Naguabo, Puerto Rico Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Naguabo

Municipio Autónomo de Naguabo

View of Naguabo from El Yunque

Flag	Coat of arms

Nicknames:

"Cuna de Grandes Artistas", "Los Enchumbaos"

Anthem: "Mi Naguabo del querer, Mi Naguabo del soñar"

Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Naguabo Municipality

Settled

1794

Founded

July 15, 1821

Founded by

Luis de Gaztambide, Juan Viera, Antonio Viera, and Juan Méndez

Barrios

10 barrios

Daguao
Duque
Húcares
Maizales
Mariana
Naguabo barrio-pueblo
Peña Pobre
Río
Río Blanco
Santiago y Lima

Area

• Total

60.1 sq mi (155.57 km²)

• Land

52.1 sq mi (135 km²)

• Water

7.9 sq mi (20.57 km²)

Population

(2020)

• Total

23,386

• Rank

52nd in Puerto Rico

• Density

389.1/sq mi (150.325/km²)

Naguabeños

UTC−4 (AST)

00718, 00744

787/939

Major routes

Naguabo is a town and municipality located on the east coast of Puerto Rico. It sits by the Vieques Passage. To its north are Río Grande and Ceiba. To its south is Humacao, and to its east is Las Piedras. Naguabo is divided into 8 main areas called barrios, plus the downtown area known as Naguabo Pueblo. It is part of the larger San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Naguabo is famous for being the home of the pastelillo de chapín. This popular Puerto Rican food is made from trunkfish wrapped in deep-fried flour dough. You can find pastelillos de chapín at most places along the coast of the island.

History of Naguabo
Geography of Naguabo
- Barrios of Naguabo
- Sectors and Communities
Population of Naguabo
Things to See and Do in Naguabo
Culture and Events
- Festivals and Celebrations
Symbols of Naguabo
- Flag
- Coat of arms
Getting Around Naguabo
Gallery
See also

History of Naguabo

The town of Naguabo was first started near a ravine on the east coast. In 1821, it was moved to where it is today. By 1878, Naguabo had several areas called barrios. These included Pueblo, Maizales, Duque, Mariana, Daguao, Santiago y Lima, Húcares, Río, Peña Pobre, and Río Blanco. Long ago, in 1521, the Daguao area was burned down by the Caribs.

After the Spanish–American War, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the United States in 1898. This made Puerto Rico a territory of the United States. In 1899, a count of the people in Puerto Rico showed that Naguabo had a population of 10,873.

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico very hard. In Naguabo, the coastal area of Playa Húcares was hit the worst. Many homes were destroyed or lost their roofs. The boardwalk was also ruined. More than 6,000 people in Naguabo reported losing property because of the hurricane.

Geography of Naguabo

Naguabo is located in the southeastern part of Puerto Rico. The highest point in the municipality is Pico del Este. This peak is part of the Sierra de Luquillo mountains and stands at 3,419 feet (1,042 meters) tall.

Two important rivers, Río Blanco and Río Espiritu Santo, are also found in Naguabo.

Barrios of Naguabo

Subdivisions of Naguabo.

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Naguabo is divided into smaller areas called barrios. The main town buildings, the central square, and a large Catholic church are all located in the barrio known as "el pueblo".

Here are the barrios of Naguabo:

Sectors and Communities

Barrios are often divided even further into smaller areas called sectores (sectors). These sectors can have different names like urbanización or barriada.

Some areas in Naguabo are called Special Communities (Comunidades Especiales). These are communities that need extra support. In 2014, some of these special communities in Naguabo included Relámpago neighborhood, Río, Santiago y Lima, Daguao, La Florida, Casco Urbano in barrio-pueblo, Húcares, Maizales, Parcelas La Fe, and Río Blanco.

Population of Naguabo

The number of people living in Naguabo has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population from different census counts:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	10,873	—
1910	14,365	32.1%
1920	15,788	9.9%
1930	18,212	15.4%
1940	19,180	5.3%
1950	21,019	9.6%
1960	17,195	−18.2%
1970	17,996	4.7%
1980	20,617	14.6%
1990	22,620	9.7%
2000	23,753	5.0%
2010	26,720	12.5%
2020	23,386	−12.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1960-2000 2010 2020

In 2020, the population of Naguabo was 23,386 people. People from Naguabo are called Naguabeños.

Things to See and Do in Naguabo

Beach, boardwalk, street lamps and people in Naguabo

Naguabo has 31 beaches to explore!

Some of the main attractions and interesting places in Naguabo include:

Algodones Key
El Yunque National Forest (You can reach the south side through PR State Road 191, but part of it might be closed.)
Naguabo Beach
Punta Lima Beach
The monument for Ramón Rivero "Diplo", a famous artist.
Tropical Beach
Yudelmi Center
The monument for Pedro Flores, a well-known composer.
The Hucares Waterfront, also known as El Malecón (the boardwalk).
The main town square, called Plaza De Recreo.
Charco El Hippie, a popular swimming spot.

Culture and Events

Festivals and Celebrations

Naguabo celebrates its special patron saint festival in October. This event is called the Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Virgen del Rosario. It's a fun religious and cultural celebration. You can usually see parades, play games, buy things from local artists, enjoy amusement rides, try regional food, and watch live shows.

Other exciting festivals and events in Naguabo are:

Maratón Cervecero en Naguabo - held in January
Chapín Festival - held in February
Pedro Flores Week - held in March
Diplo Festival - held in June
Virgen del Carmen Fiesta - celebrated on July 16

Symbols of Naguabo

The municipality of Naguabo has its own official flag and a special design called a coat of arms.

Flag

Naguabo has a unique flag that represents the town.

Coat of arms

Naguabo also has a coat of arms, which is a special symbol or emblem.

Getting Around Naguabo

Naguabo has public transportation. A bus called "Pisicorre" operates from 6:00 a.m. to help people get around. There are also 52 bridges in Naguabo, helping connect different parts of the municipality.