Moca barrio-pueblo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moca barrio-pueblo Pueblo de Moca
Municipality Seat
Street in Moca barrio-pueblo
Location of Moca barrio-pueblo in Moca, Puerto Rico
Moca barrio-pueblo Location in Caribbean
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	Moca
Area
• Total	0.32 sq mi (0.8 km2)
• Land	0.32 sq mi (0.8 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	105 ft (32 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,735
• Density	5,421.9/sq mi (2,093.4/km2)
	Source: 2010 Census
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)

Moca barrio-pueblo is like the main downtown area of Moca, a municipality (which is similar to a county or district) in Puerto Rico. It's where the local government is located. In 2010, about 1,735 people lived there.

Just like in Spain, towns in Puerto Rico have a special area called a pueblo. Since 1990, this area has been known as a barrio-pueblo. It usually has a main square (called a central plaza), government buildings (like a city hall), and a Catholic church. Every year, fun festivals called Fiestas patronales (which celebrate a patron saint) happen in the central plaza.

The Heart of Moca: Its Central Plaza and Church

The central plaza, or town square, is a very important place in Moca barrio-pueblo. It's where people gather for fun events, both official and unofficial. People can meet up and socialize there from morning until night.

Back in the early 1800s, Spanish laws called the Laws of the Indies guided life in Puerto Rico. These laws said that the plaza should be used for "the parties" (meaning celebrations and festivities). They also stated that the square should be big enough for all the people living nearby. These Spanish rules also made sure that the streets around the plaza had comfortable walkways. These walkways would protect people from the sun and rain.

Right across from the central plaza in Moca barrio-pueblo, you'll find the Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate. This is a beautiful Roman Catholic church.

A Look at Moca's History

Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States after the Spanish–American War. This happened because of the Treaty of Paris of 1898. In 1899, the United States government took a census (counted the population) of Puerto Rico. At that time, 1,470 people lived in Moca Pueblo.

Images for kids

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  Catholic church in central plaza

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  Panorama of church in central plaza

See also

• List of communities in Puerto Rico

• In Spanish: Moca (Moca) for kids