Fajardo, Puerto Rico Explained

Fajardo
Native Name:Spanish; Castilian: Municipio Autónomo de Fajardo
Native Name Lang:es
Settlement Type:Town and Municipality
Image Alt:Ocean view in Fajardo
Nicknames:"Los Cariduros", "La Metrópolis del Sol Naciente"
Anthem:"Fajardo que aquí en el oriente"
Mapsize:300px
Coordinates:18.3258°N -65.6525°W
Subdivision Type:Sovereign state
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:Commonwealth
Subdivision Name1: Puerto Rico
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1772
Parts Type:Barrios
Parts:9 barrios
P1:Cabezas
P2:Demajagua
P3:Fajardo barrio-pueblo
P4:Florencio
P5:Naranjo
P6:Quebrada Fajardo
P7:Quebrada Vueltas
P8:Río Arriba
P9:Sardinera
Leader Party:PNP
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:José Aníbal “Joey” Meléndez Méndez
Leader Title1:Senatorial dist.
Leader Name1:8 - Carolina
Leader Title2:Representative dist.
Leader Name2:36
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:156.45
Area Land Km2:81
Area Water Km2:75.45
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:32,124
Population As Of:2020
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Demonym:Fajardeños
Timezone1:AST
Utc Offset1:-4
Postal Code Type:ZIP Codes
Postal Code:00738, 00740
Area Code:787/939
Blank Name Sec1:Major routes
Blank Info Sec1:

Population Rank:38th in Puerto Rico

Fajardo (pronounced as /es/) is a town and a municipality part of the San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo Combined Statistical Area in Puerto Rico.

Fajardo is the hub of much of the recreational boating in Puerto Rico and a popular launching port to Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. It is also home to the largest marina in the Caribbean, called Puerto del Rey. The town contains various hotels and inns.

Offshore, near Fajardo, a few islets can be found. These are Icacos, Isla Palomino, Palominito, and Diablo, among other uninhabited coral islands and barrier reefs.

History

Fajardo was founded in 1760, 1773 or 1774 (depending on the authority) as Santiago de Fajardo. It was one of the locations used by the American troops to invade Puerto Rico. On August 1, 1898 the USS Puritan under the command of Captain Frederic W. Rodgers, sailed the coastline near the city of Fajardo when he spotted the Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan (Cape San Juan lighthouse), which was supposed to be the landing site for the US Army in Puerto Rico. Rodgers ordered some of his men ashore, including Puerto Rican volunteers, with the mission to post the American flag atop the lighthouse.

On November 14, 1824, in what was dubbed the "Foxhardo" Affair, US Naval Officer David Porter landed at Fajardo with 200 seamen and marines, threatening to destroy Fajardo because one of his men had been arrested in Puerto Rico. For taking this action without US approval, Porter was later court-martialed.[2]

After the Spanish–American War, Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico and determined that the population of Fajardo was 16,782.[3]

On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Fajardo, the hurricane triggered numerous landslides with its strong winds and significant amount of rainfall.[4] [5] [6]

Geography

Fajardo is a coastal municipality with a number of islets.[7]

Barrios

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Fajardo is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as Spanish; Castilian: "el pueblo".[8] [9] [10]

  1. Cabezas (Las Croabas)
  2. Demajagua
  3. Fajardo barrio-pueblo[11]
  4. Florencio
  5. Naranjo
  6. Quebrada Fajardo
  7. Quebrada Vueltas
  8. Río Arriba
  9. Sardinera

Sectors

Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)[11] and subbarrios,[12] [13] [14] are further subdivided into smaller areas called Spanish; Castilian: sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.[15] [16]

Special Communities

See also: Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development. Spanish; Castilian: 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 Fajardo: Obrera neighborhood, Roosevelt neighborhood, Mansión del Sapo, Maternillo, Media Luna, Sector Camacho, Vevé Calzada, and Vieques en el Aire.

Tourism

Fajardo is a tourist destination, especially among local tourists, because of its seafood, hotels, closeness to the small islands of Palomino, Icacos and Palominito, and the many daily trips that are available to Vieques and Culebra, both by boat and by the four airlines that served Fajardo Airport (now closed): Air Culebra, Air St. Thomas, Isla Nena Air and Vieques Air Link.

Fajardo has 46 beaches.[17] Fajardo's beaches are bounded by calm, clear water ideal for snorkeling. Seven Seas Beach offers plentiful water sports facilities, offshore points for sailing, snorkeling and plenty of scuba diving.

Fajardo is also home to one of the few Bioluminescent Lagoons in the world. Nightly trips are offered by kayak by local companies who give educational tours.

Landmarks and places of interest

To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Fajardo page lists Spanish; Castilian: Reserva Natural de Las Cabezas de San Juan, Spanish; Castilian: Cayo Icacos, and Spanish; Castilian: Hacienda Chocolat, as places of interest.[18]

Economy

Industry

Electrical components, metal work, furniture manufacturing. Fajardo is also home to pharmaceutical and bio-sciences companies.

Due to its rich ports and closeness to smaller islands, Fajardo is also known for its fishing industries.

Culture

Festivals and events

Fajardo celebrates its patron saint festival in July. The Spanish; Castilian: Fiestas Patronales de Santiago Apostol is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[23] The festival has featured live performances by well-known artists such as Tito Nieves, Johnny Ventura and Sonora Ponceña.[24]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Fajardo include:

Sports

Fajardo Soccer Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, 35 miles east of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
The 3,800 capacity stadium was developed at a cost of $3.9M,[25] and opened December 12, 2015 and is home venue of Puerto Rico Sol.

Fajardo in the past was home to a National Superior Basketball; Baloncesto Superior Nacional BSN basketball team, the Fajardo Cariduros or as they are known in the Island Cariduros de Fajardo. George Torres, Mario Morales and Mario Butler were three of the most famous players to play for that franchise.

In 2007, the team returned once again to the BSN. The team known as the "Titanes de Morovis" was moved to Fajardo, and was renamed "Cariduros de Fajardo". Unlike the NBA and other sports leagues in the United States, Puerto Rican franchises rarely leave the original name of the franchise when they move to a different city.

Once, there was a basketball team for the Puerto Rican Basketball League known as the "Conquistadores de Fajardo".

Fajardo also has a AA Amateur Baseball Team Los Cariduros de Fajardo and have won over 10 sectional championships, 3 time national runners-up in 1974, 2003 and 2005, and 3 times national champions in 1954, 2004 and 2010.

Demographics

Ethnicity - Fajardo, Puerto Rico - 2010 Census[26]
EthnicityPopulation% of Total
European23,96464.8%
African6,86418.6%
Native American and Alaska Native2580.7%
Asian730.3%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander40.0%
Some other ethnicity3,82210.3%
Two or more ethnicities1,9865.4%
As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 13.76% of the population. [27]

Government

See main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico. All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Fajardo is Aníbal Meléndez Rivera, of the New Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected at the 1988 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.[28]

Transportation

There are 20 bridges in Fajardo.[29]

Diego Jiménez Torres Airport was Fajardo's airport and handled commercial airline flights to the city, but it was permanently closed in 2015.

Symbols

The Spanish; Castilian: municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[30]

Flag

Fajardo's flag is a tricolor triband. The upper band is gules (red), symbolizing the color of the shield's border. Silver (white), the center band, stands for the color of the main pieces that appear in the shield and the crown. Azure (blue), the lower band, represents the color of the sky and the sea of Fajardo. Centered is the coat of arms of the village (villa) in natural colors.[31]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is formed as a square with a rounded base and stamped at the top with a crown mural of three towers. It is supported by two dolphins, and underneath the base a banner with the inscription “Santiago de Fajardo”.

Notable Fajardeños

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census. 2021-08-25. The United States Census Bureau. EN-US. December 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201231936/https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/puerto-rico-population-change-between-census-decade.html. live.
  2. Book: Sweetman, Jack. American naval history: an illustrated chronology of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-present . Internet Archive . March 25, 2023 .
  3. Book: Joseph Prentiss Sanger. Henry Gannett. Walter Francis Willcox. Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office. 1900. Imprenta del gobierno. 163. es. 2020-02-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20121115044918/http://archive.org/details/informesobreelc00joangoog. 2012-11-15. live.
  4. Web site: Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico . USGS Landslide Hazards Program . USGS . 2019-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/ . 2019-03-03 . live .
  5. Web site: Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico . USGS Landslide Hazards Program . USGS . 2019-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf . 2019-03-03 . live .
  6. News: María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. Los sectores montañosos de Fajardo fueron los más vulnerables. Maria, a name we will never forget. The mountainous regions of Fajardo were most vulnerable. El Nuevo Día. 2019-06-13. es. 2022-09-11. September 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220911185602/https://huracanmaria.elnuevodia.com/2017/municipio/fajardo/. live.
  7. Web site: Fajardo Municipality. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). enciclopediapr.org. 2019-03-20. 2020-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20200823023027/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/fajardo-municipality/. live.
  8. Book: Picó . Rafael . Buitrago de Santiago . Zayda . Berrios . Hector H. . Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. . 1969 . San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969 . 2018-12-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181226171916/https://archive.org/details/nuevageografad00pic/page/247 . 2018-12-26 . live .
  9. Book: Gwillim Law. Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. 25 December 2018. 20 May 2015. McFarland. 978-1-4766-0447-3. 300.
  10. Web site: Map of Fajardo at the Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324204920/http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/fajardo.pdf . dead . 2018-03-24 . 2018-12-29 .
  11. Web site: US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition . factfinder.com . US Census . 5 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170513190743/https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm . 13 May 2017 . dead .
  12. Web site: P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 000 (2010 Census): Fajardo Municipio, PR . www2.census.gov . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau . 22 August 2020 . 23 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200823023046/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_000.pdf . live .
  13. Web site: P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 001 (2010 Census): Fajardo Municipio, PR . www2.census.gov . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau . 22 August 2020 . 23 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200823023026/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_001.pdf . live .
  14. Web site: P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 002 (2010 Census): Fajardo Municipio, PR . www2.census.gov . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau . 22 August 2020 . 23 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200823023117/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_002.pdf . live .
  15. Web site: Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget). Puerto Rico Budgets. es. 28 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190628234856/http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm. 28 June 2019. live.
  16. Web site: Leyes del 2001. Lex Juris Puerto Rico. es. 24 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20180914224408/http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm. 14 September 2018. live.
  17. Web site: Las 1,200 playas de Puerto Rico [The 1200 beaches of Puerto Rico]]. April 14, 2017. Primera Hora. es. December 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191212200804/https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/las1200playasdepuertorico-1216285/. December 12, 2019. live.
  18. Book: Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando . Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico . 2021. es.
  19. Web site: Soler-López . Luis R. . Laguna Grande Limnology . USGS Caribbean Water Projects . 23 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190223184744/https://pr.water.usgs.gov/projects/laguna-grande-limnology/ . 23 February 2019 . live .
  20. Web site: Trams of the World 2017. Blickpunkt Straßenbahn. January 24, 2017. February 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170216202427/http://blickpunktstrab.net/wordpress2/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/tramsderwelt2017.pdf. February 16, 2017.
  21. Web site: Image of the El Conquistador Resort funicular . 2017-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170217062716/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/51884353 . 2017-02-17 . dead .
  22. Web site: Bioluminescent Bay Fajardo, Puerto Rico . Biobayfajardo.com . 2022-04-03 . March 7, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170307123626/http://www.biobayfajardo.com/ . live .
  23. Web site: Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico . Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores . es . 2020-07-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200226163727/https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades . 2020-02-26 . live .
  24. Web site: Fiestas Patronales y Carnaval Fajardeño 2014 . sondeaquiprnet . El Gobierno Municipal de Fajardo . 14 August 2023 . October 10, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141010091921/https://sondeaquiprnet.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/10527617_329184540572827_618748219_n.jpg . live .
  25. Web site: Millonaria inversión en Fajardo: Se abre paso el soccer en la Metrópolis del Este Periódico Presencia. www.presenciapr.com. 16 December 2015. en-US. 2018-03-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20180315010941/http://www.presenciapr.com/millonaria-inversion-en-fajardo-se-abre-paso-el-soccer-en-la-metropolis-del-este/. 2018-03-15. live.
  26. Web site: Ethnicity 2010 census . 2011-11-10 .
  27. https://apps.mla.org/cgi-shl/docstudio/docs.pl?map_data_results MLA Data Center Results for Fajardo, Puerto Rico
  28. http://div1.ceepur.org/REYDI_Escrutinio/index.html#es/default/SENADORES_POR_DISTRITO_CAROLINA_VIII.xml Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General
  29. Web site: Fajardo Bridges. National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. 19 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190220122724/http://bridgereports.com/pr/fajardo/. 20 February 2019. live.
  30. Web site: 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 . es . 2021-06-15 . January 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120152958/http://www.lexjuris.com/LEXLEX/Leyes2006/lexl2006070.htm . live .
  31. Web site: FAJARDO . LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico . 19 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200219000430/http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/FAJARDO.html . 19 February 2020 . live . es . 17 September 2020.