Fajardo, Puerto Rico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fajardo
Municipio Autónomo de Fajardo
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Town and Municipality
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Aerial view of Fajardo's basin
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| Nicknames:
"Los Cariduros", "La Metrópolis del Sol Naciente"
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| Anthem: "Fajardo que aquí en el oriente" | |||
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Fajardo Municipality
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| Sovereign state |  United States |
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| Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico |
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| Settled | early 16th century | ||
| Founded | October 26, 1772 | ||
| Founded by | Santiago de Mexía | ||
| Barrios | |||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 60.41 sq mi (156.45 km2) | ||
| • Land | 31 sq mi (81 km2) | ||
| • Water | 29.13 sq mi (75.45 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 32,124 | ||
| • Rank | 38th in Puerto Rico | ||
| • Density | 531.804/sq mi (205.331/km2) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Fajardeños | ||
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
00738, 00740
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| Area code(s) | 787/939 | ||
| Major routes |      |
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Fajardo is a town and a municipality in Puerto Rico. It is part of the larger San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo area.
Fajardo is a very popular spot for boating in Puerto Rico. Many people start their boat trips here to visit nearby islands like Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. It is also home to the biggest marina in the Caribbean, called Puerto del Rey. The town has many hotels and inns for visitors.
Near Fajardo, you can find several small islands. These include Icacos, Isla Palomino, Palominito, and Diablo. These are mostly uninhabited coral islands and barrier reefs.
Contents
History of Fajardo
Fajardo was founded a long time ago, around 1760 or 1772. It was first known as Santiago de Fajardo.
During the invasion of Puerto Rico by American troops, Fajardo was one of the places they used to land. On August 1, 1898, a ship called the USS Puritan sailed near Fajardo. Its captain, Frederic W. Rodgers, saw the Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan (Cape San Juan lighthouse). He sent some of his men ashore to raise the American flag on top of the lighthouse.
In 1824, a U.S. Navy officer named David Porter landed in Fajardo with 200 sailors and marines. He was upset because one of his men had been arrested. Porter threatened to attack Fajardo. Because he did this without permission from the U.S. government, he was later put on trial.
After the Spanish–American War, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the United States. This happened under the Treaty of Paris of 1898. In 1899, a count of the population showed that Fajardo had 16,782 people.
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico very hard. In Fajardo, the strong winds and heavy rain caused many landslides.
Geography and Nature
Fajardo is a coastal municipality, meaning it's on the ocean. It has several small islands nearby.
Some natural features include:
- Fajardo River
- Aguas Buenas Gorge, Fajardo Gorge, Juan Diego Gorge, and Mata Redonda Gorge (these are narrow valleys with streams)
- Aguas Prietas and Grande lagoons (lakes)
Fajardo's Barrios
Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Fajardo is divided into smaller areas called barrios. The main town area, with its government buildings, central square, and large Catholic church, is called "el pueblo".
Here are the nine barrios of Fajardo:
- Cabezas (also known as Las Croabas)
- Demajagua
- Fajardo barrio-pueblo
- Florencio
- Naranjo
- Quebrada Fajardo
- Quebrada Vueltas
- Río Arriba
- Sardinera
Smaller Areas (Sectors)
Barrios are further divided into even smaller areas called sectores (which means sectors in English). These can be different types of neighborhoods, like urbanización or residencial.
Special Communities Program
Some communities in Puerto Rico are part of a program called Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico). These are areas that receive special attention for community development. In 2014, some of these communities in Fajardo included Obrera, Roosevelt, Mansión del Sapo, Maternillo, Media Luna, Sector Camacho, Vevé Calzada, and Vieques en el Aire.
Fun Things to Do in Fajardo (Tourism)
Fajardo is a popular place for tourists, especially people from Puerto Rico. They come for the delicious seafood, the hotels, and its closeness to beautiful small islands like Palomino, Icacos, and Palominito. Many daily boat trips leave from Fajardo to Vieques and Culebra.
Fajardo has 46 beaches. The water at Fajardo's beaches is usually calm and clear, which is perfect for snorkeling. Seven Seas Beach is a great spot for water sports, sailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Fajardo is also home to one of the few Bioluminescent Lagoons in the world. This means the water glows at night! Local companies offer kayak tours at night to see this amazing natural light show.
Landmarks and Places to Visit
- Las Cabezas de San Juan Light House - This is one of the oldest lighthouses in Puerto Rico. It's the only one on the island still used to guide ships.
- Laguna Grande - This is the amazing Bioluminescent Bay where the water glows at night. You can take night kayaking tours here.
- Puerto del Rey Marina - This is the biggest marina in the Caribbean.
- U.S. Customs House - Built in 1930, it's still used by U.S. Customs today.
- Santiago Apostol Cathedral - A beautiful church.
- El Conquistador Resort - A large resort with over 700 rooms. It has its own private island (Palomino Island) and a water park.
- Seven Seas Beach - This beach has a "Blue Flag" award, which means it's very clean and safe.
- Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve - This reserve is home to mangrove trees and the famous lighthouse.
- Fajardo Port - This port is used by locals and tourists to visit the island municipalities of Vieques and Culebra.
- The main town square - A charming square in the downtown area.
- Icacos, Palomino, and Palominito Cays (small islands).
Economy
Fajardo has different industries. Companies here make electrical parts, metal products, and furniture. There are also companies that make medicines and biological products.
Because Fajardo has good ports and is close to smaller islands, it is also known for its fishing industry.
Culture and Fun Events
Festivals and Events
Fajardo celebrates its patron saint festival in July. This is a religious and cultural celebration called Fiestas Patronales de Santiago Apostol. It usually includes parades, games, local crafts, amusement rides, regional food, and live music. Famous artists like Tito Nieves and Johnny Ventura have performed here.
Other fun festivals and events in Fajardo include:
- Bicycletada Fajardeña - April
- Kite Festival - April
- Kelly Cup Sailboat Regata - April
- Bomba & Plena Festival - May
- Paradise Fiesta - August
- Cocolía Festival - November
Sports
Fajardo has a special stadium for soccer called Fajardo Soccer Stadium. It cost $3.9 million to build and opened in 2015. It is the home field for the Puerto Rico Sol soccer team.
Fajardo also used to have a professional basketball team called the Fajardo Cariduros. Famous players like George Torres and Mario Morales played for them. The team returned to the BSN league in 2007.
Fajardo also has a strong amateur baseball team, Los Cariduros de Fajardo. They have won many championships and were national champions in 1954, 2004, and 2010.
Population of Fajardo
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 16,782 | — | |
| 1910 | 21,135 | 25.9% | |
| 1920 | 14,302 | −32.3% | |
| 1930 | 16,321 | 14.1% | |
| 1940 | 20,405 | 25.0% | |
| 1950 | 22,116 | 8.4% | |
| 1960 | 18,321 | −17.2% | |
| 1970 | 23,032 | 25.7% | |
| 1980 | 32,087 | 39.3% | |
| 1990 | 36,882 | 14.9% | |
| 2000 | 40,712 | 10.4% | |
| 2010 | 36,993 | −9.1% | |
| 2020 | 32,124 | −13.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1960-2000 2010 2020 |
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| Ethnicity - Fajardo, Puerto Rico - 2010 Census | ||
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| Ethnicity | Population | % of Total |
| European | 23,964 | 64.8% |
| African | 6,864 | 18.6% |
| Native American and Alaska Native | 258 | 0.7% |
| Asian | 73 | 0.3% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.0% |
| Some other ethnicity | 3,822 | 10.3% |
| Two or more ethnicities | 1,986 | 5.4% |
In 2000, about 13.76% of the people in Fajardo spoke English as their first language.
Transportation
Fajardo has 20 bridges.
The Diego Jiménez Torres Airport used to be Fajardo's airport. It had commercial flights, but it closed permanently in 2015.
Symbols of Fajardo
The municipality of Fajardo has an official flag and a coat of arms.
Flag
Fajardo's flag has three colored bands. The top band is red, which stands for the color of the shield's border. The middle band is white, representing the main parts of the shield and the crown. The bottom band is blue, showing the color of the sky and the sea in Fajardo. In the middle of the flag is the town's coat of arms.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms is shaped like a square with a rounded bottom. On top, it has a crown with three towers. Two dolphins support the shield, and below it is a banner that says “Santiago de Fajardo”.
Famous People from Fajardo
- Félix "Tito" Trinidad - A famous boxer.
- Hermanos Ávila Esperanza - Six military brothers (Andrés, Pedro, Norberto, Justino, Guillermo, and Tomás) who were honored for their brave service in the Korean and Vietnam wars. A street in Fajardo is named after them.
- Roberto Angleró - A music composer and singer.
- Carlos Arroyo - A basketball player.
- Antonio R. Barceló - A politician and the first President of the Puerto Rico Senate.
- Norma Candal - A comedian.
- Ivonne Coll - An actress.
- Dr. Antonia Coello de Novelo - She was the former Surgeon General of the United States.
- Marquita Rivera - The first actress from Puerto Rico to be in a major Hollywood movie.
- Peter John Ramos - A basketball player.
- Ashley Cariño - Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022.
Images for kids
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Condos on Isleta Marina, a private island of Fajardo
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Paved walkway and building in Fajardo
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Beach in Fajardo
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Funicular at El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo
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Pier at Cabezas
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Las Croabas
See also
In Spanish: Fajardo para niños
