Rincón, Puerto Rico facts for kids

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Rincón

Municipio Autónomo de Rincón

Santa Rosa de Rincón

Town and Municipality

Autonomous Municipality of Rincon

Sunset at Maria's Beach in Rincón

Flag	Coat of arms

Nicknames:

"El Pueblo de los Bellos Atardeceres", "Pueblo del Surfing"

Anthem: "Rincón es mi pueblo querido"

Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Rincón Municipality

Settled

1770

Founded

May 17, 1771

Founded by

Don Pablo de Arroyo

Named for

Saint Rose of Lima and Don Gonzalo de Rincón the original landowner who allowed for the settlement, "Saint Rose of Rincon"

Barrios

10 barrios

Atalaya
Barrero
Calvache
Cruces
Ensenada
Jagüey
Pueblo
Puntas
Rincón barrio-pueblo
Río Grande

Area

• Total

29.4 sq mi (76.12 km²)

• Land

13.9 sq mi (36 km²)

• Water

15.5 sq mi (40.12 km²)

Population

(2020)

• Total

15,187

• Rank

69th in Puerto Rico

• Density

516.6/sq mi (199.514/km²)

Rincoeños

UTC-4 (AST)

00677

787/939

Major routes

Rincón (Spanish pronunciation: [riŋˈkon]) is a popular beach town and municipality in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1771 by Don Luis de Añasco. Rincón is located on the western coast of Puerto Rico, west of Añasco and Aguada. The word "Rincón" means "nook" in Spanish.

This town is famous for its many surfing beaches. Some popular spots include Domes, Marias, and Sandy Beach. Rincón is also known for having a larger population of people from the United States and United Kingdom compared to other parts of Puerto Rico. This has led to some changes in the town, like higher prices for rent and groceries.

History of Rincón

Home in Rincón damaged by Hurricane Maria

Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Rincón

Rincón was officially founded in 1771 by Don Luis de Añasco. He had also founded the nearby town of Añasco earlier, in 1733. Over the years, different mayors led the town, like Benito Cumpiano in 1885 and Victor Cumpiano in 1890.

After the Spanish–American War, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the United States in 1898. This was part of the Treaty of Paris of 1898. In 1899, a count of the population showed that 6,641 people lived in Rincón.

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico very hard. In Rincón, many buildings and homes were damaged or destroyed. Heavy rains caused landslides, and the ocean surge brought water into coastal homes.

Geography of Rincón

Rincón is located on the westernmost tip of Puerto Rico's coast. It is known for its beautiful beaches and ocean views.

Flood Zones and Erosion

Parts of Rincón are very likely to flood, according to maps from 2019. This is also true for other towns like Humacao and Toa Baja. Because of high erosion, Rincón can be vulnerable during strong hurricanes.

Barrios (Neighborhoods)

Like all towns in Puerto Rico, Rincón is divided into smaller areas called barrios. The main town area, where the government buildings and a large church are, is called "el pueblo."

Bodies of Water

Rincón has several natural water features:

Gorges: Caño García, Quebrada Grande de Calvache, Quebrada Los Ramos, Quebrada Piletas, Punta Ensenada.
River: Río Grande

Economy of Rincón

Punta Higüeras Lighthouse

Rincón's economy mainly relies on tourism. The town became famous for surfing after the 1968 World Surfing Championship was held at Domes Beach. Since then, surfers from all over the world come to visit.

Besides surfing, people enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, and watching the beautiful sunsets. Many internet-based companies have also chosen to set up their businesses in Rincón.

Agriculture and Industry

The main types of farming in Rincón are growing fruits and sugarcane. Raising cattle is also common. Tourism is the biggest industry in the town.

The Domes Nuclear Plant

Casa Isleña Inn in Rincón

Rincón is home to the Boiling Nuclear Superheater (BONUS) Reactor Facility, also known as "the Domes." This was Puerto Rico's only nuclear plant. It started working in 1964 but stopped in 1968 due to technical problems. The plant has since been cleaned up to remove radioactive materials.

Population of Rincón

Rincón's population has stayed very stable. Between 2010 and 2020, its population dropped by only 13 people. This was the smallest decrease of any town in Puerto Rico.

In 2020, about 5.1% of the people in Rincón were not of Hispanic origin. This is a higher percentage than in most other towns on the island.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	6,641	—
1910	7,275	9.5%
1920	8,476	16.5%
1930	8,178	−3.5%
1940	9,256	13.2%
1950	9,888	6.8%
1960	8,706	−12.0%
1970	9,094	4.5%
1980	11,788	29.6%
1990	12,213	3.6%
2000	14,767	20.9%
2010	15,200	2.9%
2020	15,187	−0.1%

Tourism in Rincón

"Art Walk" is a fun event held every Thursday in Rincón. Locals and tourists gather in the main town square, called Plaza de recreo, to enjoy food, drinks, music, and local art.

Landmarks and Places of Interest

Rincón has 53 beaches to explore! Some of the main attractions include:

La Bandera (Pico Atalaya)
Domes Beach
Steps Beach
Balneario de Rincón
Punta Higuero Lighthouse
Tres Palmas Marine Reserve

Culture of Rincón

Surfing Culture

Mar Azul Surf Shop in Rincón

Rincón is famous worldwide as a top surfing spot. Its fame grew after the 1968 World Surfing Championship was held there. The winter waves along Rincón's coast are some of the best in the Caribbean. Surfers from all over the world come to experience the waves, which can sometimes reach 25–30 feet high.

Popular surfing beaches include Little Malibu, Tres Palmas, Maria's, Domes, and Sandy Beach. The best time for surfing is from November to March. However, summer storms can also create good waves later in the summer.

Festivals and Events

Rincón celebrates its patron saint festival in September. This event, called Fiestas Patronales de Santa Rosa de Lima, is a religious and cultural celebration. It usually features parades, games, local crafts, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.

Other fun festivals and events in Rincón include:

Whale watching – January and February
Humpback whale Festival – March
Ultimate Dirt Challenge – March
Rincón International Film Festival – April
Coconut Festival – May
Rincon Triathlon – June

Transportation in Rincón

Rincón has 8 bridges that help people travel around the municipality.

Symbols of Rincón

The town of Rincón has its own official flag and coat of arms.

Flag

The Rincón flag was designed by Evaristo Cardona Moreno. Its colors are red, orange, yellow, green, and white. A white five-pointed star in a triangle represents the main town area. Nine smaller white stars stand for the nine barrios (neighborhoods). The red and orange colors show the energy of the people. Yellow represents Christianity, green stands for nature and hope, and white means unity between the barrios and the town center.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms was designed by Angel L. Cardona Moreno. It features a green and orange shield with a yellow band. On the green side, there is a cross, which symbolizes Christianity. On the orange side, there is a Spanish ship. This ship represents the discovery of Puerto Rico, which some believe happened on the coasts of Rincón. However, other towns like Aguada and Añasco also claim this historical event.