Moca, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moca Municipio Autónomo de Moca
Town and Municipality
Mountains and homes in Moca
Flag Coat of arms
Nicknames:  "Rebeldes", "Los Vampiros", "La Ciudad del Mundillo"
Anthem: "Doce barrios, doce estrellas"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Moca Municipality
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Founded	June 22, 1772
Barrios	13 barrios Aceitunas Capá Centro Cerro Gordo Cruz Cuchillas Marías Moca barrio-pueblo Naranjo Plata Pueblo Rocha Voladoras
Area
• Total	133.0 km2 (51.4 sq mi)
• Land	133 km2 (51 sq mi)
• Water	0 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	37,012
• Density	278.29/km2 (720.76/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Mocanos
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code	00676
Area code(s)	787/939
Major routes

Moca is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico, located in the north-western region of the island, north of Añasco; southeast of Aguadilla; east of Aguada; and west of Isabela and San Sebastián. Moca is spread over 12 barrios and Moca Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center). It is part of the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The name comes from the Moca tree (Andira inermis) which are very common in this region.

The Moca tree was officially adopted as the representative tree of the town on February 19, 1972. Moca is famous for its Mundillo lace. Mundillo is a Puerto Rican-style of handmade bobbin lace. Mundillo almost synonymous with the small town of Moca.

History

Moca known as "La Capital del Mundillo" (The capital of lace) it was founded by Don José de Quiñónez on June 22, 1772. Diverse versions exist on the date of its foundation. Manuel de Ubeda and Delgado, in his "Isla de Puerto Rico. "Estudio histórico, geográfico y estadístico", published in San Juan in 1878, says to us that it was founded on 1774. On the other hand, Cayetano Coll y Toste, in the "Boletín histórico de Puerto Rico", maintains that it was founded on June 22, 1772.

On August 14, 1898, The United States Armed Forces entered and took the town of Moca finding no resistance. On August 8, 1898, after the Spanish–American War officially ended, Puerto Rico became a United States territory as an outcome of the Treaty of Paris of 1898.

Geography

The Labadie Mansion inspired Enrique Laguerre to write La Llamarada. The property was restored as a museum and renamed the Palacete Los Moreau, in honor of Laguerre’s fictional characters.

Moca Pueblo, August 2006

Localization: 18° 23'N and 67° 06'W of the Meridian of Greenwich. It is located in a small valley, in the skirts of "The Tuna" mountains, at 141 feet (43 m) above sea level.

Climate: Tropical with hardly noticeable seasonal changes. Temperatures throughout the year range between 76 and 98 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 37 °C).

Hydrography: The Río Culebrinas crosses its territory from east to west, and its tributaries include the gorges of Los Gatos, Lassalle, de las Damas, Vieja, Los Romanes, the Morones, Higuillo, Chiquita, Yagruma, Echeverria, Aguas Frias, Las Marias, de los Méndez, La Caraíma, Grande, y Dulce. Cerro Moca, Monte El Ojo, Monte Mariquita of the Jaicoa Mountain Range

On May 16, 2010, Moca was the epicenter of a strong 5.8 earthquake. The earthquake was felt in the entire island and also in the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands. Damage was reported in various towns.

Cityscape

Barrios

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

• Enrique Laguerre House
• Enriqueta Hacienda
• Julia's Mundillo Shop
• Our Lady of Monserrate Parish
• Hacienda Labadie
• Palacete Los Moreau

Culture

Sports

Moca has a Double-A Baseball team called the Moca Vampiros that play in the Superior Baseball League.

• Juan Sanchez Acevedo Coliseum

Moca also had a volleyball team named "Los Rebeldes", which played in LVS (Liga de Voleibol Superior) through the years of 1998 to 2005. The team went to the post season every year, obtained a controversial second place in its 1998 final with the "Changos" of Naranjito. In addition, "Los Rebeldes" were National Champions against the "Changos" in the 2000 final. "Los Rebeldes" swept the "Changos" 4-0 in the finals, handing the "Changos" its most embarrassing finals defeat in the teams history.

Symbols

Flag

The rectangular flag consists of a purple equilateral triangular field, the color of the Moca tree flower. In this field appear five point stars, silver-plated, surrounding a greater gold star, also with five points.

Coat of arms

It has oblong form. Divided in a silver-plated field and blue sky united by a purple rhombus (diamond shape), the color of the Moca flower. The rhombus has within religious symbolisms. The rhombus is surrounded, in its inferior part, by two branches of the Moca tree; in its superior part, an arc of eleven silver-plated five-point stars. Within the rhombus is a gold monogram (of the Virgin Mary) topped by a Christian crown of the same metal. A silver-lined crown in form of a three-tower castle crowns the shield. On the frontal portion of the crown, carved in gold, the word Moca. The stones of the castle are lined in blue. The doors and windows are purple.

Economy

• Agriculture: Fruits, dairy farming, cattle and bovine ranching.
• Business:
• Industrial: Alarms, clothing, electronic machinery, footwear, plastic products.
• Services: Lawyers, engineers, appraisers

Demographics

In 2020, the U.S. Census indicated that Moca had a total population of 37,012 inhabitants, a 7.7% decline from 2010.

Transportation

PR-462 bordering Moca and Aguadilla

There are 12 bridges in Moca. Moca, like the rest of Puerto Rico, had a public share taxi system or Carros Públicos, with set routes.

Images for kids

• 

  Museo Hacienda La Enriqueta in Moca

• 

  Lace baby clothing from the clothing collection in the Museo de las Américas in Old San Juan

• 

  Monumento a la Tejedora plaque in Moca

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  Monument to women from Moca who work in lace

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  Old car in Moca barrio-pueblo

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  Moca in landscape

See also

In Spanish: Moca (Puerto Rico) para niños