Morovis, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Morovis Municipio Autónomo de Morovis
Town and Municipality
A small plaza in Morovis barrio-pueblo
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  "La Isla Menos Morovis" ("The island but Morovis")
Anthem: "Oh Morovis, tu vives latente"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Morovis Municipality
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Founded	1818
Barrios	14 barrios Barahona Cuchillas Fránquez Monte Llano Morovis barrio-pueblo Morovis Norte Morovis Sud Pasto Perchas Río Grande San Lorenzo Torrecillas Unibón Vaga
Area
• Total	38.7 sq mi (100.3 km2)
Elevation	1,230 ft (375 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,727
• Density	741.8/sq mi (286.41/km2)
Demonym(s)	Moroveños
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code	00687
Area code(s)	787/939
Major routes

Morovis is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region of the island, north of Orocovis, south of Manatí, Vega Baja and Vega Alta; east of Ciales, and west of Corozal. Morovis is spread over 13 barrios and Morovis Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Morovis's local Taino Indian Cacique (Chief) was named Orocobix and his tribe was locally known as the Jatibonicu Taino.

In 1815, a group of residents, under the leadership of Don Juan José de la Torre, began the process to separate Morovis from Manatí. In 1817, the government of Puerto Rico approved the separation, but it was not until 1818 that the requirements of a population of one thousand residents and the construction of a church and several other public buildings was fulfilled, that the town of Morovis was officially founded. In 1822, the mayorship was constructed and in 1823, the new church was built, dedicated to Nuestra Senora del Carmen on lands donated by Don Juan Evangelista Rivera. Its first mayor was Don Juan José de la Torre, with its second mayor being Don Juan Evangelista Rivera. Morovis has a particular nickname. It was the only municipality in Puerto Rico that did not suffer from a cholera epidemic in 1853; as a result, a common phrase, "la isla menos Morovis" ("(all) the island but Morovis") was coined, which identifies the town informally in Puerto Rico. The phrase is believed by most Puerto Ricans to have a negative connotation against moroveños, while, in reality, it means the opposite.

Cityscape

Barrios

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

• Agricultural Toasting
• Blue Star Stable
• Cabachuelas Caverns
• Panaderia de La Patita Echa Brick Oven

Culture

Festivals and events

• Tribute to Don Felo - May
• Half Marathon "El Jíbaro" - June
• Matron Celebrations - July
• Cuatro Festival - July
• The Island Except Morovis - December
• Innocents' Day - December

Demographics

Symbols

Flag

The flag of Morovis is divided vertically in two equal parts. The immediate one to the mast is yellow and has the eagle of the Coat of Arms, in this case with the head facing right toward the pole. The other half is divided in seven vertical stripes of equal width, four red ones alternated with three yellow ones.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Municipality of Morovis is formed by an eagle in the left partition, which symbolizes San Juan Evangelista and sings in honor of the founder of the town, Don Juan Evangelista Rivera. The five "cuatros" (Puerto Rican instruments) observable in the right partition symbolize the fact that the town of Morovis is the main center of production of such typical Puerto Rican instruments. The shield in the center represents the Order of the Carmelite Nuns, and symbolizes as well the Virgen Carmen, matron of the town. The left half is a field of yellow color (yellow for gold) in which resides a saber (black) eagle, beak and claws in red, its head enclosed with a halo.

Economy

An Energy Consortium was signed in late February, 2019 by the mayors of Villalba, Orocovis, Morovis, Ciales and Barranquitas municipalities. The consortium is the first of its kind for Puerto Rico. It is intended to have those municipalities work together to safeguard and create resilient, and efficient energy networks, with backups for their communities. This is part of the hurricane preparedness plan of these municipalities, which were hit particularly hard by Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017.

Transportation

Bridge in Unibón barrio

There are 15 bridges in Morovis. Major routes that go through Morovis include PR-137, PR-145, PR-155, PR-159, and PR-160.

Notable moroveños

• Wesley Correa, basketball player, played for the local team 16 years
• Iluminado Davila Medina, cuatro musician
• Julio Negrón Rivera, master craftsman who makes the Puerto Rican cuatro, a musical instrument of Puerto Rico

Images for kids

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  Don Juan Evangelista Rivera bust in Morovis barrio-pueblo

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  Barrios of Morovis.

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  Morovis National Cemetery, construction Phase I

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  Biblioteca Electrónica Julia M. Chéverez Marrero in the recreational plaza in Morovis Pueblo

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  Maratón del jíbaro mural in Morovis barrio-pueblo

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  USPS in Morovis

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  La Patria, bakery established in 1862

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  Red Bridge (Puente Colorao) in Morovis Norte

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  Symbols painted on wall in downtown Morovis

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  Signs for routes in Morovis

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  Part of the Complejo Deportivo Gerardo “Gerry” Torres, a sports complex in Morovis Pueblo

See also

In Spanish: Morovis para niños