Loíza, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Loíza

Municipio de Loíza

Río Grande in Loíza

Flag	Coat of arms

Nickname(s):

"El Pueblo de la Cacica"

Anthem: "Loiceños en Acción"

Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Loíza Municipality

Commonwealth

Puerto Rico

Founded

1719

Barrios

6 barrios

Canóvanas
Loíza barrio-pueblo
Medianía Alta
Medianía Baja
Torrecilla Alta
Torrecilla Baja

Area

• Total

65.71 sq mi (170.19 km²)

• Land

19.44 sq mi (50.36 km²)

• Water

46.27 sq mi (119.83 km²)

Population

(2020)

• Total

23,693

• Density

360.565/sq mi (139.215/km²)

Loiceños

UTC−4 (AST)

00772

787/939

Major routes

Loíza (Spanish pronunciation:) is a town and municipality on the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico, north of Canóvanas; east of Carolina, Puerto Rico; and west of Río Grande, Puerto Rico. Loíza is spread over five barrios and Loíza Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is renowned for its rich Afro-Puerto Rican culture and heritage.

History

Río Grande de Loíza (Loíza River)

Some say that its name comes from that of a female cacique, called Loaíza or Yuíza, who governed the region formerly called Jaymanío, in the shores of the Río Grande de Loíza. It is said that this cacique might have married a mulatto conquistador called Pedro Mejías, but there is no evidence of this. Other sources point to a Spanish landlord called Iñigo López de Cervantes y Loayza, who owned a lot of the territory, and was renowned among governors and colonists from the time.

It is said that a crown decree from Spain in the 1600s, instructed slaves to be sent to the region of Loíza. Many people believe this might account for the high ratio of black people in Loíza.

In 1692, Loíza was officially declared an urban area due to its population (100 houses and 1,146 residents), but it was in 1719 that the Spanish government declared it as an official town. It was founded by Gaspar de Arredondo. After being demoted, it was again established as a municipality in August 16, 1970.

In the 1970s, an Aero Virgin Islands DC-3 plane crashed in a Loíza beach, with no fatalities.

Geography

Loíza belongs to the geographical region called the Coastal Plains of the North. Its terrain is uniformly plain, since it doesn't exceed 100 meters above water level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 65.71 square miles (170.2 km²); of which 19.44 square miles (50.3 km²) of it is land and 46.27 square miles (119.8 km²) of it is water.

Cityscape

Barrios

Loíza is divided into six main "barrios":

Palmarejo (including Bo Palmarejo, Villas de Loiza and Loiza Estates)
Loíza Pueblo
Medianía Alta (including the neighborhood of Vieques)
Medianía Baja
Torrecilla Alta
Torrecilla Baja

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

Aviones Beach
Ayala Family Artesan Centre
Julia de Burgos Walk
María de la Cruz Cavern
Piñones Lagoon
San Patricio Parish
Vacía Talega Beach

Culture

Vejigante Mask and Costume on display in the Musical Instrument Museum of Phoenix

One of Loíza's barrios, Loíza aldea, is famous across Puerto Rico because it has been a talent pool for dancers and artisans. Formerly a center for black Puerto Rican music, it is said to be the traditional birthplace of the musical form known as plena along with Ponce.

Each year there is a celebration in Loíza where people parade around wearing Máscaras de Vejigante. Máscaras de Vejigante are a type of mask made in Loíza. They are made from coconuts and are painted in multiple colors.

Loíza is known as "La Capital de la Tradición"- "The Capital of Traditions"- for its "bomba" music, traditional Taíno and African dishes, folk art, and distinct culture.

Festivals and events

Mayombe Carnival - February
San Patricio Patron Festivities - March
Santiago Apóstol Festivities - July

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	12,522	—
1910	13,317	6.3%
1920	15,804	18.7%
1930	18,762	18.7%
1940	22,145	18.0%
1950	24,755	11.8%
1960	28,131	13.6%
1970	39,062	38.9%
1980	20,867	−46.6%
1990	29,307	40.4%
2000	32,537	11.0%
2010	30,060	−7.6%
2020	23,693	−21.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1960-2000 2010 2020

Race - Loíza, Puerto Rico - 2020 Census
Race	Population	% of Total
White	1,376	5.8%
Black/Afro-Puerto Rican	7,533	31.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native	106	0.4%
Asian	21	0.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	3,689	15.6%
Two or more races	10,968	46.3%

The population of the municipality was 23,693 at the 2020 census. Consisting of 8,508 households, and 6,140 families residing in the municipality. The population density was 1,673.4 inhabitants per square mile (646.1/km²). There were 8,508 housing units at an average density of 562 per square mile (217/km²). There were 8,508 households, out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 29.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.39 and the average family size was 3.77. In the town the population was spread out, with 39.3% under the age of 19, 7.8% from 20 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. The median income for a household in the town was $8,962, and the median income for a family was $9,911. Males had a median income of $14,076 versus $12,903 for females. The per capita income for the town was $4,707. 67% of the population and 64.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 62.3% of those under the age of 18 and 59.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The municipality has the highest concentration of Afro-Puerto Ricans on the island. About 4,256 residents speak English as a native language (Census 2000).

Distinguished Loiceños

Sr. Castor Ayala - master artisan and founder of the Hermanos Ayala forkloric ballet.
Sr. Francisco E. Mundo Arzuaga - mayor and teacher.
Dr. Ramón Suárez - founder Hospital Minilla in Santurce
Sr. Ricardo Sanjurjo de Jesús - president Movimiento Pro Restauración of the Loíza Municipality.
Dr. William Cepeda - musician and composer.
Prof. Daniel Lind Ramos - teacher and Resident Artist, University of PR Humacao Campus.
Ing. Iván Hernández - musician and orchestra conductor.
Sr. Eugenio Ayala Cepeda - prominent member of Movimiento Pro Restauración of the Loíza Municipality. Pharmacist, civic leader. Established the first licensed pharmacy in Loíza, serving the poor with generosity.
Dr. Miguel Licha (1924-2016), Emergency Room physician of the Concilio de Salud Integral de Loíza (1976-1995). Declared an Adoptive Son of Loíza by the Municipal Legislature (Resolution #14, 1984-85).
Sr. Samuel Lind - musician, painter and sculptor.
Dr. Roque Sanjurjo Cepeda - Founder of the Gerontology Society of Puerto Rico.
Prof. Eddie A. Rivera Quiñones (Ediloiza), Community leader, photographer, vocalist, poet and composer.

Symbols

Flag

Red and gold and green with three undulating stripes - The silhouette of a bell tower in the first stripe represents religious tradition and also serves as a symbol of the Church of Saint Patrick as an historical monument.

Coat of Arms

The mounted figure of Santiago Apostle, dominant in the shield, proclaims the devotion to the saint that the Loiceños profess, manifested in a special way during the celebration of traditional festivities every July 25. The flames are emblem of the Holy Spirit, bearer of the seven gifts, a title of the old church of Loíza. The undulating stripe represents the Grande de Loíza River, notable in geography, history and literature of Puerto Rico. The crown symbolizes the famous Taína Chief Yuisa, who lived in Loíza territory where he died. The trebols represent San Patrick, Apostle of Ireland and patron of the population.

Transportation

Service to Loiza is available from San Juan by AMA route D45. This route provides service to Piñones and Isla Verde and connects to the Tren Urbano at Sagrado Corazon station.

There is no public transportation connecting Loiza to the eastern cities of PR, and there are few if any hotels and guest houses in Loiza itself, but there are resorts in Rio Grande.

There are 5 bridges in Loíza.

Economy

Agriculture

Coconuts, fruits, sugar canes, and apples.

Industry

Fishing

Education

Students at Belen Blanco De Zequeira, Loiza, Puerto Rico

Like all other municipalities, education in Loíza is administered by the Department of Education of Puerto Rico. Loíza has several elementary schools, but only two junior high and two high schools.