Las Piedras, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Las Piedras Municipio de Las Piedras
Town and Municipality
View from Collores, Las Piedras
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  "La Ciudad de los Artesanos"
Anthem: "Somos de la Ribera"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Las Piedras Municipality
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Founded	1793
Barrios	8 barrios Boquerón Ceiba Collores El Río Las Piedras barrio-pueblo Montones Quebrada Arenas Tejas
Area
• Total	33.89 sq mi (87.8 km2)
• Land	33.88 sq mi (87.7 km2)
• Water	.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	35,180
• Density	1,038.06/sq mi (400.80/km2)
Demonym(s)	Pedreños
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
ZIP Code	00771
Area code(s)	787/939
Major routes

Las Piedras is a town and municipality in east Puerto Rico (U.S.) located in the central eastern region of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Canóvanas and Río Grande; east of Juncos and San Lorenzo; and west of Naguabo and Humacao. Las Piedras is spread over 7 barrios and Las Piedras Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Las Piedras has many natural attractions such as Cueva del Indio which contains original Taino caves and paintings that denote some characteristics of the island's natives. Las Piedras is located about 45 minutes from San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital and 5 minutes from Palmas del Mar, Humacao which is one of the biggest resorts in the Caribbean.

El Toro, the highest point in the Sierra de Luquillo, is located in the boundary between the municipalities of Las Piedras and Río Grande.

History

Las Piedras was founded in 1801.

Cityscape

Barrios

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

• La Cueva del Indio (Indian Cavern)
• Monte del Retiro (Settlement)
• Artesanial Walk
• Francisco Negrón Park
• Las Piedras Historic Museum
• Panoramic Route 917

Culture

Festivals and events

• Güiro Festival - March
• Typical (Folk) Cultural Festival - April
• Festivities of the Cross- May
• Youth Festivities - July
• Typical (Folk) Festival - September
• Pork Festival - November
• Patron Saints Festivities - December

Symbols

Shield

Flag

The flag of Las Piedras has three horizontal stripes of equal width, the stripe at the top is colored white, the center stripe is colored green and the bottom stripe is colored blue. In the middle of the flag rests an image of the Taíno sun in yellow.

Coat of Arms

In a silver field resides a blue monogram of the Holy Virgin, topped by a blue crown. Seven silver stones border the silver field and at the tip of the shield resides the Taíno sun in gold denominated as the "Sun of Las Piedras".

Notable natives

• Angel López - Singer from the acclaimed and famous worldwide group, Son By Four.
• Luis “El Artesano" Cruz - Professional Boxer.
• Yariel Morales Rivera - Mr. Puerto Rico 2015. Professional model and the only Mr. Puerto Rico (in history) from Las Piedras.
• Margaro Rivera Guzmán-Scholar, attorney and prominent businessman
• Modesto Castro Dávila - Las Piedras Mayor (1980-1984).
• Rafi Jimenez - Broadcaster
• Juan Velázquez- Farmer and political activist
• Elwood Cruz - Reporter
• Juan Manuel Lebron - Comedian
• Sotero Gómez Hernández- Puerto Rico House Representative
• Silvia Ricardo - Judge
• Carmen Benítez - Notable teacher
• Celia Mondríguez: elderly people rights advocacy
• Modesto Velázquez Flores - Prosecutor
• José R. Camacho - Broadcaster.
• Eugenio López - Rancher, Boxer.
• Zenón Hernández - Writer, poet.
• Francisco Negrón Díaz - Sport and businessman.
• Miguel Loíz - Teacher, Senator for Humacao district Puerto Rico.
• Miguel Hernández Agosto - Puerto Rico Senate President (1988-1992).
• Víctor Santana Pérez - Teacher, historian, writer and planner of Monte del Retiro.
• Tomas Diaz - Clay Artisan.
• Cano Diaz - Creator of the now famous "Stringed Hammocs".
• Wilfredo Ramos Vázquez-Attorney, philosopher, poverty rights advocacy, public defender, Artificial Intelligence researcher
• Juan Rosa Martínez: first elected mayor of Las Piedras, businessman and sindicalist
• Nicky Cruz-evangelist, reformed gang leader, author of bestselling book, "Run Baby Run". David Wilkerson based his best selling book "The Cross and the Switchblade" in part in Nicky's life

Economy

Industry

• Manufacturing: computers and pharmaceutical.

Demographics

Transportation

There are 24 bridges in Las Piedras.

Notable natives

• Angel López - Singer from the acclaimed and famous worldwide group, Son By Four.
• Luis “El Artesano" Cruz - Professional Boxer.
• Yariel Morales Rivera - Mr. Puerto Rico 2015. Professional model and the only Mr. Puerto Rico (in history) from Las Piedras.
• Margaro Rivera Guzmán-Scholar, attorney and prominent businessman
• Modesto Castro Dávila - Las Piedras Mayor (1980-1984).
• Rafi Jimenez - Broadcaster
• Juan Velázquez- Farmer and political activist
• Elwood Cruz - Reporter
• Juan Manuel Lebrón - Comedian
• Sotero Gómez Hernández- Puerto Rico House Representative
• Silvia Ricardo - Judge
• Carmen Benítez - Notable teacher
• Celia Mondríguez: elderly people rights advocacy
• Isabelo Rivera - Adjutant general of the Puerto Rico National Guard
• Modesto Velázquez Flores - Prosecutor
• José R. Camacho - Broadcaster.
• Eugenio López - Rancher, Boxer.
• Zenón Hernández - Writer, poet.
• Francisco Negrón Díaz - Sport and businessman.
• Miguel Loíz - Teacher, Senator for Humacao district Puerto Rico.
• Miguel Hernández Agosto - Puerto Rico Senate President (1988-1992).
• Víctor Santana Pérez - Teacher, historian, writer and planner of Monte del Retiro.
• Tomas Diaz - Clay Artisan.
• Cano Diaz - Creator of the now famous "Stringed Hammocs".
• Wilfredo Ramos Vázquez-Attorney, philosopher, poverty rights advocacy, public defender, Artificial Intelligence researcher
• Juan Rosa Martínez: first elected mayor of Las Piedras, businessman and sindicalist
• Nicky Cruz-evangelist, reformed gang leader, author of bestselling book, "Run Baby Run". David Wilkerson based his best selling book "The Cross and the Switchblade" in part in Nicky's life

See also

In Spanish: Las Piedras (Puerto Rico) para niños