Punta Santiago, Humacao, Puerto Rico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Punta Santiago
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Barrio
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View of ocean and beach from a boardwalk in Punta Santiago
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Location of Punta Santiago within the municipality of Humacao shown in red
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 Punta Santiago, Humacao, Puerto Rico
Location in Caribbean
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| Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico |
| Municipality |  Humacao |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.17 sq mi (8.2 km2) |
| • Land | 2.20 sq mi (5.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.97 sq mi (2.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 4,723 |
| • Density | 2,146.80/sq mi (828.88/km2) |
| Source: 2010 Census | |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) |
| ZIP Code |
00741
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Punta Santiago is a neighborhood, or barrio, located in the city of Humacao, Puerto Rico. In 2010, about 4,723 people lived there. This area is very much at risk of flooding and damage when hurricanes hit Puerto Rico, especially since storms often enter the island near Humacao.
Contents
History of Punta Santiago
After the Spanish–American War, Puerto Rico became part of the United States in 1898. This happened under an agreement called the Treaty of Paris of 1898. In 1899, the United States government counted the people living in Punta Santiago and a nearby area called San Francisco. They found that 1,754 people lived there together.
Over the years, the number of people living in Punta Santiago has changed:
- In 1980, there were 5,750 people.
- In 1990, the population grew slightly to 5,900.
- By 2000, it went down to 5,524.
- In 2010, the population was 4,723.
Why Punta Santiago Floods Easily
Punta Santiago is in a place that often gets flooded. In 2019, new maps showed that Humacao, where Punta Santiago is located, is one of the most at-risk areas in Puerto Rico. This is because many big storms, like hurricanes, often come ashore in this part of the island.
The city of Humacao has been working on plans to help reduce flooding. They shared that several neighborhoods along the coast, including Punta Santiago, Antón Ruíz, Río Abajo, Buena Vista, and Candelero Abajo, are likely to flood. These areas are also in danger of being completely destroyed by a strong hurricane.
Hurricane Maria's Impact
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico very hard. According to Father José Colón, a local priest in Punta Santiago, the entire town was flooded.
He said, "The town was flooded from all directions, from the ocean, rain and nearby rivers..." This shows how much water covered the area during the storm.
Images for kids
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The Puerto Rico National Guard clearing debris in Punta Santiago after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
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More work by the Puerto Rico National Guard to clear debris after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
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See also
- List of communities in Puerto Rico
- In Spanish: Punta Santiago (Humacao) para niños
