Manatí, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manatí Municipio Autónomo de Manatí
City and Municipality
Town Hall in Manatí
Flag Coat of arms
Nicknames:  "Ciudad Metropolitana", "La Atenas de Puerto Rico"
Anthem: "Atenas de Borinquen"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Manatí Municipality
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Founded	1738
Barrios	9 barrios Bajura Adentro Bajura Afuera Coto Norte Coto Sur Manatí barrio-pueblo Río Arriba Poniente Río Arriba Saliente Tierras Nuevas Poniente Tierras Nuevas Saliente
Area
• Total	56.19 sq mi (145.53 km2)
• Land	50 sq mi (120 km2)
• Water	9.86 sq mi (25.53 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	39,492
• Density	702.84/sq mi (271.367/km2)
Demonym(s)	Manatieños
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code	00674
Area code(s)	787/939
Major routes

Manatí is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico on the northern coast, north of Morovis and Ciales; east of Florida and Barceloneta; and west of Vega Baja. Manatí is spread over 8 barrios and Manatí barrio-pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Manatí was founded in 1738 by Don Pedro Menendez Valdes. The Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria church was built in the seventeenth century and is still standing in its original spot. Manati is known as La Ciudad Metropolitana (The Metropolitan City), and also as La Atenas de Puerto Rico, (The Athens of Puerto Rico). It is named after a sea mammal, the manatee (which are also known as sea cows).

During those early years, the Mayor of the town was Jose Aulet. Juan Ponce de León picked the Manatí leg of the Manuatabón River as the first area to pan for gold. The Aulet family owned lands rich in pineapples, sugar cane, and green bananas. The Aulets sold the land to the government in 1985.

In 1853 the region shifted from mining to an expansion of agriculture, particularly cultivation and processing of sugar cane. The demand for and price of sugar remained high in international markets. The main commodity crop was sugar cane. Carpentry also became popular. During that year, the town consisted of 280 homes, 2 squares, 8 streets and a school with 50 pupils.

Cityscape

Barrios

Tourism

In 2012 Manati welcomed its first hotel, the Hyatt Place Hotel and Casino, that is scheduled to open in January 2014. The hotel broke ground in summer 2012. The hotel opened with 104 rooms, on March 5, 2014, alongside Casino Atlántico and a LongHorn Steakhouse ( Opened April 2014). Also the hotel counts with an outdoor swimming pool, 3 meeting rooms and a fitness center. The official name was Hyatt Place Manati & Casino <Hyatt Press>

Manati, is very popular for its beaches. Manati is part of the tourism district of Porta Altantico.<Puerto Rico Does it better campaign>

Landmarks and places of interest

Near Mar Chiquita Beach

• The Acropolis Sports Complex
• Biblioteca Nacional Francisco Álvarez
• El Salón del Poeta
• Historic Zone
• Los Tubos Beach
• La Esperanza Beach
• Mar Chiquita Beach
• Marqués de la Esperanza Hacienda Ruins
• Ruinas de la Oficina de la Central Monserrate
• The New Manati Arena
• Manati Baseball Stadium

Culture

Festivals and events

• Patron Fetivities - February: "La Virgen De La Candelaria"
• Cross Festivities - May
• Beach Festival - July
• Manatee Festival - July
• Halloween Festival - October
• Christmas Festival - December

Radio stations

• WMNT (AM) - Radio Atenas 1500 AM
• WNRT FM - Triunfo 96.9 FM

Economy

Agriculture

Isidoro Colón established the "Candelaria" sugar mill in the years between 1860 and 1870, located between Manatí and Barceloneta. Manatí is the pineapple center of Puerto Rico. In addition in Manatí, there is cultivation of fruits, sugar cane, and coffee. Los Frutos del Guacabo is a farming company in Manatí that provides local fruit and vegetables to local chefs.

Industry

The industry of Manatí is shoes, woodwork, and a pineapple cannery as well as pharmaceuticals:

• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Warner Chilcott
• DuPont
• Patheon
• Actavis (inside W.C)
• Janssen Ortho LLC

Retailers

• Burlington store

Demographics

Education

Manati has 3 high schools: Petra Corretjer de O'neill High School, Fernando Callejo High School, and the Escuela Instituto Tecnologico Recinto De Manati, the latter also serving as a technical institute.

Private Schools:

• Colegio Marista "El Salvador" Manati
• Colegio De La Inmaculada
• Piaget Bilingual Academy
• Academia Discipulos de Cristo
• Colegio Hispano Americano
• La Reine Christian Bilingual School

Manati's only university is the American University of Puerto Rico, Manati Campus. There are several technical institutes, such as Instituto de Banca y Comercio, Atenas' College, EDC college and Dewey University.

Transportation

There are 15 bridges in Manatí.

Notable natives and residents

Notable people from Manatí include:

• Cecilia Callejo, dancer and actress
• José Miguel Class, singer
• Noel Cuevas, professional baseball player
• Manuel Ramos Otero, poet and LGBT activist
• Carlos Santana Becerra, judge
• Yara Sofia, drag queen
• Antonio Vélez Alvarado, father of the Puerto Rican flag
• Carlos Beltrán, Professional Baseball Outfielder
• Iván Rodríguez, Professional Baseball Player

Images for kids

• 

  Manatí logo Atenas de Puerto Rico (in English: Athens of Puerto Rico)

• 

  La Plaza de la Historia de Manatí en Puerto Rico

• 

  Mar Chiquita beach and bay in Manatí

• 

  Cueva de las Golondrinas

• 

  Buildings in Manatí barrio-pueblo

• 

  Beach in Manatí

See also

In Spanish: Manatí (Puerto Rico) para niños