Barranquitas, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barranquitas Municipio Autónomo de Barranquitas
Town and Municipality
Agricultural landscape in Quebradillas
Flag Coat of arms
Nicknames:  "La Cuna de Próceres", "Cuna Feria de Artesanías", "El Altar de la Patria", "El Pueblo de Luis Muñoz Rivera"
Anthem: "Aquí en el centro de nuestra tierra"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Barranquitas Municipality
Sovereign state	United States
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Settled	early 19th century
Founded	June 3, 1803
Founded by	Antonio Aponte Ramos
Barrios	8 barrios Barrancas Barranquitas barrio-pueblo Cañabón Helechal Honduras Palo Hincado Quebrada Grande Quebradillas
Area
• Total	33.21 sq mi (86.01 km2)
• Land	33 sq mi (86 km2)
• Water	0.004 sq mi (.01 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,938
• Rank	42nd in Puerto Rico
• Density	871.40/sq mi (336.449/km2)
Demonym(s)	Barranquiteños
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
ZIP Code	00794
Area code(s)	787/939
Major routes
Website	http://barranquitaspr.net/pueblo/

Barranquitas is a small mountain town and municipality located in the central region of Puerto Rico. It's nestled among hills and mountains, about an hour's drive from San Juan, the capital city. The town is known for its beautiful natural features, including deep canyons.

Barranquitas is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is divided into 6 main areas called barrios, plus the downtown area known as Barranquitas Pueblo.

History of Barranquitas

Comerío to Barranquitas Road, early 1900s

Barranquitas was founded in 1803 by Antonio Aponte Ramos. Long before that, the area was home to the Taino people, led by a chief named Orocobix.

In the early 1900s, people from Barranquitas and the nearby city of Comerío had a brief, friendly rivalry over their territories. In 1899, a census showed that Barranquitas had a population of 8,103 people.

Hurricane Maria's Impact

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria caused a lot of damage in Barranquitas. The strong winds and heavy rain led to many landslides. Roads were blocked by fallen trees, telephone poles, and damaged highways. This made it hard for help to reach residents for weeks.

Many homes were destroyed, and the town's agriculture was severely impacted. Farmers lost their crops, including plantain trees and other vegetables. For over a month after the hurricane, most residents did not have electricity.

Geography of Barranquitas

Barranquitas is a landlocked municipality, meaning it has no coastline. It is located in the middle of the Cordillera Central, which is the main mountain range in Puerto Rico. The area is mostly mountainous, with peaks like La Torrecilla and Farallón.

Barranquitas is also home to the impressive San Cristóbal Canyon and Las Bocas Canyon. These canyons are some of the deepest in the West Indies.

Rivers and Waterways

Several rivers flow through Barranquitas, including the Río de Barranquitas, Río Grande de Manatí, Piñonas, Río Hondo, and Río Usabón. There are also 14 bridges in the municipality.

Barrios of Barranquitas

Subdivisions of Barranquitas

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Barranquitas is divided into smaller areas called barrios. The main town area, with its municipal buildings and central square, is called Barranquitas Pueblo.

• Barrancas
• Barranquitas barrio-pueblo
• Cañabón
• Helechal
• Honduras
• Palo Hincado
• Quebrada Grande
• Quebradillas

Special Communities

Some areas in Barranquitas are part of the "Special Communities of Puerto Rico" program. These are communities that need extra support and resources. In Barranquitas, these include parts of Cañabón barrio, Quebrada Grande barrio, and several neighborhoods like El Amparo, La Vega, La Loma, La Torre, Los Pinos, and Tres Caminos.

Energy Initiatives

In 2019, Barranquitas joined an Energy Consortium with other nearby municipalities like Villalba, Orocovis, Morovis, and Ciales. This group works together to create strong and efficient energy systems. Their goal is to protect their communities and ensure power supply, especially during natural disasters.

Tourism and Landmarks

Barranquitas is a popular place for tourists, especially Puerto Ricans. It is the burial place of two important Puerto Rican leaders: Luis Muñoz Rivera, who was born in Barranquitas, and his son, Governor Luis Muñoz Marín.

Places to Visit

• Luis Muñoz Rivera's Birthplace: This house has been turned into a museum.
• Muñoz Rivera Family Mausoleum: The resting place of Luis Muñoz Rivera, his son Luis Muñoz Marín, and other family members.
• San Cristóbal Canyon and Las Bocas Canyon: Natural wonders offering stunning views.
• El Cortijo Castle: An old, historic building that now serves as a museum.
• Camp Morton (Campamento Morton): A popular spot for outdoor activities and retreats.

To encourage tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo (I'm Touring) campaign in 2021. The Barranquitas page in their passport book highlights the San Cristóbal Canyon, Plaza Bicentenaria, the Muñoz Rivera Family Museum, and the Artisans Fair.

Culture and Events

National Artisans Fair in the town's plaza in 2008

Barranquitas is known for its lively festivals and events.

Festivals and Events

• Patron Saint Festival: Celebrated in June, the Fiestas Patronales de San Antonio de Padua is a religious and cultural event. It features parades, games, local crafts, amusement rides, traditional food, and live entertainment.
• Apio Festival (Festival del Apio): Held in April or May, celebrating the local root vegetable.
• National Crafts Fair of Barranquitas: This fair has been celebrated for over 50 years and takes place in July. It showcases the work of local artisans.
• Viva Mi Calle Festival: Celebrated in November.
• Christmas Tree Lighting: An annual event in December to kick off the holiday season.

Sports in Barranquitas

Barranquitas does not have professional sports teams. However, it has popular amateur teams, especially in baseball and volleyball. The baseball team is called the "Proceres," a name that honors the many important historical figures born in the town.

Economy

Agriculture in Barranquitas

Tobacco growing in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico (1941)

Agriculture is an important part of Barranquitas's economy. Farmers grow various crops, including plantain, coffee, lemons, ají dulce (a sweet pepper), and yams. The main crop is apio, a root vegetable similar to a potato.

Local Industry

Barranquitas also has industries that produce footwear and clothing.

Population and Demographics

In 2020, the population of Barranquitas was 28,983. Almost all residents (99.9%) identify as Hispanic or Latino. Many people born in Barranquitas are known for having light-colored eyes and strong European features. Some also have a "mestizo" look, which means they have a mix of Taíno and European ancestry. This is because many Taíno people moved to the mountainous regions to escape slavery during Spanish colonization. Many Spanish and other European immigrants also settled here as coffee farmers, leading to intermarriage.

Symbols of Barranquitas

The municipality of Barranquitas has an official flag and a coat of arms, each with special meanings.

The Flag

The flag of Barranquitas has three horizontal stripes. The top stripe is white, representing the silver color found in the town's shield. The middle stripe is green, symbolizing the lush vegetation of the area. The bottom stripe is yellow, representing the gold color of the ravines in the San Cristóbal Canyon.

The Coat of Arms

The coat of arms features silver, a canyon, two ravines, gold slopes, a tree, gold leaves, a bell, and a crown. The ravines remind us of the San Cristóbal Canyon, which is located between Barranquitas and the neighboring municipality of Aibonito. The yagrumo trees are common in the high mountains of Puerto Rico and symbolize the elevated location of Barranquitas.

Education in Barranquitas

The Interamerican University of Puerto Rico has a campus in Barranquitas, offering higher education opportunities.

All public schools in Puerto Rico are managed by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Many schools in Barranquitas teach students about agriculture and how to grow crops, reflecting the town's strong farming traditions.

Images for kids

• 

  Returning home with water and food provided by FEMA on Oct. 17, 2017

• 

  Returning home with water

• 

  Elderly were especially vulnerable after Hurricane Maria left the island with no power

• 

  A resident on a horse after the hurricane

• 

  US Army transport vehicle carrying food and water provided by FEMA on Oct. 17, 2017

• 

  Volunteer distributing water after Hurricane Maria on Oct. 18, 2017

See also

In Spanish: Barranquitas para niños