Fajardo barrio-pueblo Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Fajardo barrio-pueblo Pueblo de Fajardo
Municipality Seat
Catedral Santiago Apóstol
Location of Fajardo barrio-pueblo within the municipality of Fajardo shown in red
Fajardo barrio-pueblo Location in Caribbean
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	Fajardo
Area
• Total	3.23 sq mi (8.4 km²)
• Land	2.84 sq mi (7.4 km²)
• Water	0.39 sq mi (1.0 km²)
Elevation	33 ft (10 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	13,709
• Density	4,827.1/sq mi (1,863.8/km²)
	Source: 2010 Census
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code	00738

Fajardo barrio-pueblo is a special part of Fajardo. It's like the main town center or "downtown" for the whole Fajardo area. In 2010, about 13,709 people lived here.

In Puerto Rico, just like in Spain long ago, each town has a special area called a pueblo. This pueblo usually has a main square, important government buildings like the city hall, and a Catholic church. Every year, fun festivals are held in this main square to honor the town's patron saint.

History of Fajardo's Town Center
- How Fajardo Became Part of the U.S.
- Population Changes Over Time
The Heart of the Town: Plaza and Church
- The Central Plaza: A Place for Everyone
- Catedral Santiago Apóstol: A Historic Church
Gallery
See also

History of Fajardo's Town Center

How Fajardo Became Part of the U.S.

After the Spanish–American War, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the United States. This happened under an agreement called the Treaty of Paris of 1898. Because of this, Puerto Rico became an unincorporated territory of the United States. This means it's a U.S. territory but doesn't have all the same rights as a U.S. state.

Population Changes Over Time

In 1899, the U.S. government counted the people living in Puerto Rico. They found that 3,414 people lived in Fajardo Pueblo. The population has changed quite a bit over the years.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	3,414	—
1910	6,086	78.3%
1920	6,571	8.0%
1930	7,322	11.4%
1940	7,108	−2.9%
1950	15,336	115.8%
1980	16,403	—
1990	18,276	11.4%
2000	17,864	−2.3%
2010	13,709	−23.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1980-2000 2010

The Heart of the Town: Plaza and Church

The Central Plaza: A Place for Everyone

The central plaza, or town square, is a very important spot in Fajardo barrio-pueblo. It's where people gather for fun events, celebrations, or just to hang out and chat 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 "a good place for parties" (Spanish: a propósito para las fiestas). They also said the plaza should be big enough for all the people living nearby.

The laws also made sure that the streets around the plaza had covered walkways. These walkways were important because they protected people from the sun and rain as they walked by.

Catedral Santiago Apóstol: A Historic Church

The beautiful Catedral Santiago Apóstol is right in Fajardo barrio-pueblo. The church community started in 1766, and the first church building was finished in 1776. Sadly, an earthquake destroyed it in 1867.

But people didn't give up! They started building the current church just two years later. They even used some of the old side walls and floor tiles from the first church. This church became a cathedral on March 11, 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI created the Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao. It is now listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, meaning it's a very important historical site.