San Germán, Puerto Rico

2025-10-26T07:53:36Z

24.160.66.20: /* Culture */

{{short description|Town and municipality in Puerto Rico}}
{{Redirect|San Germán|the Cuban town|Urbano Noris}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = San Germán
| native_name = {{lang|es|Municipio Antónomo de San Germán}}
| native_name_lang = es
| settlement_type = [[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|Municipality]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image_style = border:1;
| perrow = 1/3/2
| image1 = San Germán, Puerto Rico (01).jpg
| image2 = LA BOTICA.jpg
| image3 = Residential building in San Germán, Puerto Rico.jpg
| image4 = San German, Puerto Rico.jpg
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[San Germán Historic District]] with [[Porta Coeli (Puerto Rico)|Porta Coeli]] and historic buildings in [[San Germán barrio-pueblo|San Germán Pueblo]]
| image_flag = Bandera de San Germán.svg
| image_shield = Escudo de San German, Puerto Rico.svg
| nicknames = "La Ciudad de las Lomas", "Ciudad de las Golondrinas", "Ciudad Fundadora de Pueblos", "Ciudad Cuna del Baloncesto Puertorriqueño", "Ciudad Peregrina"
| anthem = ''"San Germán es mi pueblo querido"''
| image_map = Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-San-Germán.svg
| mapsize = 300px
| map_caption = Map of Puerto Rico highlighting San Germán Municipality
| coordinates = {{coord|18|N|67|W|region:US-PR|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Commonwealth (United States insular area)|Commonwealth]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Puerto Rico}}
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1511 1512 (on 2nd site)
| established_title1 = Founded
| established_date1 = September 11, 1570
| founder = [[Juan Ponce de León]]
| parts_type = [[Barrios of Puerto Rico|Barrios]]
| parts = 19 barrios
| p1 = [[Ancones, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Ancones]]
| p2 = [[Caín Alto]]
| p3 = [[Caín Bajo]]
| p4 = [[Cotuí, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Cotuí]]
| p5 = [[Duey Alto, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Duey Alto]]
| p6 = [[Duey Bajo, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Duey Bajo]]
| p7 = [[Guamá, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Guamá]]
| p8 = [[Hoconuco Alto]]
| p9 = [[Hoconuco Bajo]]
| p10 = [[Maresúa]]
| p11 = [[Minillas, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Minillas]]
| p12 = [[Retiro, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Retiro]]
| p13 = [[Rosario Alto]]
| p14 = [[Rosario Bajo]]
| p15 = [[Rosario Peñón]]
| p16 = [[Sabana Eneas]]
| p17 = [[Sabana Grande Abajo]]
| p18 = [[San Germán barrio-pueblo]]
| p19 = [[Tuna, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Tuna]]
| seat_type =
| seat =
| government_footnotes =
| leader_party = [[New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico|PNP]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Virgilio Olivera Olivera]]
| leader_title1 = Senatorial dist.
| leader_name1 = Mayagüez
| leader_title2 = Representative dist.
| leader_name2 = 20
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 141.18
| area_land_km2 = 141.18
| area_water_km2 = 0
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_sq_mi = 54.51
| area_land_sq_mi = 54.51
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_ft = 528
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 31,879
| population_as_of = 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/puerto-rico-population-change-between-census-decade.html|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Sangermeños
| population_metro = 136,212
| population_blank2_title = [[Mayagüez metropolitan area#Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
| population_blank2 = 251,260
| population_note =
| timezone1 = [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
| utc_offset1 = −4
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Codes]]
| postal_code = 00683, 00636
| area_code = [[Telephone numbers in Puerto Rico|787/939]]
| blank_name_sec1 = [[List of highways in Puerto Rico|Major routes]]
| blank_info_sec1 = [[File:PR primary 2.svg|25px|link=Puerto Rico Highway 2]] [[File:PR secondary 101.svg|31px|link = Puerto Rico Highway 101]] [[File:PR secondary 102.svg|31px|link = Puerto Rico Highway 102]] [[File:PR secondary 114.svg|31px|link = Puerto Rico Highway 114]] [[File:PR secondary 120.svg|31px|link = Puerto Rico Highway 120]] [[File:PR secondary 122.svg|31px|link = Puerto Rico Highway 122]] [[File:PR secondary 166.svg|31px|link = Puerto Rico Highway 166]] [[File:Ellipse sign 118.svg|31px|link = Puerto Rico Highway 118]] [[File:Ellipse sign 119.svg|31px|link = Puerto Rico Highway 119]]
| website =
| footnotes =
| population_rank = [[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|15th]] in Puerto Rico
| named_for = [[Germanus of Auxerre]]
| nickname = City Founder of towns (Ciudad Fundadora de Pueblos)
| government_type = [[Mayor–council government]]
}}

'''San Germán''' ({{IPA|es|saŋ xeɾˈman}}) is a historic [[San Germán barrio-pueblo|town]] and [[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|municipality]] located in the Sabana Grande Valley of southwestern region of [[Puerto Rico]], south of [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico|Mayagüez]] and [[Maricao, Puerto Rico|Maricao]], north of [[Lajas, Puerto Rico|Lajas]], east of [[Hormigueros, Puerto Rico|Hormigueros]] and [[Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico|Cabo Rojo]], and west of [[Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico|Sabana Grande]]. San Germán is spread over eighteen barrios plus [[San Germán barrio-pueblo|San Germán Pueblo]] (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is both a principal city of the [[San Germán–Cabo Rojo Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and the [[Mayagüez metropolitan area#Combined Statistical Area|Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area]].
San Germán is the second oldest city of Puerto Rico, after [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], and its [[Old town|historic downtown]] is preserved as the [[San Germán Historic District]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Página Oficial de Municipio Autónomo de San Germán, Puerto Rico | url = http://www.municipiodesangerman.com/sobreSanGerman/index.asp | access-date = 2008-07-23 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080605145732/http://www.municipiodesangerman.com/sobreSanGerman/index.asp  |archive-date = 2008-06-05}}</ref>

Puerto Rico was, at one time, divided administratively between the San Juan and the San Germán municipalities. The latter covered the western half of Puerto Rico and extended from the western shores of the island to [[Arecibo, Puerto Rico|Arecibo]] in the north and [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]] in the south.<ref>{{Cite web|title=San Germán|url=https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/regions/san-german|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Discover Puerto Rico|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Church in San German, Puerto Rico.jpg|thumb|250px|The Convent of Santo Domingo de Porta Coelio.|left]]
The population of San Germán when [[Alonso Manso]] was named the first bishop of Puerto Rico in 1511 was "about 50 residents".<ref name="de Oviedo">{{cite book | title=Historia general y natural de las Indias, islas y tierra-firme del mar oceano | via=[[Internet Archive]] | page=[https://archive.org/details/historiageneraly01fern/page/466 466] | date=23 October 1851 | publisher=Madrid, Impr. de la Real academia de la historia | url=https://archive.org/details/historiageneraly01fern | access-date=6 November 2019 | language=es | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523193235/https://archive.org/details/historiageneraly01fern | archive-date=23 May 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> Outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Germán was one of the largest settlements in the 16th century, as well as [[Coamo, Puerto Rico|Coamo]] and [[Aguada, Puerto Rico|Aguada]].<ref name="NRHP">{{cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/64500544.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Historic Bridges of Puerto Rico, c. 1840 – 1950 |publisher=[[National Park Service]]|author=[[Luis Fernando Pumarada O'Neill|Luis Pumarada O'Neill]] |date=July 31, 1994 |accessdate=June 7, 2018}}</ref>

Spanish settlement in San Germán occurred early in the conquest and [[colonization]] of Puerto Rico. After the destruction of a small early settlement of the same name near modern-day [[Añasco]] during a [[Taíno people|Taíno]] uprising which started in February 1511, in 1512<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://welcome.topuertorico.org/history.shtml |title=History of Puerto Rico – XV Century – 1599 |access-date=2020-05-08 |archive-date=2020-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303183118/https://welcome.topuertorico.org/history.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> the new settlement was built by Miguel Díaz at [[Guayanilla]]<ref>{{cite book | last = Fuson | first = Robert | title = Juan Ponce De Leon and the Spanish Discovery of Puerto Rico and Florida | publisher = McDonald & Woodward | location = Blacksburg, Virginia | year = 2000 | page = [https://archive.org/details/juanponcedeleons00fuso/page/79 79] | isbn = 0-939923-82-3 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/juanponcedeleons00fuso/page/79 }}</ref>
and was named after [[Germaine of Foix]], the second wife of [[Ferdinand II of Aragon|King Fernando II]], and in reference of [[Germanus of Auxerre|Saint Germanus of Auxerre]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Thomas | first = Hugh
| title = Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire
| publisher = Weidenfeld & Nicolson | location = London | year = 2003
| page = 231 | isbn = 0-297-64563-3}}</ref><ref name="Floyd">{{cite book|last1=Floyd|first1=Troy|title=The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492-1526|date=1973|publisher=University of New Mexico Press|location=Albuquerque|pages=139}}</ref> This town was attacked by [[French corsairs]] in August 1528, May 1538 and 1554. The construction of a small fort began in 1540, but work stopped in 1546 when the population of the town began moving inland to the current modern location.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

On May 12, 1571, the Royal Audience (''[[Real Audiencia]]'') of [[Santo Domingo]] authorized that both the populations of San Germán and '''Santa María de Guadianilla''' be merged into a single city due to the constant French attacks.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Revista/review Interamericana (San German, Puerto Rico)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnUIAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Audiencia%20de%20Santo%20Domingo%20realiza%22|volume=VII|date=1 January 1957|publisher=Inter American University Press|page=640|language=es|access-date=24 December 2019|archive-date=22 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822191747/https://books.google.com/books?id=SnUIAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Audiencia+de+Santo+Domingo+realiza%22|url-status=live}}</ref> The new city was built on the [[Santa Marta Hills|Hills of Santa Marta]], next to the [[Guanajibo River]] in 1573. Its official name was '''Nueva Villa de Salamanca''', named after the city of Salamanca in Spain. However, the population called the city '''San Germán el Nuevo''' (''New San Germán'') and, eventually, the '''Villa de San Germán''' (City of San Germán).

San Germán is also known as the "''founder of towns''", given the fact that in 1514 the Spanish Crown separated the island into two administrative territories (''Partidos''). The borders of the two partidos were established as the [[Camuy River]] to the north and the [[Jacaguas River|Jacagua River]] to the south. They were named the ''[[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] Partition'' and the ''San Germán Partition''.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

[[Hurricane Maria]] on September 20, 2017, triggered numerous landslides in San Germán with the significant amount of rainfall.<ref name="USGS_Maria_Landslides">{{cite web |title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico |url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/ |website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program |publisher=USGS |access-date=2019-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/ |archive-date=2019-03-03 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="USGS_Maria_Landslides map">{{cite web |title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico |url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf |website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program |publisher=USGS |access-date=2019-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf |archive-date=2019-03-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
San Germán is in the southwest region of the island. The town is located on the Sabana Grande valley which is bound by the [[Cordillera Central (Puerto Rico)|Cordillera Central]] to the north and the [[Santa Marta Hills]] and the [[Lajas Valley]] to the south. Mountains in San Germán include [[Alto del Descanso]] ({{convert|2520|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}) and [[Tetas de Cerro Gordo]] ({{convert|2897|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}). San Germán has a number of rivers: [[Cain River|Río Caín]], [[Río Duey (San Germán, Puerto Rico)|Río Duey]], [[Río Rosario]], [[Río Guanajibo]] (Estero), [[Río Hoconuco]], Guamá River and Rio El Brujo.<ref name="PR_Ency">{{cite web|url=https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/san-german-municipality/|title=San Germán Municipality|publisher=Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH)|website=enciclopediapr.org|access-date=2019-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404130110/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/san-german-municipality/|archive-date=2019-04-04|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Barrios===
[[File:San Germán, Puerto Rico locator map.png|thumb|Subdivisions of San Germán.|left]]
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, San Germán is subdivided into [[Barrios of Puerto Rico|barrios]]. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as {{lang|es|"el pueblo"}}.<ref name="Law2015">{{cite book|author=Gwillim Law|title=Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nXCeCQAAQBAJ|access-date=25 December 2018|date=20 May 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0447-3|page=300}}</ref><ref name="US2010Census" />
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
# [[Ancones, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Ancones]]
# [[Caín Alto]]
# [[Caín Bajo]]
# [[Cotuí, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Cotuí]]
# [[Duey Alto, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Duey Alto]]
# [[Duey Bajo, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Duey Bajo]]
# [[Guamá, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Guamá]]
# [[Hoconuco Alto]]
# [[Hoconuco Bajo]]
# [[Maresúa]]
# [[Minillas, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Minillas]]
# [[Retiro, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Retiro]]
# [[Rosario Alto]]
# [[Rosario Bajo]]
# [[Rosario Peñón]]
# [[Sabana Eneas]]
# [[Sabana Grande Abajo]]
# [[San Germán barrio-pueblo]]<ref name="Barrio-Pueblo">{{cite web |title=US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |website=Fact Finder |publisher=US Census |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513190743/https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |archive-date=13 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
# [[Tuna, San Germán, Puerto Rico|Tuna]]
{{div col end}}

===Sectors===
Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to [[minor civil divisions]])<ref name="Barrio-Pueblo" /> and subbarrios,<ref name="Census map">{{cite web |title=P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): San Germán Municipio, PR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_spanish/c72125_san_german/PL10VTDSP_C72125_001.pdf |website=www2.census.gov |publisher=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=22 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822191737/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_spanish/c72125_san_german/PL10VTDSP_C72125_001.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> are further subdivided into smaller areas called {{lang|es|sectores}} (''sectors'' in English). The types of ''sectores'' may vary, from normally ''sector'' to ''urbanización'' to ''reparto'' to ''barriada'' to ''residencial'', among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm|title=Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)|website=Puerto Rico Budgets|language=es|access-date=28 June 2019|archive-date=28 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628234856/http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia | title=El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997–2004 | date=2014 | publisher=San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón | edition=first | isbn=978-0-9820806-1-0 }}</ref><ref name="Law 1-2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm|title=Leyes del 2001|website=Lex Juris Puerto Rico|language=es|access-date=24 June 2020|archive-date=14 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914224408/http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Special Communities===
{{main|Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development}}
{{lang|es|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 San Germán: Ancones, Comunidad El Retiro, Comunidad Las Quebradas, La Tea, Parcelas Las Carolinas, Parcelas Minillas en Barrio Minillas, Parcelas Sabana Eneas, and Rosario Peñón.<ref>{{Citation|author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia|title=El vuelo de la esperanza:Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997–2004|date=2014| publisher=San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón| edition=Primera edición|page=273|isbn=978-0-9820806-1-0}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location = San Germán, Puerto Rico (1898-2013)
|single line = yes
|metric first = yes
|open = yes
|temperature colour =
|Jan record high C = 32.8
|Feb record high C = 33.3
|Mar record high C = 35
|Apr record high C = 35
|May record high C = 35
|Jun record high C = 37.2
|Jul record high C = 37.2
|Aug record high C = 36.1
|Sep record high C = 36.7
|Oct record high C = 36.1
|Nov record high C = 36.7
|Dec record high C = 36.7
|year record high C = 37.2
|Jan high C = 30.6
|Feb high C = 30.6
|Mar high C = 31.1
|Apr high C = 31.7
|May high C = 32.2
|Jun high C = 32.8
|Jul high C = 33.3
|Aug high C = 33.3
|Sep high C = 32.8
|Oct high C = 32.2
|Nov high C = 31.7
|Dec high C = 31.1
|Jan mean C = 23.9
|Feb mean C = 23.9
|Mar mean C = 24.4
|Apr mean C = 25.6
|May mean C = 26.7
|Jun mean C = 27.2
|Jul mean C = 27.2
|Aug mean C = 27.2
|Sep mean C = 27.2
|Oct mean C = 26.7
|Nov mean C = 25.6
|Dec mean C = 24.4
|Jan low C = 16.7
|Feb low C = 16.7
|Mar low C = 17.8
|Apr low C = 18.9
|May low C = 20.6
|Jun low C = 21.7
|Jul low C = 21.1
|Aug low C = 21.1
|Sep low C = 21.1
|Oct low C = 20.6
|Nov low C = 19.4
|Dec low C = 17.2
|Jan record low C = 6.7
|Feb record low C = 10.6
|Mar record low C = 10.0
|Apr record low C = 10.0
|May record low C = 13.3
|Jun record low C = 14.4
|Jul record low C = 11.7
|Aug record low C = 14.4
|Sep record low C = 15.6
|Oct record low C = 13.3
|Nov record low C = 11.7
|Dec record low C = 9.4
|year record low C = 6.7
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 63.8
|Feb rain mm = 55.6
|Mar rain mm = 55.6
|Apr rain mm = 87.1
|May rain mm = 130.6
|Jun rain mm = 68.6
|Jul rain mm = 79.5
|Aug rain mm = 132.8
|Sep rain mm = 157.5
|Oct rain mm = 185.2
|Nov rain mm = 145.0
|Dec rain mm = 59.2
|source 1 = The Weather Channel<ref name="TWC">[http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USPR0086] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108044813/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USPR0086 |date=2014-01-08 }}, The Weather Channel accessed 8 January 2014.</ref>
}}

==Tourism==
[[File:San German Historic district.jpg|thumb|250px|Plaza Santo Domingo, located in the [[San Germán Historic District]]]]
San Germán's [[San Germán Historic District|historic downtown]] is the site of the [[Porta Coeli (Puerto Rico)|''Porta Coeli'']] church, one of the earliest Spanish churches built in the Americas. ''Porta Coeli'' is still a major historical attraction that attracts both domestic and international tourists every year.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

===Landmarks and places of interest===
[[File:San Germán Auxerre.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Plaza]] Francisco Mariano Quiñones and the [[Church San Germán de Auxerre]]]]
* Puente de Bolas (Bridge of Balls)
* {{lang|es|Museo Farmacia La Botica}}
* {{lang|es|Museo de la Historia de San Germán}} (San Germán history museum)
* Casa Morales
* Ceiba de la Libertad
* San Germán Historic Gallery
* Lola Rodríguez de Tió Museum
* Casa Cruz de la Luna
* Ramírez de Arrellano y Rossell Museum
* Santo Domingo Plazuela
* Three Races and One Culture Mural
* [[San Germán Historic District]]
* [[Porta Coeli (Puerto Rico)|Porta Coeli]]
* [[Inter-American University of Puerto Rico]]
* [[Church San Germán de Auxerre]]
* [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]] Saint John Climacus (Only Russian Orthodox Church in Puerto Rico)

The urban center of San Germán is mainly composed of [[Spanish Colonial architecture|Spanish colonial]] houses. Many have been restored and conserve their Spanish look while other houses are somewhat abandoned and in poor condition. There are ongoing projects employing public and private funding to preserve and restore many houses and monuments and to maintain San Germán's colonial era look.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

==Culture==
[[File:SanGerman ParquedeSantoDomingo.JPG|thumb|250px|Plaza Santo Domingo]]

===Festivals and events===
San Germán celebrates its [[Fiestas patronales in Puerto Rico|patron saint]] festival in late July / early August. The {{lang|es|Fiestas Patronales de San German Euserre}} is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.<ref>{{cite web | title=Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico | website=Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores | url=https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades | language=es | access-date=2020-07-17 | archive-date=2020-02-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226163727/https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PR_Ency" />

Other festivals and events celebrated in San Germán include:
* Festival de la Pana – July
* Anón Festival – September
* Christmas Festival – December
* Christmas Parade – Early December
* Patron Celebrations (The [[Our Lady of the Rosary|Virgin of the Rosary]])—Celebrated in San Germán's Rosario Poblado, which borders the municipality of [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico|Mayagüez]].

===Sports===
San Germán is home to one of Puerto Rico's oldest basketball franchises, dating back to the 1930s, the San Germán Athletics (los Atléticos de San Germán), nicknamed "The Orange Monster". Many glories of Puerto Rican basketball have played in San Germán, a city that is also known as "The Cradle of Puerto Rican Basketball". Some of those players are Arquelio Torres, José "Piculín" Ortiz, Eddie Casiano, Nelson Quiñones, Elías "Larry" Ayuso, Christian Dalmau, and so many others. Their home court is The Arquelio Torres Ramírez Court, which houses approximately 5,000 fans.

The Athletic's fan base is most commonly referred to as their sixth man, or "The Orange Monster". This is because for a visiting team it's extremely hard to win in San Germán due to how vigorous and "into" the game the fans are.

The Athletics have been to 26 National Superior Basketball (BSN) Finals, of which one was cancelled (1953) due to confiscation because of a fight between players from San Germán and the Ponce Lions, giving birth to Puerto Rican basketball's most intense rivalry.

Championships (14): 1932, 1936, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1997
Sub-Championships (11): 1931, 1933, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1986

==Economy==
===Agriculture===
The area around San Germán grows fruits (banana, [[pineapple]]) and [[sugarcane]] on mid-scale. [[Dairy farms]] are also present in small scale. Some locals grow other produce on a small scale.

===Business===
Most businesses are located in or near the downtown area ([[San Germán barrio-pueblo|San Germán Pueblo]]). [[Plaza del Oeste]] is the main shopping center.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

===Industry===
Major employers of the city include Fresenius Kabi, CCL, Wallace International, [[Baxter International|Baxter Serum Mfg.]], [[Cordis (medical)|Cordis]], Insertco (print shop for medical instructions inserts), Wallace Silversmiths de Puerto Rico, [[GE|General Electric]] (production of circuit breakers) and several other companies in the service industry.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

===Motion pictures filmed in San Germán===
*[[Act of Valor]] (2012) Which follows a Navy Seal squad on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA Agent Morales ([[Roselyn Sánchez]]).{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
*[[Dinero Sangre]] (1986) In a banana republic a ruthless mercenary waits to make a killing in gold. Only two people stand in his way ([[Guy Ecker]]){{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1900= 20246
| 1910= 22143
| 1920= 23848
| 1930= 23768
| 1940= 26473
| 1950= 29553
| 1960= 27667
| 1970= 27990
| 1980= 32922
| 1990= 34962
| 2000= 37105
| 2010= 35527
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=December 27, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2016/PEPANNRES/0500000US72005|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213114938/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2016/PEPANNRES/0500000US72005|archive-date=February 13, 2020}}</ref> 1899 (shown as 1900)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/reportoncensusof00unitiala#page/n245/mode/2up|title=Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899|publisher=War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716033905/https://archive.org/stream/reportoncensusof00unitiala#page/n245/mode/2up|archive-date=July 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 1910–1930<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00476569ch4.pdf|title=Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817181600/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00476569ch4.pdf|archive-date=August 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 1930–1950<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch12.pdf|title=Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830033735/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch12.pdf|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> 1960–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-3-53-eng.pdf|title=Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724061852/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-3-53-eng.pdf|archive-date=July 24, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 2010<ref name= "US2010Census">{{cite book|title=Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf|url=https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf|year=2010|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2018-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220183043/https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf|archive-date=2017-02-20|url-status=live}}</ref>
2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/puerto-rico-population-change-between-census-decade.html|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US}}</ref>|2020=31879}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Ethnic distribution'''
|-
!colspan=3|Ethnicity – (self-defined) San Germán, Puerto Rico – 2010 Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL1.CY07&prodType=table|title=American FactFinder – Results|website=Fact Finder|access-date=2019-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120184043/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL1.CY07&prodType=table|archive-date=2015-11-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-----
! Ethnicity
! Population
! % of Total
|-----
| [[Demographics of Europe|European]]||29,614||83.4%
|-----
| [[Demographics of Africa|African]]||1,989||5.6%
|-----
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] and [[Alaska Native]]||129||0.4%
|-----
| [[Asian people|Asian]]||41||0.1%
|-----
| [[Native Hawaiian]] [[Pacific Islander]]||5||0.0%
|-----
| Some other ethnicity||2,992||8.4%
|-----
| Two or more ethnicities||727||2.1%
|}

==Government==
[[Image:Alcaldía de San Germán, Puerto Rico.jpg|thumb|200px|The new City Hall on Luna Street was built in 1989.]]
{{Main|Mayoralty in Puerto Rico}}
Like all municipalities in [[Puerto Rico]], San Germán is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Virgilio Olivera Olivera from the [[New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico)|New Progressive Party]]. Olivera was first elected in the [[Puerto Rican general election, 2020|2020 general elections]].

The city belongs to the [[Puerto Rico Senatorial district IV]], which is represented by two Senators. In [[Puerto Rican general election, 2024|2024]], Jeison Rosa and Karen Michelle Román Rodríguez were elected as District Senators.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elecciones2024.ceepur.org/Escrutinio_General_121/index.html#es/default/SENADORES_POR_DISTRITO_Mayaguez_IV.xml |title=Senatorial District Results Mayagüez IV |website=ceepur.org |date=December 31, 2024 |access-date=January 3, 2025 }}</ref>

==Transportation==
By the 16th century there was a rough road called {{lang|es|Camino de Puerto Rico}} (Camino Real) connecting San Germán (which was located near the mouth of the [[Añasco River]]) to other areas of Puerto Rico, including [[San Sebastián, Puerto Rico|San Sebastián]], [[Arecibo, Puerto Rico|Arecibo]], [[Toa Alta, Puerto Rico|Toa Alta]], and [[Caparra Archaeological Site|Caparra]].<ref name="NRHP" />

In 2019, there were 44 bridges in San Germán.<ref name="bridge">{{cite web|title=San Germán Bridges|url=http://bridgereports.com/pr/san-german/|website=National Bridge Inventory Data|publisher=US Dept. of Transportation|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221224245/http://bridgereports.com/pr/san-german/|archive-date=21 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Symbols==
The {{lang|es|municipio}} has an official flag and coat of arms.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios. | website=LexJuris de Puerto Rico | url=https://www.lexjuris.com/LEXLEX/Leyes2006/lexl2006070.htm | language=es | access-date=2021-06-15}}</ref>

===Flag===
'''Green''' – The Episcopal dignity and also the color of the Shield of [[Christopher Columbus]] and his son, don [[Diego Colón]], Viceroy of the Indies, who named the city in honor of [[Germaine of Foix|Germane de Foix]].<ref name="LexJuris" />

'''White''' – The purity of the blood of the great families who colonized San Germán, according to a history book by [[Fray Íñigo Abbad y Lasierra]], a Spanish [[Benedictines|Benedictine]] monk.<ref name="LexJuris" />

'''Purple''' – Color of the Shield of [[Juan Ponce de León]], first [[governor of Puerto Rico]].<ref name="LexJuris">{{cite web | title=SAN GERMAN | website=LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico | date=23 February 2007 | url=http://www.lexjuris.com/PUEBLOS/pueblos_files/SANGERMAN.HTML | language=es | access-date=16 September 2020 | archive-date=19 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219000506/http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/SANGERMAN.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
'''First Quarter''': The Mitre and the Staff in a green field represent [[Germanus of Auxerre|St. Germain of Auxerre]], the Patron Saint of the city.<ref name="LexJuris" />

'''Second Quarter''': The second quarter exhibits the arms of the Kingdoms of Aragón and Sicily, where don Fernando the Catholic reigned.<ref name="LexJuris" />

'''Third Quarter''': In this quarter the arms combine with the County of Foix and the Kingdom of France, which constitute the family shields of [[Germaine de Foix]] whose name is perpetuated as the name of the city of San Germán.<ref name="LexJuris" />

'''Fourth Quarter''': Is Ponce de León's shield.

'''The Crown''': Is a civic or municipal standard and is used as a stamp for towns and cities; San Germán was assigned five towers to denote that this population formally obtained the title of city from the Spanish crown in the nineteenth century.<ref name="LexJuris" />

==Education==
The following schools are in San Germán:<ref>{{cite web |title=Search For Schools and Colleges | website=National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a part of the U.S. Department of Education | url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=7200030 | access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref>
#Bartolome de Las Casas: PK-6
#Georgina Alvarado: PK-5
#Henry W. Longfellow: PK-5
#Herminia C. Ramirez: PK-5
#Julio Victor Guzman: KG-8
#Laura Mercado: 6–12
#Lola Rodriguez de Tio: 9–10
#Mariano Abril: PK-6
#(Second Unit) Francisco Maria Quinones: KG-8

The main campus of the [[Inter-American University of Puerto Rico]] is located adjacent to the [[San Germán barrio-pueblo|downtown area]] of San Germán. It was founded in 1912 as the ''Polytechnical Institute of Puerto Rico'', the first [[private university]] on the island. The [[Colegio San José, San Germán, PR|Colegio San José]], was a private school which was established in San Germán in 1930 and closed in 2017.

==Puerto Ricans from San Germán==
* PFC [[Puerto Rican recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross|Joseph R. (José) Martínez]] destroyed a German infantry unit and tank in Tunisia, during [[World War II]], by providing heavy artillery fire, saving his platoon from being attacked in the process. He was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]], second only to the [[Medal of Honor]], by General [[George S. Patton]], thus becoming the first Puerto Rican recipient of said military decoration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://homeofheroes.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fhomeofheroes.com%2Fwp-admin%2F&reauth=1|title=Log In ‹ Home of Heroes—WordPress|website=Home of Heroes|access-date=2019-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305134147/https://homeofheroes.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fhomeofheroes.com%2Fwp-admin%2F&reauth=1|archive-date=2019-03-05|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano]]—Senator
*[[Lola Rodríguez de Tió]]—poet, author of the original lyrics of Puerto Rico's national anthem, [[La Borinqueña]], and pro-independence advocate
*[[Benjamín Marcantoni]] – opera singer
*[[Benicio del Toro]]—Award-winning actor
*[[Francisco Mariano Quiñones]]—Abolitionist and politician
*[[Samuel R. Quiñones]]—Longest-serving President of the Puerto Rico Senate, serving for twenty years.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="170px">
San Germán, Puerto Rico.jpg|San Germán
San German, Puerto Rico.jpg|Street in San Germán
LA BOTICA.jpg|Pharmacy Museum
Residential building in San Germán, Puerto Rico.jpg|Residential building in San Germán
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Puerto Rico|Geography}}
*[[List of Puerto Ricans]]
*[[History of Puerto Rico]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in San Germán, Puerto Rico]]
*[[Portal:Puerto Rico/Did you know/Archive|Did you know-Puerto Rico?]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://islandsofpuertorico.com/san-german/ San German, Puerto Rico]
* [https://archive.today/20200212040636/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=05000US72125&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-redoLog=false&-format=CO-2&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1_CO2 San Germán and its barrios, United States Census Bureau]
* [http://www.atleticos.org/ Official Webpage of the San German Atleticos]
* [http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/sangerman.pdf Welcome to Puerto Rico! San German Map]
* [http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/sanger.shtml Welcome to Puerto Rico! San Germán]
* [https://www.facebook.com/ciudadfundadora San German Municipality on Facebook]

{{Adjacent communities
|Centre = San Germán
|North = [[Maricao, Puerto Rico|Maricao]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico|Sabana Grande]]
|Southeast =
|South = [[Lajas, Puerto Rico|Lajas]]
|Southwest = [[Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico|Cabo Rojo]]
|West = [[Hormigueros, Puerto Rico|Hormigueros]]
|Northwest = [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico|Mayagüez]]
}}
{{Porta del Sol}}
{{Puerto Rico subdivisions}}
{{Subject bar|auto=y|s=1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/San German|d=y}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:San German, Puerto Rico}}
[[Category:San Germán, Puerto Rico| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1511]]
[[Category:San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1511 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

San Germán, Puerto Rico