Aguadilla, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aguadilla San Carlos de la Aguadilla
Municipality
Aerial View of Downtown Aguadilla
Flag Coat of arms
Nicknames:  Jardín del Atlántico, La Villa del Ojo de Agua, El Pueblo de los Tiburones
Anthem: Playita Aguadillana
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Aguadilla Municipality
Sovereign state	United States
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
First settled	16th century
Founded	July 6, 1775
Founded by	Luis de Córdova
Barrios	16 barrios Aguacate Aguadilla barrio-pueblo Arenales Borinquen Caimital Alto Caimital Bajo Camaceyes Ceiba Alta Ceiba Baja Corrales Guerrero Maleza Alta Maleza Baja Montaña Palmar Victoria
Area
• Municipality	76.3 sq mi (198 km2)
• Land	36.6 sq mi (95 km2)
• Water	39.0 sq mi (101 km2)  51%
Elevation	326 ft (99 m)
Population  (2020)
• Municipality	55,101
• Rank	12th in Puerto Rico
• Density	722.2/sq mi (278.83/km2)
• Metro	310,160 (MSA)
Demonym(s)	Aguadillanos
Racial groups
• 2020 Census	48.1% Multiracial 21.0% White 4.1% Black 0.5% American Ind/AN 0.1% Asian 26.2% Other
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Codes	00603, 00604, 00605, 00690
Area code(s)	787/939
Major routes
Website	aguadilla.gobierno.pr

Aguadilla is a city and municipality located on the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova. The city is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west. It is north of Aguada, and Moca, and west of Isabela.

Aguadilla is divided into 15 barrios (neighborhoods) and Aguadilla Pueblo, which is the downtown area and the city's main center. It is a key city in the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area. Even though it was known as Aguadilla before 1770, it was officially founded in 1780.

What's in a Name? Etymology and Nicknames

Ojo de Agua, a water spring in downtown Aguadilla. This spring gives the city one of its nicknames.

The name Aguadilla is a shorter version of its original name, San Carlos de La Aguadilla. It's also a smaller version of Aguada, a nearby town to the south.

Aguadilla has several cool nicknames:

• Jardín del Atlántico means "Garden of the Atlantic".
• Pueblo de los Tiburones means "Shark Town".
• La Villa del Ojo de Agua means "Villa of the Water Spring". This nickname comes from a natural water spring in El Parterre Square that early settlers and Spanish soldiers used for water.

A Look Back: Aguadilla's History

Early Settlements and Founding

Long ago, a Taíno settlement called Aymamón existed near the Culebrinas River. Aguadilla was originally part of the Aguada territory. People wanted their own town as early as 1736.

In 1770, a small chapel was built. In 1775, Luis de Córdova approved the founding of Aguadilla. Bernardo Sosa became the town's first mayor. A larger church started being built. In 1776, a writer named Fray Íñigo Abbad y Lasierra called it the "new Town of San Carlos de La Aguadilla."

The town officially separated in 1780. Aguadilla grew quickly because it had an excellent port. Many people from Santo Domingo moved to Aguadilla in 1776, helping its population grow even more.

The 1800s: Becoming a Loyal Village

The early 1800s brought challenges. A big fire destroyed many homes. In 1825, Hurricane Santa Ana ruined most of Aguadilla's orange farms.

By 1831, Aguadilla was part of Aguada. Its areas included places like Montaña, Borinquen, and Victoria. Aguadilla's port was very important for ships traveling between Europe, Havana, and Mexico.

In 1860, Queen Isabela II officially declared Aguadilla a "loyal village" (villa leal). This gave the town special benefits. Later, Aguadilla became the main city for a large region that included other towns like Isabela and Moca.

In 1893, Hurricane San Roque damaged farms and homes.

After the Spanish-American War

Aguadilla in 1910

After Puerto Rico became part of the United States in 1898, Aguadilla's areas stayed mostly the same. More natural disasters hit the town. In 1899, Hurricane San Ciriaco caused a lot of damage.

The 1918 San Fermín earthquake and the giant wave (tsunami) that followed also hit Aguadilla hard. Forty people died, and many buildings were damaged or destroyed. A community called San Antonio was completely wiped out by the tsunami. Its residents then moved to a higher area away from the coast.

New things came to Aguadilla, like the first theaters, a social club, and a new school system. A bakery and a post office also opened. The clothing industry became a big source of jobs.

Sign at a former train stop in Aguadilla

In 1944, Puerto Rico had its worst train accident near Aguadilla. A train carrying many passengers derailed on a hill called Cuesta Vieja. The engine exploded, and cars crashed, causing a sad event. Sixteen people died, and 50 were hurt.

Cuesta Vieja, a part of Aguadilla where a train derailed.

In 1948, the downtown area of Aguadilla grew to include parts of other neighborhoods. There was also a disagreement with Aguada about who owned a park called Parque Colón. After looking at old maps and documents, it was decided that Parque Colón belonged to Aguadilla.

The Cold War Era

FAA radar tower in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

In 1939, a large area of land was taken to build an air base called Ramey Air Force Base. Aguadilla was home to this important military base for almost 50 years. During the Cold War, Ramey Air Force Base was a key location for the United States military. It housed large bombers like the B-52s.

The town's center was updated, and a new plaza opened in 1955. In 1971, Aguadilla became part of a new Senatorial District. In 1979, a factory that made airplane parts opened at the base.

Even though the military base is no longer fully active, its buildings are still used. The airport is now the Rafael Hernández International Airport. Old barracks are now a hotel, and the Officer's Club is a meeting center. The former hospital is now a hotel and casino.

The area that used to be Ramey Air Force Base also has the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla and other schools. There is still a part of the base used by the Coast Guard and other government agencies.

Recent Times: 21st Century and Hurricane Maria

Aerial view of Aguadilla a few days after Hurricane Maria.

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. It caused a lot of damage to buildings and power lines in Aguadilla. The city's more than 54,000 residents lost electricity.

The four radar systems used by the Federal Aviation Administration for flights around Puerto Rico were damaged. One of these radar systems is in Aguadilla. It took almost two weeks to fix them.

The 2020s

In recent years, Aguadilla gained some international attention. A video of an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) was filmed by a Customs and Patrol aircraft near Rafael Hernández Airport in 2013. The video, sometimes called “The Aguadilla UFO Incident,” shows a glowing object flying near the airport. It has been shown on TV shows about unexplained phenomena.

In 2024, the local government filed a lawsuit against LUMA Energy. This was due to problems with the energy distribution system.

Where is Aguadilla? Geography

Aguadilla is on the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. It is part of the Western Coastal Plains. The Atlantic Ocean is to its north. Isabela is to the east, and Moca and Aguada are to the south.

The municipality covers about 35.5 square miles. It is mostly flat, but has some hills like Jiménez (728 feet) and Viñet (689 feet). The Culebrinas River is its only river, separating Aguadilla from Aguada. Cedro Creek separates Aguadilla from Isabela in the north.

Barrios: Aguadilla's Neighborhoods

Barrios of Aguadilla.

Like all towns in Puerto Rico, Aguadilla is divided into barrios (neighborhoods). The main government buildings and the big Catholic church are in the downtown area, called Aguadilla Pueblo.

Sectors: Smaller Areas

A structure used for flood control in Sector La Via, a Special Community in Aguadilla.

Barrios are further divided into smaller areas called sectores. These can be called urbanización, reparto, or barriada.

Special Communities

Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are neighborhoods where people face challenges. In Aguadilla, these include El Palmar, Cerro Calero, Cerro Visbal, Cuesta Vieja, La Vía, and Poblado San Antonio.

Ocean Temperature

How Aguadilla Makes Money: Economy

An entrance to Aguadilla Mall.

Aguadilla has many factories that make things like medicine and electronics. Some big companies here are LifeScan, Honeywell, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. These are mostly in the San Antonio Technological Park. Lufthansa Technik is at the airport. Other companies like Suiza Dairy and Lockheed Martin are in the Camaseyes Industrial Park. Aguadilla also has industries that work with rubber, plastics, leather, and food.

Shopping is also a big part of Aguadilla's economy. There are several shopping malls like Aguadilla Mall and Aguadilla Town Center.

"Pintalto" project in Cerro Cabrera.

In 2018, Suiza Dairy, a milk company, opened a new plant in Aguadilla. This plant cost $40 million and is expected to make a lot of money over the years.

In 2019, Aguadilla won the City Livability Award. This award recognized the "Pintalto" project. In this project, the Cerro Cabrero area in downtown Aguadilla was painted with bright, lively colors.

Fun Things to Do: Tourism

Schoolyards Beach, a surf spot in Aguadilla.

Aguadilla is part of the Porta del Sol tourist area in Puerto Rico. The Porta del Sol website says Aguadilla's beaches are great for surfing.

The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources says Aguadilla has the most beaches on the island, with 19 in total. Some beaches are known as the best for surfing, like Surfer's Beach, Gas Chambers, and Crash Boat. Because of this, Aguadilla has hosted surfing competitions.

Other fun places to visit are Las Cascadas Water Park and the Aguadilla Ice Skating Arena. The ice skating arena is the only one in the Caribbean.

Cool Places to See: Landmarks and Places of Interest

There are nine places in Aguadilla that are listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.

• Old Urban Cemetery
• Casa de Piedra
• District Courthouse (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico)
• El Parterre, Ojo de Agua
• Punta Borinquen Light
• Fuerte de la Concepción
• Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo – Church San Carlos Borromeo
• Cardona Residence
• López Residence

Other interesting places in Aguadilla include:

To encourage local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company started the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign in 2021. The Aguadilla page in their passport book lists Crash Boat Beach, Survival Beach, Rompeolas Beach, and Peña Blanca Beach as places to visit.

Beautiful Beaches

View from Rompeolas Bar and Grill, at Rompeolas Beach in Aguadilla.

Aguadilla has 32 beaches. Some of the most famous ones are:

• Balneario Municipal de Aguadilla
• Playa La Ruina (also called Wilderness Beach or Las Ruinas)
• Playa Punta Borinquen
• Crash Boat Beach
• Survival Beach
• Surfer's Beach
• Rompeolas Beach / Rompeolas Beach North (also known as Playa Tamarindo)

Culture and Fun

Festivals and Events

Aguadilla celebrates its patron saint festival in October. The Fiestas Patronales de San Carlos Borromeo is a religious and cultural celebration. It usually has parades, games, local crafts, rides, food, and live music.

Other festivals and events in Aguadilla include:

• Velorio de Reyes – Celebrated in January, it's a religious ceremony to thank the Three Kings.
• Kite Festival – Held in April, with kiosks, music, and kite flying.
• Fiestas San Antonio – April
• Verbena de Corrales – May
• Beach Festival – June
• Festival del Atún – A festival in July dedicated to tuna fishing.
• Festival de la Música – July

Sports Teams

Aguadilla has several sports teams. The Aguadilla Divas play volleyball in the Female Superior Volleyball League. The Aguadilla Sharks play baseball in the Superior Baseball League. The Divas play at the Luis T. Díaz Coliseum, and the Sharks play at Luis A. Canena Márquez Stadium.

Aguadilla also used to have a professional basketball team called the Aguadilla Sharks. Many famous baseball players come from Aguadilla.

Staying Connected: Communication

Radio Stations

• WABA La Grande 850AM
• WWNA Radio Una 1340AM
• WVOZ WAPA Radio frequency 1580AM

Television Channels

• WOLE-TV 12
• WELU (religious broadcasts)
• WSJP-LD CW 18 (a CW Television Network station)

Who Lives Here? Demographics

In 1887, Aguadilla had 16,140 people. The 2010 US Census showed 60,949 people living in the city. By 2020, the population was 55,101.

Most people in Puerto Rico are of Spanish or European descent. In Aguadilla, about 83.6% of people identify as having Spanish or white origin. There are also people of black, Amerindian, Asian, and other backgrounds.

Religion

Most people in Aguadilla are Christian, mainly Roman Catholic. The Catholic church is in the main square downtown. There are also many Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants, including Pentecostals and Adventists.

Aguadilla also has an Islamic community with an Islamic Center in the Palmar neighborhood.

City Symbols

Aguadilla has an official flag and a coat of arms.

Flag

The flag has two equal horizontal stripes. The top stripe is blue, and the bottom stripe is gold. These colors are also found in the city's shield, which is in the middle of the flag.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms was designed by Alberto Vadi. It was approved by the city in 1972.

Learning in Aguadilla: Education

Public Schools

The Puerto Rico Department of Education manages public schools. Aguadilla has the Head Start Program for several nearby towns. It also has many private schools.

Here are some public schools in Aguadilla (as of 2018-2019):

• Ana M. Javariz (elementary, K-6)
• Antonio Badillo Hernández (elementary, K-6)
• Homero Rivera Sola (elementary, K-6)
• José de Diego (elementary, K-6)
• Luis Muñoz Rivera (elementary, K-6)
• Antonio Badillo Hernandez (middle school, 7-9)
• Ester Feliciano Mendoza (middle school, 6-8)
• Benito Cerezo Vázquez (high school, 10-12)
• Juan Suárez Pelegrina (high school, 10-12)
• Salvador Fuentes (high school, 10-12)
• Centro de Adiestramiento y Bellas Artes (CABA) – a public arts school (7-12)
• Su Conchita Igartua de Suárez (elementary, PreK-8)

Higher Education

Aguadilla is home to several universities and colleges:

• Puerto Rico Aviation Maintenance Institute
• Aeronautical and Aerospace Institute of Puerto Rico (AAIPR)
• University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla
• Metropolitan University, Aguadilla Campus
• Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Campus
• Automeca Technical College
• Puerto Rico Criminal Justice College, Aguadilla Campus (Puerto Rico Police Academy)

Libraries

There is a digital library in San Antonio Village and another in downtown Aguadilla.

Getting Around: Transportation

Rafael Hernández International Airport – View of the Passenger Terminal.

Air Travel

Rafael Hernández Airport is in Aguadilla. It has become an important international airport for Puerto Rico, with flights to the US.

Roads

PR-2 (Rafael Henández Highway) is a major road. There are plans for a new expressway that will connect to Puerto Rico Highway 22.

Aguadilla has 13 bridges.

Notable people from Aguadilla

Images for kids

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  Near Schoolyards Beach

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  Aguadilla City Hall

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  Banyan Treehouse

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  Campanitas de Cristal Fountain

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  Roman Catholic Parish Church San Carlos Borromeo

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  Columbus Cross

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  El Merendero

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  El Parterre

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  Fisherman's Monument

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  Jardín del Atlántico Sq.

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  Paseo Miguel García Méndez

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  Punta Borinquen Golf Course

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  Punta Borinquen Lighthouse

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  Punta Borinquen Lighthouse Ruins

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  Rafael Hernández Monument

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  Old Courthouse

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  Boardwalk

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  Crash Boat Beach

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  Cerro Echevarría Sector, Aguadilla barrio-pueblo

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  Aguadilla Ice Skating Arena

See Also

In Spanish: Aguadilla para niños