Las Piedras, Puerto Rico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Las Piedras
Municipio de Las Piedras
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Town and Municipality
|
|||
.jpg)
View from Collores, Las Piedras
|
|||
|
|||
| Nickname(s):
"La Ciudad de los Artesanos"
|
|||
| Anthem: "Somos de la Ribera" | |||
|
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Las Piedras Municipality
|
|||
| Sovereign state |  United States |
||
| Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico |
||
| Settled | 1740 | ||
| Founded | May 15, 1801 | ||
| Founded by | José Tió | ||
| Barrios | |||
| 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 | 40,180 | ||
| • Rank | 33rd in Puerto Rico | ||
| • Density | 1,185.6/sq mi (457.76/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 eastern Puerto Rico. It is located in the central eastern part of the island. The town is north of Yabucoa and south of Canóvanas and Río Grande. To its east are Naguabo and Humacao. To its west are Juncos and San Lorenzo.
Las Piedras is known as "La Ciudad de los Artesanos" (The City of Artisans). It has many natural spots like Cueva del Indio. This cave has ancient Taíno paintings. These paintings show us about the island's first people.
The town is about 45 minutes from San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. It is also close to Palmas del Mar in Humacao. This is one of the biggest resorts in the Caribbean. El Toro is the highest point in the Sierra de Luquillo mountains. It sits on the border between Las Piedras and Río Grande.
Contents
History of Las Piedras
Las Piedras was officially founded on May 15, 1801. However, people had settled there earlier, around 1740.
After the Spanish–American War in 1898, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the United States. This happened under the Treaty of Paris of 1898. In 1899, the U.S. government counted the people in Puerto Rico. They found that 8,602 people lived in Las Piedras.
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico very hard. In Las Piedras, about 500 homes lost their roofs. The hurricane brought strong winds and a lot of rain. This caused many landslides in the area. Most parts of Las Piedras were hard to reach right after the storm.
Geography and Nature
Las Piedras is located on the eastern side of Puerto Rico. It is not directly on the coast. The municipality covers about 33.89 square miles. Most of this area is land.
Barrios: Town Divisions
Like all towns in Puerto Rico, Las Piedras is divided into smaller areas called barrios. The main town area, with its buildings and church, is called "el pueblo".
Here are the barrios of Las Piedras:
Sectors: Smaller Areas
Barrios are further divided into even smaller areas. These are called sectores (sectors). Some types of sectors include urbanización, reparto, barriada, and residencial.
Special Communities
Some communities in Puerto Rico are called Comunidades Especiales (Special Communities). These are areas where people might face challenges. In 2014, some of these communities in Las Piedras included:
- Quebrada Grande neighborhood
- Rivera neighborhood (Hoyo Gardens)
- Boquerón
- Cinco Cuerdas
- El Cerrito
- Fondo del Saco
- Lijas
- Pueblito del Río
People of Las Piedras
The people who live in Las Piedras are called Pedreños. In 2020, the population of Las Piedras was 35,180.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 8,602 | — | |
| 1920 | 10,620 | — | |
| 1930 | 12,907 | 21.5% | |
| 1940 | 15,389 | 19.2% | |
| 1950 | 16,208 | 5.3% | |
| 1960 | 17,047 | 5.2% | |
| 1970 | 18,112 | 6.2% | |
| 1980 | 22,412 | 23.7% | |
| 1990 | 27,896 | 24.5% | |
| 2000 | 34,485 | 23.6% | |
| 2010 | 38,675 | 12.2% | |
| 2020 | 35,180 | −9.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1960-2000 2010 2020 |
|||
Things to See and Do
Las Piedras has several interesting places to visit:
- Cueva del Indio: An ancient cave with Taino paintings.
- Monte del Retiro
- Artesanial Walk: A place to see local crafts.
- Francisco Negrón Park
- Las Piedras Historic Museum
- Panoramic Route 917: A scenic road.
Economy and Jobs
The main industries in Las Piedras are:
- Manufacturing: This includes making computers and pharmaceutical products.
Culture and Celebrations
Festivals and Events
Las Piedras celebrates its main festival in December. This is the Fiestas Patronales Nuestra Señora de Asunción. It is a religious and cultural event. It usually has parades, games, local artists, rides, and live music.
Other fun festivals and events in Las Piedras include:
- Güiro Festival - March
- Folk Culture Festival – April
- Cross Festival – May
- Youth Festival – July
- Folk Festival – September
- Festival Artesanal (Artisan Festival) - October
- Roast Pig Festival – November
Transportation
Las Piedras has 24 bridges. These help people travel around the municipality.
Symbols of Las Piedras
The municipality of Las Piedras has its own official flag and coat of arms.
Flag
The flag of Las Piedras has three stripes that are all the same size. The top stripe is white, the middle is green, and the bottom is blue. In the center of the flag, there is a yellow image of the Taíno sun.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms has a silver background. On it is a blue symbol of the Holy Virgin, with a blue crown on top. Seven silver stones are around the edge of the shield. At the very top of the shield, there is a gold Taíno sun. This is known as the "Sun of Las Piedras."
Famous People from Las Piedras
- Juan Manuel Lebrón - A well-known comedian.
- Miguel Hernández Agosto - He was the President of the Puerto Rico Senate.
- Nicky Cruz - An evangelist and author of the book "Run Baby Run."
See also
In Spanish: Las Piedras (Puerto Rico) para niños
