Algarrobos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Algarrobos
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Barrio
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Location of Algarrobos within the municipality of Mayagüez shown in red
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 Algarrobos
Location in Caribbean
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| Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico |
| Municipality |  Mayagüez |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.43 sq mi (6.3 km2) |
| • Land | 1.66 sq mi (4.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.77 sq mi (2.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 4,383 |
| • Density | 2,640.4/sq mi (1,019.5/km2) |
| Source: 2010 Census | |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) |
Algarrobos is a small area, called a barrio, located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. In 2010, about 4,383 people lived there.
Contents
What is Algarrobos?
Algarrobos is a coastal area, meaning it's right by the sea. It's also a rural place, which means it has more open land than a big city. The name "Algarrobos" comes from a special tree called the Algarrobo tree.
The Algarrobo Tree
The Algarrobo tree is known for its shiny leaves. It has pretty purple and white flowers. This tree also grows a fruit called the carob bean. The carob bean is inside a pod that looks like a capsule. It has seeds covered by a part you can eat.
A Look at its Past
For a long time, Mayagüez was a good place for people to hide things. This was because it was far from where the authorities were. Algarrobos was important because it had a key entrance to a place called Castillo de los Valdés.
Old Forts and Battalions
In the 1700s and 1800s, there was a strong fort in Algarrobos called the Algarrobo Fort. Spanish soldiers were stationed there. One group was by the sea, and another was on the west side of a hill called Cerro de El Vigia. Later, in the mid-1900s, American soldiers were also located by the sea near a spot called Peña Cortada.
Becoming Part of the U.S.
After the Spanish–American War, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the United States. This happened under the Treaty of Paris of 1898. Puerto Rico then became an unincorporated territory of the United States. In 1899, the U.S. government counted the people in Puerto Rico. They found that 1,054 people lived in Algarrobos barrio at that time.
How People Make a Living
From 1962 to 1998, Algarrobos was a very important place for fishing. It was the main port and home to the biggest tuna factory in all of America. This factory helped many people find jobs and supported the local economy for many years.
See also
In Spanish: Algarrobos para niños
- List of communities in Puerto Rico
