Barranquitas barrio-pueblo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barranquitas barrio-pueblo
Pueblo de Barranquitas
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Municipality Seat
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View of Barranquitas Pueblo from PR-152. (2013)
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Location of Barranquitas barrio-pueblo within the municipality of Barranquitas shown in red
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 Barranquitas barrio-pueblo
Location in Caribbean
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| Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico |
| Municipality |  Barranquitas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.77 sq mi (2.0 km2) |
| • Land | 0.77 sq mi (2.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,129 ft (649 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,695 |
| • Density | 1,507.8/sq mi (582.2/km2) |
| Source: 2010 Census | |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) |
Barranquitas barrio-pueblo is a special part of Barranquitas, a town in Puerto Rico. It's like the main downtown area or the heart of the town. This is where the local government buildings are, and it's often called the "seat" of the municipality. In 2010, about 2,695 people lived here.
In Puerto Rico, it's common for towns to have a "barrio-pueblo." This area usually includes a main square, the town hall, and a Catholic church. Every year, special celebrations called Fiestas patronales (patron saint festivals) are held in the central square.
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The Central Plaza and Its Church
The main square, also known as the central plaza, is a lively spot. People gather here for fun events and to socialize from morning until night. Long ago, Spanish laws called the Laws of the Indies guided how towns in Puerto Rico were built. These laws said the plaza should be big enough for celebrations and for all the people living nearby. They also suggested that nearby streets should have comfortable walkways to protect people from the sun and rain. The central plaza in Barranquitas is named Plaza de recreo Monseñor Miguel Mendoza.
Right across from the central plaza in Barranquitas barrio-pueblo is the Parroquia San Antonio de Padua (Saint Anthony of Padua Parish). There was a small chapel here as early as 1792. The church building in Barranquitas has been rebuilt three times because of strong hurricanes.
The first church was built between 1804 and 1809 but was destroyed in 1825 by Hurricane Santa Ana. The second and third churches were also ruined by powerful storms: the 1876 San Felipe hurricane and Hurricane San Felipe Segundo in 1928. The church you see today was officially opened in 1933 and was updated in 1980.
History of Barranquitas Barrio-Pueblo
After the Spanish–American War, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States. This happened under the Treaty of Paris of 1898. In 1899, the United States government counted the population of Puerto Rico. They found that 666 people lived in Barranquitas barrio-pueblo at that time.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 666 | — | |
| 1950 | 4,268 | — | |
| 1980 | 3,618 | — | |
| 1990 | 2,786 | −23.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,910 | 4.5% | |
| 2010 | 2,695 | −7.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910–1930 1930–1950 1980–2000 2010 |
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More recently, in July 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided money to help repair Barranquitas' main plaza.
What to See and Do
One interesting place in Barranquitas barrio-pueblo is El Cortijo. For many years, it was known as El Castillo, which means "The Castle." It's a historic building in the area.
Every July, Barranquitas barrio-pueblo hosts an annual art festival. This festival brings together artists and visitors to celebrate art. In 2013, the festival celebrated its 52nd year!
Gallery
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Annual art festival in Barranquitas barrio-pueblo
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Barranquita's main plaza and church. (2013)
See also
In Spanish: Barranquitas (Barranquitas) para niños
- List of communities in Puerto Rico
