultural prowess because of the surrounding fertile valley that produces most of the island's plantain and bananas. Yabucoeños are known as the "sugar people" because most of the valley was used for sugar cane growth and because one of the most visible landmarks, seen when entering the municipality, is the old Hacienda Roig sugar mill, one of the last mills that produced sugar in Puerto Rico.[34]

There's an oil recycling company, the only one in the Caribbean, called Olein Recovery Corp. operating in Yabucoa.[35][36] During the COVID-19 pandemic Olein began manufacturing hand sanitizer.[37]

Culture[]

Concha Acústica Toño Márquez in Yabucoa, where community events and concerts are held

Festivals and events[]

Yabucoa celebrates its patron saint festival in September / October. The Fiestas Patronales de los Santos Angeles Custodios is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[38]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Yabucoa include:

  • Sugar Cane Festival - May
  • Beach Festival - May
  • Festival del Carmen – July
  • Campesino Festival – October
  • Jíbaro de Martorell Festival – December

Community events are held at the Concha Acústica Toño Márquez.[39]

Sports[]

The Estadio Félix "Nacho" Millán stadium, where the Azucareros played their home games, sustained significant damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017.[40]

Azucareros de Yabucoa are the Double-A (baseball) team of Yabucoa and have won 4 championships. They won the 1994 championship playing against the Toritos de Cayey. In 1995 they won against Cidra and in 1996 they won against Cabo Rojo.[41] In 2020, Azucareros de Yabucoa was the eighth Puerto Rico Double-A baseball team to have won 900 games.[42][43]

The Estadio Félix "Nacho" Millán where the Azucareros played sustained significant damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and as of 2020 the stadium remains in disrepair.[40]

Government[]

Main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Yabucoa is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is , from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Surillo was elected at the 2012 general election and won reelected for his third term in 2020 with 65% of the vote.[44]

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VII, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Jorge Suárez and José Luis Dalmau were elected as District Senators. A native of Yabucoa Ramón Luis Cruz Burgos was elected to represent the city in those elections.[45]

Symbols[]

The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[46]

Flag[]

The design of the flag of Yabucoa is abstract, inspired by the colors of the municipal shield; green, white and violet.[47]

Coat of arms[]

In the shield appear two angels the Santos Angeles Custodios, patron saints of Yabucoa. The color purple (violet) field of the shield represents the highest dignity of the angels. The walking sticks are attributes of the traveller, and refer to the holy office of the Angels as guides and companions in man's journey in his earthly life. The canes are adorned with guajana flowers, representing the wealth of the sugar cane. The green land where the angels stand symbolizes the fertile valley in which Yabucoa is located.[47]

Transportation[]

One of the main roads to Yabucoa is the PR-3, which borders the east side of the island. Distance from the capital is approximately 1 hour.[48]

In 2008, a tunnel connecting the town of Yabucoa with the town of Maunabo was completed.[49][50] It is currently the longest on the island.

There are 41 bridges in Yabucoa.[51]

Notable Yabucoeños[]

  • Nydia Velasquez - United States congresswoman
  • Carmen Delgado Votaw (1935-2017) - Civil rights activist
  • Christian Pagán - Winner of Idol Puerto Rico
  • Santiago Vidarte (1828-1848) - Poet
  • Antonio Ayuso Valdivieso (1899-1969) - Politician, lawyer, educator
  • Jose Facundo Cintrón - Advocated in 1872 and 1873 for the end of slavery.

Many residents of Yabucoa have served in the US military service and fought in US wars.[52]

Gallery[]

  • Sugarcane field in Yabucoa in 1941

  • Seagrape shrub at Playa Lucia in 2015

  • National Guard clearing debris in Yabucoa after Hurricane Maria in 2017

  • Playa Lucia in Yabucoa in 2020

See also[]

References[]

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  2. ^ "Demographics/Ethnic U.S 2000 census" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Gobierno Tribal del Pueblo Jatibonicu Taíno de Puerto Rico". Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  4. ^ "Municipios: Yabucoa". Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  5. ^ Manuel Ubeda y Delgado (1878). Isla de Puerto Rico: estudio histórico, geográfico y estadístico de la misma (in Spanish). Academia Puertorriqueńa de la Historia. pp. 275–.
  6. ^ "Yabucoa, el primer pueblo impactado por María, lucha por salir de la depresión". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  7. ^ "Map data showing concentration of landslides caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico". USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  8. ^ "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico". USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived from the original on 2019-03-03. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
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  14. ^ Jervis, Rick (11 March 2018). "'This city has been ignored': Yabucoa, ground zero for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, still reeling". USA TODAY. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
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  23. ^ "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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  35. ^ "About Olein Refinery & Lubricants". www.oleinrefinery.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
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  41. ^ "Una serie final para la historia en el Béisbol Doble A". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2018-10-29. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
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  44. ^ "CEE Event MAPA MUNICIPIOS ALCALDES". elecciones2020.ceepur.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  45. ^ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived 2012-12-03 at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  46. ^ "Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios". LexJuris de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-06-15.
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External links[]

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