Manatí barrio-pueblo Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Manatí barrio-pueblo Pueblo de Manatí
Municipality Seat
Antonio Vélez Alvarado monument in downtown Manatí
Location of Manatí barrio-pueblo within the municipality of Manatí shown in red
Manatí barrio-pueblo Location in Caribbean
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	Manatí
Area
• Total	0.77 sq mi (2.0 km²)
• Land	0.77 sq mi (2.0 km²)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km²)
Elevation	115 ft (35 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	5,746
• Density	7,462.3/sq mi (2,881.2/km²)
	Source: 2010 Census
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)

Manatí barrio-pueblo is a special part of Manatí. It is like the main downtown area or "city center" of the municipality. This is where you'll find the most important buildings.

In 2010, about 5,746 people lived here. Manatí barrio-pueblo is home to the main town square, the city hall, and a Catholic church.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	4,494	—
1910	4,439	−1.2%
1920	6,147	38.5%
1930	7,449	21.2%
1940	6,771	−9.1%
1950	10,092	49.0%
1980	8,352	—
1990	7,712	−7.7%
2000	7,162	−7.1%
2010	5,746	−19.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1980-2000 2010

The Central Plaza and Its Church
History of Manatí Pueblo
Gallery
See also

The Central Plaza and Its Church

In Puerto Rico, like in Spain, each main town area has a central plaza. This plaza is a big open square. It is usually surrounded by the city hall and a Catholic church.

The central plaza is a place for fun events and for people to meet. You can see people gathering there from morning until night. Special yearly celebrations called Fiestas patronales (patron saint festivals) are held in the plaza.

Long ago, in the early 1800s, Spanish laws called the Laws of the Indies set rules for towns in Puerto Rico. These laws said the plaza should be big enough for celebrations. They also said that streets near the plaza should have comfortable walkways. These walkways would protect people from the sun and rain.

Right across from the central plaza in Manatí barrio-pueblo is a church. Its name is Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria y San Matías Apostol. This church was first built in 1729. It has been repaired and updated many times since then. A smaller church was already on this spot by 1645.

History of Manatí Pueblo

After the Spanish–American War, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the United States. This happened under a peace agreement called the Treaty of Paris of 1898. Puerto Rico then became a territory of the United States.

In 1899, the U.S. government took a count of all the people in Puerto Rico. This count is called a census. The census showed that 4,494 people lived in Manatí Pueblo at that time.