Jayuya, Puerto Rico Explained

Jayuya
Native Name:Spanish; Castilian: Municipio Autónomo de Jayuya
Native Name Lang:es
Settlement Type:Town and Municipality
Nickname:Spanish; Castilian: La Capital Indigena
Anthem:"Ante nos se yergue"
Mapsize:300px
Coordinates:18.2186°N -66.5917°W
Subdivision Type:Sovereign state
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:Commonwealth
Subdivision Name1: Puerto Rico
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1911
Parts Type:Barrios
Parts:11 barrios
P1:Coabey
P2:Collores
P3:Jauca
P4:Jayuya Abajo
P5:Jayuya barrio-pueblo
P6:Mameyes Arriba
P7:Pica
P8:Río Grande
P9:Saliente
P10:Veguitas
P11:Zamas
Leader Party:PPD
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Jorge "Georgie" González Otero
Leader Title1:Senatorial dist.
Leader Name1:5 – Ponce
Leader Name2:(22) Javier Rivera-Aquino (PNP)
Area Total Km2:102.1
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:14,779
Population As Of:2020
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Racial groups
Demographics1 Footnotes:[2]
Demographics1 Title1:2020 Census
Demographics1 Info1:52.4% Multiracial
23.3% White
7.5% Black
0.5% American Ind/AN
21.3% Other
Timezone1:AST
Utc Offset1:−4
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:00664
Area Code:787/939
Blank Name Sec1:Major routes
Population Rank:70th in Puerto Rico

Jayuya (pronounced as /es/) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the mountainous center region of the island, north of Ponce; east of Utuado; and west of Ciales. Jayuya is spread over 10 barrios and Jayuya Pueblo[3] [4] (the downtown and administrative center of the city). It is the principal city of the Jayuya Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Named after the Taíno tribal leader, Hayuya, Jayuya is known for its skilled wood carvers. Among its monuments are the statue of Nemesio Canales and the bust of Hayuya, both by the Puerto Rican sculptor Tomás Batista.

History

The town of Jayuya was founded in 1911, but history traces non-indigenous settlers living in the region as far back as 1878. At that time, a small community was established there, separated from the larger cities of the coasts with little to no communication. Near the end of the 19th century, the town focused on the production of coffee, which greatly boosted the local economy.

In 1911, the town was officially declared a municipality with a population of more than 9,000.

In 1950, the town was the setting of the Jayuya Uprising, in which Nationalists started a revolt against the Government of the United States led by Blanca Canales, a social worker, and her cousins, Elio and Doris Torresola. Canales led the group into the main town square and gave a speech, declaring Puerto Rico an independent republic. The police station was later attacked, telephone lines cut, and the post office burned to the ground. One police officer was killed and three others wounded in these attacks. The group held the town for three days, until it was bombed by U.S. planes supporting a ground attack by the Puerto Rico National Guard. Even though an extensive part of the town was destroyed, the news of the American bombing was not reported outside of Puerto Rico. Instead, it was reported by the American media stateside as an incident between Puerto Ricans.

When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, the people of Jayuya had to resort to collecting spring water.[5] Immediately following the hurricane, rescue and restoration efforts began by community members who gathered at the local high school.[6] Most wooden structures were destroyed.[7]

Geography

Jayuya is located in the center of the island of Puerto Rico, in a valley in the middle of the Cordillera Central. Due to this location, its terrain is mostly rough and steep. Some of the highest mountains of the island are located in this region, including Monte Jayuya, Cerro Rosa, Tres Picachos and the highest mountain of the island, Cerro Punta, at 4389feet.[8]

The town's total area is estimated at 39.4 square miles (102.05 km2). Part of the Toro Negro State Forest is located within the municipality of Jayuya. Rivers like Río Naranjito and Río Yunes, as well as the Río Grande de Jayuya and its various affluents, flow through this municipality.

Barrios

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Jayuya is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in the center of the municipality, in a barrio referred to as Spanish; Castilian: "el pueblo".[9] [10] [11]

  1. Coabey
  2. Collores
  3. Jauca
  4. Jayuya Abajo
  5. Jayuya barrio-pueblo
  6. Mameyes Arriba
  7. Pica
  8. Río Grande
  9. Saliente
  10. Veguitas
  11. Zamas

Sectors

Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)[12] and subbarrios,[13] 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.[14] [15]

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 Jayuya: Spanish; Castilian: Gripiñas, Puerto Plata, Saliente, Salientito, Las Arenas, Comunidad Mario Canals (Sector El Salto), Comunidad Márquez, Hoyo Frío, Sector El Nudo, Santa Clara, Sector San Felipe, and Spanish; Castilian: Sector Las Casitas in Spanish; Castilian: Vista Alegre.[16]

Climate

As in most municipalities located in the mountain region, the climate is mostly cool with temperatures in the 80 to 70 °F (27 to 21 °C) range. However, they are known to go as low as 50 or 60 °F (10 or 16 °C) during some winters.

Festivals and events

Jayuya celebrates its patron saint festival in September. The Spanish; Castilian: Fiestas Patronales Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[17] The festival has featured live performances by well-known artists such as Victor Manuelle.[18]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Jayuya include:

Tourism

Due to its location, Jayuya is usually mentioned as the obligatory municipality to visit when visiting the center of the island of Puerto Rico. There are several landmarks for tourists to consider like the Nemesio Canales Museum at his historic home and El Cemí Museum,[19] both located in the same area on a small valley to the west of the downtown district.[20] Also, the Taíno tomb in the city's downtown has the remains of a Taíno Indian found in an excavation. Nearby, there's a monument to Chief Hayuya, cacique of the region.

In the outskirts of the city, tourists can visit the Cerro de Punta, highest peak in the island of Puerto Rico, as well as the other mountains mentioned (Tres Picachos, for example). The Toro Negro State Forest can also be reached through the city.Jayuya is home to the first aerostat in Puerto Rico and one of the world's largest. It is located in barrio Mameyes, at 3,200 feet above sea level. When the aerostat lifts, it reaches 3,500 feet where it has a panoramic view of 360 degrees.[21]

Coffee production can be seen at Hacienda San Pedro located in Jayuya.[22]

Economy

Agriculture

Jayuya's economy has always depended greatly on agriculture. Products like coffee, tomato, and other vegetables are produced and distributed in the region. Livestock is another part of the city's economy.

Industry

In the middle of the 20th century, several manufacturing industries established in Jayuya, aiming to revitalize the economy as well as provide work for the residents. Some of the companies currently in the city are Baxter Healthcare and Abbott Laboratories. A bridge used by these companies for the delivery of their materials to their plants was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Work was set to begin on the bridge in 2019.[23]

Government

See main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico. Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Jayuya is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Jorge González Otero, from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). González was elected at the 1996 general election.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district V, which is represented by two senators. In 2012, Ramón Ruiz and Martín Vargas Morales, from the Popular Democratic Party, were elected as district senators.[24]

Transportation

There are 34 bridges in Jayuya.[25]

Education

As all other municipalities in the island, Jayuya is part of the Puerto Rico Department of Education. It has several elementary schools distributed throughout the city's barrios. However, there's currently only one public high school, Josefina León Zayas High School, located in the city's downtown. The high school is LEED certified, for having a green-building design.[26]

The Metropolitan University, a private institution, has a campus in the municipality's downtown area.

Former mayors

Additional information

Symbols

The Spanish; Castilian: municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[27]

Flag

The flag is rectangular in shape and derives its symbolism from the coat of arms. It symbolizes the spirit of people proud of their Taíno heritage and their hospitality.[28]

Coat of arms

Jayuya's coat of arms consists of a shield with a three tower crown above, which is standard for municipalities. Inside the shield, centered at the top, a crown representing Chief Hayuya's monarchy. In the center a green band with a white border representing the Tres Picachos (Three Peaks) mountains. The green color symbolizes the countryside and the town's matron, La Virgen de la Monserrate. At the bottom of the shield, is a petroglyph known as the Taíno Sun found in Jayuya.

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census. 2021-08-25. The United States Census Bureau. EN-US. August 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826053734/https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/puerto-rico-population-change-between-census-decade.html. live.
  2. Web site: Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census. 2021-09-19. August 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210815165418/https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html. live.
  3. http://boricuaonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=1 Jayuya... El Pueblo de Los Tres Picachos
  4. http://jayuya-puertorico.blogspot.com/2009/11/localizacion.html Mi pueblo del tomate, Jayuya
  5. News: Baez . Alvin . The search for water in Puerto Rico . January 15, 2019 . Reuters . October 18, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190115234453/https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/the-search-for-water-in-puerto-rico-idUSRTS1H0TR . January 15, 2019 . live .
  6. Web site: Save our Souls: a window into Puerto Rico post-Maria realities . CONFLUENCE magazine . January 18, 2022 . January 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118014555/https://www.confluencemag.com/save-our-souls-a-window-into-puerto-rico-postmaria-realities . live .
  7. News: María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. Aislados en Jayuya. Maria, a name we will never forget. Isolated in Jayuya. El Nuevo Día. June 13, 2019. es. 2022-09-11. September 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220911160029/https://huracanmaria.elnuevodia.com/2017/municipio/lares/. live.
  8. Web site: Jayuya Municipality. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). enciclopediapr.org. 2019-03-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20190823194037/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/jayuya-municipality/. 2019-08-23. live.
  9. 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. . San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969 . 2019-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181226171916/https://archive.org/details/nuevageografad00pic/page/247 . 2018-12-26 . live .
  10. Book: Gwillim Law. Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. December 25, 2018. May 20, 2015. McFarland. 978-1-4766-0447-3. 300.
  11. Web site: Map of Jayuya at the Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324204920/http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/jayuya.pdf . dead . 2018-03-24 . 2018-12-29 .
  12. Web site: US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition . factfinder.com . US Census . January 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170513190743/https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm . May 13, 2017 . dead .
  13. Web site: P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Jayuya Municipio, PR . www2.census.gov . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau . August 22, 2020 . August 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200823012201/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72073_jayuya/PL10VTD_C72073_001.pdf . live .
  14. Web site: Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget). Puerto Rico Budgets. es. June 28, 2019. June 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190628234856/http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm. live.
  15. Web site: Leyes del 2001. Lex Juris Puerto Rico. es. June 24, 2020. September 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180914224408/http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm. live.
  16. Web site: Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico. August 8, 2011. es. June 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190624004414/https://cpprbib.wordpress.com/biblioteca-virtual/guias-tematicas/comunidades-especiales/comunidades-especiales-de-puerto-rico/. June 24, 2019. live.
  17. Web site: Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico . Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores . es . 2020-07-17 . 2020-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200226163727/https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades . live .
  18. Web site: Fiestas Patronales en honor a la Virgen de la Monserrate . sondeaquiprnet . El Gobierno Municipal de Jayuya . 14 August 2023 . July 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220703001113/https://sondeaquiprnet.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/1150919_590697014303021_2118448371_n.jpg . live .
  19. Web site: Cemi Museum. Atlas Obscura. June 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190510141259/https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cemi-museum. May 10, 2019. live.
  20. From The Trenches – Off the Grid – La Piedra Escrita. archive.archaeology.org. 2019-11-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20191105145619/https://archive.archaeology.org/1103/trenches/la_piedra_escrita_puerto_rico.html. 2019-11-05. live.
  21. News: Alcalde de Jayuya dice recuperará inversión del globo a tres años. April 5, 2017. July 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170714234416/http://www.wipr.pr/alcalde-de-jayuya-dice-recuperara-inversion-del-globo-a-tres-anos/. July 14, 2017. dead.
  22. Web site: Hacienda San Pedro – Jayuya Puerto Rico. Edwin. Rivera. November 6, 2012. June 24, 2019. YouTube. https://web.archive.org/web/20191108132359/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWgC9MF4Hss. November 8, 2019. live.
  23. News: Irizarry Álvarez . Femmy . Comenzarán trabajos del puente sobre río Viví en Utuado . January 7, 2019 . Primera Hora . es . January 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190219225746/https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/comenzarantrabajosdelpuentesobreriovivienutuado-1319994/ . February 19, 2019 . live .
  24. http://div1.ceepur.org/REYDI_Escrutinio/index.html#es/default/SENADORES_POR_DISTRITO_PONCE_V.xml Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General
  25. Web site: Jayuya Bridges. National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. February 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190221224303/http://bridgereports.com/pr/jayuya/. February 21, 2019. live.
  26. Web site: JOSEFINA LEÓN ZAYAS HS . ROSSILUGO . December 16, 2021 . January 18, 2022 . January 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220118014427/http://rossilugo.com/portfolio/jayuya/ . live .
  27. 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 .
  28. Web site: JAYUYA . LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico . February 19, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200219205049/http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/jayuya.html . February 19, 2020 . live . es . September 17, 2020.