Río Grande, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Río Grande

Municipio de Río Grande

Trees in Mameyes II, Río Grande

Flag	Coat of arms

Nickname(s):

"La Ciudad de El Yunque"

Anthem: "Entre las ondas que juguetean"

Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Río Grande Municipality

Settled

1820

Founded

July 16, 1840

Founded by

Don Desiderio Escobar

Barrios

9 barrios

Ciénaga Alta
Ciénaga Baja
Guzmán Abajo
Guzmán Arriba
Herreras
Jiménez
Mameyes II
Río Grande barrio-pueblo
Zarzal

Area

• Total

89.6 sq mi (232.11 km²)

• Land

60.7 sq mi (157.28 km²)

• Water

28.9 sq mi (74.83 km²)

Elevation

23 ft (7 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

47,538

• Rank

16th in Puerto Rico

• Density

530.56/sq mi (204.808/km²)

Riograndeños

UTC−4 (AST)

00721, 00745

787/939

Major routes

Río Grande is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico. It is located on the eastern coast of the island. The town is known for being home to a large part of the El Yunque National Forest.

Río Grande is surrounded by other towns. To its north is the Northern Coastal Valley. To the east are Luquillo, and to the west are Loíza and Canóvanas. South of Río Grande are Las Piedras, Naguabo, and Ceiba.

History of Río Grande

Río Grande was officially founded on July 16, 1840. It was started by Desiderio and Quilimaco Escobar. The name "Río Grande" comes from the Río Grande river. This river joins with the Río Espíritu Santo river in the area.

In 1894, the area had many farms. There were two large sugar cane farms and 256 smaller farms. These smaller farms grew fruits and other crops.

Hurricane Maria's Impact

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Río Grande. The heavy rain caused many landslides. Buildings were damaged, and trees were pulled from the ground. Rivers overflowed, causing damage to about 5,000 homes. Luckily, 230 Puerto Rican amazon parrots that were in captivity survived the storm.

Geography and Nature

Río Grande is located on the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico. It sits north of the Sierra de Luquillo mountains. A big part of the El Yunque National Forest is within Río Grande.

Mountains and Peaks

Some of the highest points in the Sierra de Luquillo mountains are in Río Grande. These include El Yunque and El Toro. El Toro is the tallest peak in eastern Puerto Rico, standing at 3,474 feet (1,070 meters) high.

Barrios: Neighborhoods of Río Grande

Subdivisions of Río Grande.

Like all towns in Puerto Rico, Río Grande is divided into smaller areas called barrios. These are like neighborhoods or boroughs. The main town area, with the government buildings and a large church, is called Río Grande Pueblo.

Here are the nine barrios of Río Grande:

Ciénaga Alta
Ciénaga Baja
Guzmán Abajo
Guzmán Arriba
Herreras
Jiménez
Mameyes II
Río Grande barrio-pueblo
Zarzal

Sectors: Smaller Areas

Barrios are further divided into even smaller areas called sectores. These sectors can have different names. For example, some are called urbanización (urbanization) or residencial (residential area).

Special Communities

Some communities in Puerto Rico are called Comunidades Especiales. These are areas where people might face challenges. In Río Grande, some of these special communities include:

Sector Montebello and Sector El Hoyo in Malpica
Las Dolores
La Ponderosa
Villa Realidad
Estancias del Sol
Hong Kong

Population and People

In 1894, when Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony, Río Grande had 6,237 people. After the Spanish–American War in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the population of Río Grande had grown to 12,365 people.

The population has continued to grow over the years. In 2020, the population of Río Grande was 47,060 people.

Tourism and Fun Activities

Río Grande is a popular place for tourists. It has many beautiful beaches and resorts.

Beaches and Resorts

One of the largest private beach areas on the island is Coco Beach. Major hotels in Río Grande include:

The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve
St. Regis Bahía Beach Resort & Golf Club

The Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve hosts the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open golf tournament every March.

El Yunque National Forest

Just a short drive away is El Yunque National Forest. This is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System. It's a great place to explore nature and see waterfalls.

Other Places to Visit

Río Grande has 27 beaches in total. Other interesting places to visit include:

Coco Beach
El Yunque
Indio Cave
Las Picúas Beach

Economy and Business

Flame tree and cows in Río Grande

Río Grande has a mix of agriculture and business.

Farming and Crops

Farmers in Río Grande grow many different things. They produce fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. They also grow tobacco and raise cattle.

Local Businesses

You can find many local shops along PR-3. There is also a large shopping mall. The area has attracted many hotels and sports venues. In 2012, Puerto Rico Highway 66 opened. This highway makes it easier to travel to San Juan.

A group called the Consejo Comunitario de Seguridad de Río Piedras helps local businesses with safety. They work to make sure that shoppers feel safe in the downtown area.

Culture and Events

Río Grande has many fun festivals and events throughout the year.

Festivals and Celebrations

The town celebrates its patron saint festival in July. This event is called the Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Señora del Carmen. It's a religious and cultural celebration with:

Parades
Games
Local artists selling crafts
Amusement rides
Traditional food
Live music and shows

Other festivals in Río Grande include:

Río Grande Carnival – Held in July
Stuffed Potato Festival – Held in April
Las Picúas Festival – Held in September

Sports in Río Grande

Popular sports in Río Grande include baseball, basketball, and handball.

Famous People from Río Grande

Many notable people have come from Río Grande, including:

Antonio Bachour – A famous pastry chef.
Raymond Burgos – A Major League Baseball pitcher.
Ovidio de Jesús – A sprinter who competed in international events.
Luis Pizarro – A boxer who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics.
Rafael Quintero – A diver who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Symbols of Río Grande

The municipality of Río Grande has its own official flag and coat of arms.

The Flag

The flag of Río Grande has two equal horizontal stripes. The top stripe is green, and the bottom stripe is blue. A white triangle is placed on the side closest to the flagpole. On this white triangle, you can see a Puerto Rican parrot.

The Coat of Arms

The coat of arms has a silver background. It shows two Puerto Rican parrots. There is also a wavy blue stripe and a green mountain with three peaks. The top part of the shield is blue and has an open silver book. On each side of the book are five gold coins. On top of the shield is a gold crown with three towers.