Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Main other{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview = Page using [[Template:Template:If empty]] with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|mapframe_args=y | alt | anthem | anthem_link | area_blank1_acre | area_blank1_dunam | area_blank1_ha | area_blank1_km2 | area_blank1_sq_mi | area_blank1_title | area_blank2_acre | area_blank2_dunam | area_blank2_ha | area_blank2_km2 | area_blank2_sq_mi | area_blank2_title | area_code | area_code_type | area_codes | area_footnotes | area_land_acre | area_land_dunam | area_land_ha | area_land_km2 | area_land_sq_mi | area_metro_acre | area_metro_dunam | area_metro_footnotes | area_metro_ha | area_metro_km2 | area_metro_sq_mi | area_note | area_rank | area_rural_acre | area_rural_dunam | area_rural_footnotes | area_rural_ha | area_rural_km2 | area_rural_sq_mi | area_total_acre | area_total_dunam | area_total_ha | area_total_km2 | area_total_sq_mi | area_urban_acre | area_urban_dunam | area_urban_footnotes | area_urban_ha | area_urban_km2 | area_urban_sq_mi | area_water_acre | area_water_dunam | area_water_ha | area_water_km2 | area_water_percent | area_water_sq_mi | blank_emblem_alt | blank_emblem_link | blank_emblem_size | blank_emblem_type | blank_emblem_sizedefault | blank_emblem_upright | blank_info | blank_info_sec1 | blank_info_sec2 | blank_name | blank_name_sec1 | blank_name_sec2 | blank1_info | blank1_info_sec1 | blank1_info_sec2 | blank1_name | blank1_name_sec1 | blank1_name_sec2 | blank2_info | blank2_info_sec1 | blank2_info_sec2 | blank2_name | blank2_name_sec1 | blank2_name_sec2 | blank3_info | blank3_info_sec1 | blank3_info_sec2 | blank3_name | blank3_name_sec1 | blank3_name_sec2 | blank4_info | blank4_info_sec1 | blank4_info_sec2 | blank4_name | blank4_name_sec1 | blank4_name_sec2 | blank5_info | blank5_info_sec1 | blank5_info_sec2 | blank5_name | blank5_name_sec1 | blank5_name_sec2 | blank6_info | blank6_info_sec1 | blank6_info_sec2 | blank6_name | blank6_name_sec1 | blank6_name_sec2 | blank7_info | blank7_info_sec1 | blank7_info_sec2 | blank7_name | blank7_name_sec1 | blank7_name_sec2 | caption | code1_info | code1_name | code2_info | code2_name | coor_pinpoint | coor_type | coordinates | coordinates_footnotes | demographics_type1 | demographics_type2 | demographics1_footnotes | demographics1_info1 | demographics1_info10 | demographics1_info2 | demographics1_info3 | demographics1_info4 | demographics1_info5 | demographics1_info6 | demographics1_info7 | demographics1_info8 | demographics1_info9 | demographics1_title1 | demographics1_title10 | demographics1_title2 | demographics1_title3 | demographics1_title4 | demographics1_title5 | demographics1_title6 | demographics1_title7 | demographics1_title8 | demographics1_title9 | demographics2_footnotes | demographics2_info1 | demographics2_info10 | demographics2_info2 | demographics2_info3 | demographics2_info4 | demographics2_info5 | demographics2_info6 | demographics2_info7 | demographics2_info8 | demographics2_info9 | demographics2_title1 | demographics2_title10 | demographics2_title2 | demographics2_title3 | demographics2_title4 | demographics2_title5 | demographics2_title6 | demographics2_title7 | demographics2_title8 | demographics2_title9 | dimensions_footnotes | dunam_link | elevation_footnotes | elevation_ft | elevation_link | elevation_m | elevation_max_footnotes | elevation_max_ft | elevation_max_m | elevation_max_point | elevation_max_rank | elevation_min_footnotes | elevation_min_ft | elevation_min_m | elevation_min_point | elevation_min_rank | elevation_point | embed | established_date | established_date1 | established_date2 | established_date3 | established_date4 | established_date5 | established_date6 | established_date7 | established_title | established_title1 | established_title2 | established_title3 | established_title4 | established_title5 | established_title6 | established_title7 | etymology | extinct_date | extinct_title | flag_alt | flag_border | flag_link | flag_size | footnotes | founder | geocode | governing_body | government_footnotes | government_type | government_blank1_title | government_blank1 | government_blank2_title | government_blank2 | government_blank2_title | government_blank3 | government_blank3_title | government_blank3 | government_blank4_title | government_blank4 | government_blank5_title | government_blank5 | government_blank6_title | government_blank6 | grid_name | grid_position | image_alt | image_blank_emblem | image_caption | image_flag | image_map | image_map1 | image_seal | image_shield | image_size | image_skyline | imagesize | image_sizedefault | image_upright | iso_code | leader_name | leader_name1 | leader_name2 | leader_name3 | leader_name4 | leader_name5 | leader_party | leader_title | leader_title1 | leader_title2 | leader_title3 | leader_title4 | leader_title5 | length_km | length_mi | map_alt | map_alt1 | map_caption | map_caption1 | mapsize | mapsize1 | module | motto | motto_link | mottoes | name | named_for | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nickname_link | nicknames | official_name | other_name | p1 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p2 | p20 | p21 | p22 | p23 | p24 | p25 | p26 | p27 | p28 | p29 | p3 | p30 | p31 | p32 | p33 | p34 | p35 | p36 | p37 | p38 | p39 | p4 | p40 | p41 | p42 | p43 | p44 | p45 | p46 | p47 | p48 | p49 | p5 | p50 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | parts | parts_style | parts_type | pop_est_as_of | pop_est_footnotes | population | population_as_of | population_blank1 | population_blank1_footnotes | population_blank1_title | population_blank2 | population_blank2_footnotes | population_blank2_title | population_demonym | population_demonyms | population_density_blank1_km2 | population_density_blank1_sq_mi | population_density_blank2_km2 | population_density_blank2_sq_mi | population_density_km2 | population_density_metro_km2 | population_density_metro_sq_mi | population_density_rank | population_density_rural_km2 | population_density_rural_sq_mi | population_density_sq_mi | population_density_urban_km2 | population_density_urban_sq_mi | population_est | population_footnotes | population_metro | population_metro_footnotes | population_note | population_rank | population_rural | population_rural_footnotes | population_total | population_urban | population_urban_footnotes | postal_code | postal_code_type | postal2_code | postal2_code_type | pushpin_image | pushpin_label | pushpin_label_position | pushpin_map | pushpin_map_alt | pushpin_map_caption | pushpin_map_caption_notsmall | pushpin_map_narrow | pushpin_mapsize | pushpin_outside | pushpin_overlay | pushpin_relief | registration_plate | registration_plate_type | seal_alt | seal_link | seal_size | seal_type | seat | seat_type | seat1 | seat1_type | seat2 | seat2_type | settlement_type | shield_alt | shield_link | shield_size | short_description | subdivision_name | subdivision_name1 | subdivision_name2 | subdivision_name3 | subdivision_name4 | subdivision_name5 | subdivision_name6 | subdivision_type | subdivision_type1 | subdivision_type2 | subdivision_type3 | subdivision_type4 | subdivision_type5 | subdivision_type6 | template_name | timezone | timezone_DST | timezone_link | timezone1 | timezone1_DST | timezone1_location | timezone2 | timezone2_DST | timezone2_location | timezone3 | timezone3_DST | timezone3_location | timezone4 | timezone4_DST | timezone4_location | timezone5 | timezone5_DST | timezone5_location | total_type | translit_lang1 | translit_lang1_info | translit_lang1_info1 | translit_lang1_info2 | translit_lang1_info3 | translit_lang1_info4 | translit_lang1_info5 | translit_lang1_info6 | translit_lang1_type | translit_lang1_type1 | translit_lang1_type2 | translit_lang1_type3 | translit_lang1_type4 | translit_lang1_type5 | translit_lang1_type6 | translit_lang2 | translit_lang2_info | translit_lang2_info1 | translit_lang2_info2 | translit_lang2_info3 | translit_lang2_info4 | translit_lang2_info5 | translit_lang2_info6 | translit_lang2_type | translit_lang2_type1 | translit_lang2_type2 | translit_lang2_type3 | translit_lang2_type4 | translit_lang2_type5 | translit_lang2_type6 | type | unit_pref | utc_offset | utc_offset_DST | utc_offset1 | utc_offset1_DST | utc_offset2 | utc_offset2_DST | utc_offset3 | utc_offset3_DST | utc_offset4 | utc_offset4_DST | utc_offset5 | utc_offset5_DST | website | width_km | width_mi }}{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check | template = [[Template:Template:If empty]] | cat = Template:Main other | population; population_total | image_size; imagesize | image_alt; alt | image_caption; caption | settlement_type; type | utc_offset1; utc_offset | timezone1; timezone }}{{#if:
|
}}Template:Main other{{#ifexpr:{{#invoke:ParameterCount|main|mapframe|image_map|image_map1|pushpin_map}} >2 |Template:Main other}}
Río Grande ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the eastern edge of the Northern Coastal Valley, north of Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba; east of Loíza and Canóvanas and west of Luquillo. Río Grande is spread over eight barrios and Río Grande Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. A big portion of El Yunque National Forest, including El Yunque's peak, is located within the municipality.
History
Río Grande was founded on July 16, 1840, by Desiderio and Quilimaco Escobar, with the approval of Governor Miguel López. It was named after the Río Grande and is located where the Río Grande and the Río Espíritu Santo join.
In 1894, there were two sugar cane haciendas and 256 estancias growing minor fruits.<ref name="1894 directory">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017, triggered numerous landslides in Río Grande with the significant amount of rainfall.<ref name="USGS_Maria_Landslides">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="USGS_Maria_Landslides map">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Infrastructure was destroyed, trees were ripped out of the ground, and rivers were breached causing property losses to approximately 5000 people. Of the Puerto Rican amazon, 230 in captivity did survive.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Geography
Río Grande is on the northeastern coast of the island north of the Sierra de Luquillo.<ref name="PR_Ency">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A large portion of El Yunque National Forest and some of the highest points of the Sierra de Luquillo are located within Río Grande including El Yunque and El Toro, which at 3,474 feet (1,070 m) is the highest point in eastern Puerto Rico.
Barrios
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Río Grande is subdivided into barrios (which mean barrios or boroughs or neighborhoods in Spanish). The municipal buildings, central square and a large Catholic church are located in a small, central barrio called barrio-pueblo or simply {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.<ref name="Law2015">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="US2010Census" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Div col
- Ciénaga Alta
- Ciénaga Baja
- Guzmán Abajo
- Guzmán Arriba
- Herreras
- Jiménez
- Mameyes II
- Río Grande barrio-pueblo<ref name="Barrio-Pueblo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sectors
Template:Further Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)<ref name="Barrio-Pueblo"/> are further subdivided into smaller areas called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}(sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Mari Mut">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="Law 1-2001">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Special Communities
Template:See also {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (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 Río Grande: Sector Montebello and Sector El Hoyo in Malpica, Las Dolores, La Ponderosa, Villa Realidad, Estancias del Sol, and Hong Kong.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="wordpress.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Demographics
In 1894, while a Spanish colony, the population of Río Grande was 6,237.<ref name="1894 directory" /> Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Río Grande was 12,365.
Tourism
Río Grande is home to one of the largest secluded areas with beach access (Coco Beach) on the entire island. Major hotels in the area include Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort and Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve. Every March, Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve plays host to the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Within a ten-minute drive is El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rain forest within the United States National Forest System.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Hotels
- The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa
- Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve
- St. Regis Bahía Beach Resort & Golf Club
Landmarks and places of interest
There are 27 beaches in Río Grande.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Main attractions of Río Grande are:
Economy
Agriculture
The municipality has agricultural activity that produces fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, tobacco, and cattle.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Business
Local retail stores are aside highway PR-3. There is one large shopping mall located on 65th Infantry expressway and 956th street. The northeastern area of Puerto Rico has attracted hotels, shopping malls, sport venues among others. In 2012 the Puerto Rico Highway 66, which provides easy access to San Juan, was opened which runs along the municipality.
In 2019, volunteers and police who formed a group called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} celebrated their 32nd year aiding local businesses with security issues. This group works to ensure the safety and security of business patrons in the downtown area of Río Piedras.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Culture
Festivals and events
Río Grande celebrates its patron saint festival in July. The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.<ref name="PR_Ency" />
Other festivals and events celebrated in Río Grande include:
- Río Grande Carnival – July
- Stuffed Potato Festival – April
- Las Picúas Festival – September
Sports
Baseball, basketball and handball are popular sports in Río Grande.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Río Grande include:
- Antonio Bachour - Named one of the ten best pastry chefs in America
- Raymond Burgos - Major League Baseball pitcher
- Ovidio de Jesús - Puerto Rican male sprinter who competed at international events
- Luis Pizarro - Puerto Rican boxer who at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow
- Rafael Quintero - Puerto Rican diver who competed in the men's 10 m platform event at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Government
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Río Grande is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Angel "Bori" González, who was first elected in a special election on September 14, 2014, and has since been re-elected three times, most recently at the 2024 Puerto Rican general elections.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VIII, which is represented by two Senators. In 2024, Marissa Jiménez and Héctor Joaquín Sánchez Álvarez were elected as District Senators.<ref>Elecciones Generales 2024: Escrutinio General Template:Webarchive on CEEPUR</ref>
Transportation
There are 48 bridges in Río Grande.<ref name="bridge">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Symbols
The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} has an official flag and coat of arms.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Flag
The Río Grande flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal size, upper one is green with lower one been blue, and united by a white triangle placed on the side of the mast. On the white triangle is a Puerto Rican parrot.<ref name="LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico 2020">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Coat of arms
In a silver field, two Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vitatta), accompanied by a waving blue stripe, a green mountain with three peaks. The top portion of the shield is blue, with an opened silver book, accompanied on each side by five gold coins. Topped by a three tower gold crown outlined in black with green openings.<ref name="LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico 2020" />
Gallery
Sites around Río Grande:
-
Radar towers atop a mountain at El Yunque rain forest
-
Beach in Río Grande
-
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa
-
Evening at El Yunque
-
Winding road at El Yunque
-
Waterfall in El Yunque
-
Bridge in Baño Grande
-
Waterfall at Baño Grande
See also
References
Further reading
External links
- Río Grande and its barrios, United States Census Bureau
- Puerto Rico Government Directory - Rio Grande
Template:Adjacent communities Template:Porta Antillas Template:US state navigation box Template:Subject bar Template:Authority control