Río Grande, Puerto Rico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Río Grande
Municipio de Río Grande
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City and Municipality
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Trees in Mameyes II, Río Grande
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| Nickname(s):
"La Ciudad de El Yunque"
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| Anthem: "Entre las ondas que juguetean" | |||
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Río Grande Municipality
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| Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico |
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| Founded | July 16, 1840 | ||
| Barrios |
9 barrios
Ciénaga Alta
Ciénaga Baja Guzmán Abajo Guzmán Arriba Herreras Jiménez Mameyes II Río Grande barrio-pueblo Zarzal |
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| 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)
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| • Total | 47,538 | ||
| • Density | 530.56/sq mi (204.808/km2) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Riograndeños | ||
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
00721, 00745
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| Area code(s) | 787/939 | ||
| Major routes |       |
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Río Grande is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the eastern edge of the Northern Coastal Valley, north of Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba; east of Loíza and Canóvanas and west of Luquillo. Río Grande is spread over eight barrios and Río Grande Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. A big portion of El Yunque National Forest, including El Yunque's peak, is located within the municipality.
Contents
History
Río Grande was founded on July 16, 1840, by Desiderio and Quilimaco Escobar, with the approbation of governor Miguel López. It was named after the Río Grande and is located where the Río Grande and the Río Espíritu Santo (Holy Spirit) join.
Cityscape
Barrios
- Ciénaga Alta - 4,606
- Ciénaga Baja - 18,220
- Guzmán Abajo - 6,614
- Guzmán Arriba - 928
- Herreras - 839
- Jiménez - 2,903
- Mameyes II - 2,919
- Río Grande Pueblo
- Zarzal - 13,385
Tourism
Río Grande is home to one of the largest secluded areas with beach access (Coco Beach) on the entire island. Major hotels in the area include Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort and Gran Melia Puerto Rico Resort. Every March, the Trump International Golf Club plays host to the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open.
Within a ten-minute drive is El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rain forest within the United States National Forest System and a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature receiving thousands of votes from around the globe at www.n7w.com.
Hotels
- The Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa
- Gran Melia Golf Resort
- St. Regis Beach Resort
Landmarks and places of interest
- Coco Beach
- El Yunque
- Indio Cave
- Las Picúas Beach
Culture
Festivals and events
- Cross Festival (May)
- Patron Celebrations (July)
Sports
Baseball, basketball and handball are popular sports in Río Grande. Also many play tennis.
Economy
Agriculture
The municipality has agricultural activity that produces fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and cattle.
Business
Local retail stores are aside highway PR-3. There is one large shopping mall located on 65th Infantry expressway and 956th street. The northeastern area of Puerto Rico has attracted hotels, shopping malls, sport venues among others. In 2012 the Puerto Rico Highway 66, which provides easy access to San Juan, was opened which runs along the municipality.
In 2019, volunteers and police who formed a group called Consejo Comunitario de Seguridad de Río Piedras celebrated their 32nd year aiding local businesses with security issues. This group works to ensure the safety and security of business patrons in the downtown area of Río Piedras.
Demographics
In 1894, while a Spanish colony, the population of Río Grande was 6,237. Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Río Grande was 12,365.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 12,365 | — | |
| 1910 | 13,948 | 12.8% | |
| 1920 | 13,247 | −5.0% | |
| 1930 | 14,085 | 6.3% | |
| 1940 | 16,116 | 14.4% | |
| 1950 | 16,651 | 3.3% | |
| 1960 | 17,233 | 3.5% | |
| 1970 | 22,032 | 27.8% | |
| 1980 | 34,283 | 55.6% | |
| 1990 | 45,648 | 33.2% | |
| 2000 | 52,362 | 14.7% | |
| 2010 | 54,304 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 47,060 | −13.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1960-2000 2010 2020 |
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Transportation
There are 48 bridges in Río Grande.
Images for kids
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Subdivisions of Río Grande.
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Radar towers atop a mountain at El Yunque rain forest
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Beach in Río Grande
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Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa
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Evening at El Yunque
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Winding road at El Yunque
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Waterfall in El Yunque
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Bridge in Baño Grande
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Waterfall at Baño Grande
See also
In Spanish: Río Grande (Puerto Rico) para niños
