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Comerío, Puerto Rico facts for kids

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Comerío

Municipio Autónomo de Comerío
View of Comerío from Lazos Hill
View of Comerío from Lazos Hill
Flag of Comerío
Flag
Coat of arms of Comerío
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
"La Perla de Plata", "Pueblo de los Guabaleros"
Anthem: "Con alma henchida de amor y ensueño"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Comerío Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Comerío Municipality
Sovereign state  United States
Commonwealth  Puerto Rico
Settled late 18th century
Founded June 12, 1826
Founded by Don José Díaz
Barrios
Area
 • Total 28.24 sq mi (73.13 km2)
 • Land 28 sq mi (73 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (.13 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 18,883
 • Rank 61st in Puerto Rico
 • Density 668.76/sq mi (258.211/km2)
Demonym(s) Comerieños
Time zone UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00782
Area code(s) 787/939
Major routes PR secondary 156.svg PR secondary 167.svg PR secondary 172.svg PR secondary 779.svg

Comerío is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico. It is located in the center-eastern part of the island. The town is north of Aibonito and south of Naranjito and Bayamón. It is also east of Barranquitas and west of Cidra and Aguas Buenas. Comerío is part of the larger San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History of Comerío

Comerio to Barranquitas Road, Puerto Rico
Comerío to Barranquitas Road around 1900–1917

Comerío was officially founded on June 12, 1826. Its first name was Sabana del Palmar. Later, it was changed to Comerío.

In 1854, about 1,000 acres of land were used for farming. By 1894, Comerío had one sugar plantation and two coffee plantations. In the early 1900s, people from Comerío had a short, famous "territory war" with people from Barranquitas.

Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States after the Spanish–American War in 1898. In 1899, a census showed that 8,249 people lived in Comerío.

Hurricane Maria's Impact

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria caused many landslides in Comerío. The river flooded the center of the town. A week later, the hospital ran out of fuel for its generator. Landslides made it almost impossible to get supplies in or out.

Over 4,000 homes were damaged, and 1,537 were completely destroyed. The Ohio National Guard helped restore water systems. Two months after the hurricane, the mayor said no one had arrived to restore electricity. Doctors from New York also volunteered to help the town.

Geography of Comerío

The main rivers in Comerío are Río de la Plata and Río Hondo.

Barrios of Comerío

Comerío, Puerto Rico locator map
Subdivisions of Comerío.

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Comerío is divided into smaller areas called barrios. The town center, with its main buildings and church, is in a barrio called "el pueblo."

Sectors within Barrios

Barrios are further divided into even smaller areas called sectores (sectors). These can be different types, like urbanización (housing developments) or barriada (neighborhoods).

Special Communities

Some communities in Puerto Rico are called Comunidades Especiales (Special Communities). These are areas where people might need extra help and support. In 2014, some of these special communities in Comerío included Barriada Cielito, Sector Villa Brava, El 26, El Higüero, El Verde, La Juncia, La Pietra Cedrito, Río Hondo, and Vuelta del Dos.

Tourism in Comerío

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has a program called Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring"). It helps people explore local places. Comerío has several interesting spots for visitors.

Landmarks and Places to Visit

Some famous places in Comerío include:

  • La Tiza Peak
  • La Mora Caves
  • La Plata River
  • Las Bocas Canyon
  • Las Pailas
  • Los Pilones
  • Media Luna Recreation Park
  • Tobacco Warehouse
  • The main town square
  • El Salto Hydroelectric Dams 1 and 2

Economy of Comerío

Agriculture

Comerío was once known as "El Pueblo del Tabaco" (Tobacco Town). Tobacco farming was a very important part of its economy for many years.

Culture in Comerío

Festivals and Events

Comerío celebrates its patron saint festival in August. This event is called Fiestas Patronales Santo Cristo de la Salud. It is a religious and cultural celebration with parades, games, local crafts, rides, food, and live music.

Other fun festivals and events in Comerío include:

  • Spring Carnival – April
  • La Mora Cave Festival – June 1, 2, 3
  • Jíbaro Festival – June
  • El Jobo Festival – July
  • San Andrés Apóstol Festivities – November
  • El Seco Marathon – December
  • Christmas Fantasy – December

Religion

The first Methodist Church in Comerío was established in 1904.

Population of Comerío

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 8,249
1910 11,170 35.4%
1920 14,708 31.7%
1930 16,715 13.6%
1940 18,539 10.9%
1950 17,966 −3.1%
1960 18,583 3.4%
1970 18,819 1.3%
1980 18,212 −3.2%
1990 20,265 11.3%
2000 20,002 −1.3%
2010 20,778 3.9%
2020 18,883 −9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1899 (shown as 1900) 1910–1930
1930–1950 1960–2000 2010 2020

Symbols of Comerío

The municipality of Comerío has its own official flag and coat of arms.

Flag of Comerío

The flag is divided into four sections, with green and white colors. In the top right section, there is a yellow cross with an anchor.

Coat of Arms of Comerío

The coat of arms has four parts and a shield in the middle.

  • The top left part has a green background with a golden cross. This represents the Holy Christ the Healer, who is the town's patron saint.
  • The bottom left part has green stripes on a silver background. This symbolizes the Comerío waterfalls and the La Plata River.
  • The top right part shows three royal palms. These remind us of the town's original name, Sabana del Palmar.
  • An wavy line represents the mist that often covers the town.
  • A crown with Taino designs sits at the top. This represents the cacique (chief) of the Taino people.
  • A tobacco plant is also shown, reminding us of the town's history with tobacco farming.
  • The words "the pearl of La Plata" are written, referring to Comerío's location by the La Plata River.
  • A castle with turrets (small towers) is a symbol used by municipalities in Puerto Rico.

Transportation in Comerío

You can travel to Comerío by public bus from Bayamón. This is the main way to get there using public transport. There are also 16 bridges in Comerío.

Famous People from Comerío

  • Manuel A. Pérez (1890–1951) – A well-known professor.
  • Enrique Pérez Santiago – A doctor who specializes in blood (hematologist).
  • Lalah (born 2001) – A singer and songwriter.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Comerío para niños

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