Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Boquerón

Barrio

Marina in Boquerón

Flag

Seal

Location of Boquerón within the municipality of Cabo Rojo shown in red

Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

Location in Caribbean

Area

• Total

15.88 sq mi (41.1 km²)

• Land

12.50 sq mi (32.4 km²)

• Water

3.38 sq mi (8.8 km²)

Elevation

144 ft (44 m)

Population

(2010)

• Total

5,373

• Density

516.4/sq mi (199.4/km²)

Source: 2010 Census

Time zone

UTC−4 (AST)

Boquerón is a special place, like a neighborhood or barrio, in the town of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. In 2010, about 5,373 people lived there. The small village of Boquerón, located right on Boquerón Bay, is a very popular spot for tourists visiting the southwest part of the island.

History
- A Look Back in Time
- Local Legends and Nicknames
Features
Gallery
See also

History

A Look Back in Time

Boquerón was part of Spain's maps and records for a long time. But after the Spanish–American War in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States. This happened because of the Treaty of Paris of 1898.

In 1899, the United States government counted the people in Puerto Rico. They found that 1,185 people lived in Boquerón.

Local Legends and Nicknames

People from the El Combate community in Boquerón are known by a fun nickname: mata con hacha. This means "those who kill with axes." This name comes from an old folk tale. The story says that people from Cabo Rojo fought with axes over the salinas (salt flats) against people from the nearby town of Lajas. The people from Lajas supposedly fought back by throwing stones, so they are called tira piedras ("those who throw stones").

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	1,185	—
1910	1,931	63.0%
1920	2,434	26.0%
1930	2,682	10.2%
1940	3,447	28.5%
1950	2,778	−19.4%
1960	2,580	−7.1%
1970	2,790	8.1%
1980	3,675	31.7%
1990	4,251	15.7%
2000	4,963	16.7%
2010	5,373	8.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1980-2000 2010

Features

Nature and Wildlife

Boquerón is home to a village called El Poblado de Boquerón and two important national wildlife refuges. The Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge is a safe home for many native bird species. This includes the endangered yellow-shouldered blackbird, also known as mariquita de Puerto Rico. The Boquerón State Forest is another important natural area. It is one of seven state forests managed by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

Pirate Treasure Tales

According to local stories, the famous Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí would share some of his treasure with his family and friends. What was left, he would hide in a cave. This cave was said to be in "Barrio Pedernales," just north of Boquerón Bay. Even though people have looked for many years, no one has ever found any treasure in the cave.

El Poblado: Food and Fun

The downtown area of Boquerón is known as El Poblado. It is famous for its delicious food and lively evenings. You can find many restaurants there that offer local, international, and mixed dishes. These restaurants often feature amazing seafood, which Cabo Rojo is well-known for.

El Poblado also has many different kinds of places to relax. Some have pool tables, while others are small, cozy spots. Many offer a variety of flavored mojitos and other mixed drinks. On weekends, cars are not allowed in the center of El Poblado. This means that outdoor karaoke often spills out into the streets, making it a fun place to be. There is also a special type of countryside inn, called a parador, in Poblado.

Boquerón Beach

Boquerón beach, known as Balneario de Boquerón, is a public beach and resort. The Puerto Rican government manages it. It is considered one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, similar to Luquillo Beach. The beach has even received a special award called "Blue Flag Beach" status. This award is given by the Foundation for Environmental Education for clean and well-managed beaches.