San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Lorenzo
Municipio Autónomo de San Lorenzo
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Town and Municipality
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Hills and valley in San Lorenzo
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| Nicknames:
"Pueblo de Los Samaritanos", ("Town of Samaritans"), "La Tierra de Leyendas", ("Land of Legends")
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| Anthem: "Son tus campos de bellísimo verdor" | |||
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting San Lorenzo Municipality
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| Sovereign state |  United States |
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| Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico |
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| Founded | 1811 | ||
| Founded by | Valeriano Muñoz de Oneca | ||
| Barrios | |||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 53.3 sq mi (138.07 km2) | ||
| • Land | 53.3 sq mi (138 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.07 km2) 0%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 37,693 | ||
| • Rank | 27th in Puerto Rico | ||
| • Density | 707.2/sq mi (272.999/km2) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Sanlorenceños | ||
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) | ||
| ZIP Code |
00754
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| Area code(s) | 787/939 | ||
| Major routes |    |
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San Lorenzo (Spanish pronunciation: [san loˈɾenso], local pronunciation: [ˌsaŋ loˈɾeŋso]; Spanish for "Saint Lawrence") is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the eastern central region, north of Patillas and Yabucoa; south of Gurabo; east of Caguas and Cayey; and west of Juncos and Las Piedras. San Lorenzo is spread over twelve barrios and San Lorenzo Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
San Lorenzo is called "The town of the Samaritans" and "Land of Legends." The patron of the municipality is Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (Our Lady of Mercedes). The surrounding areas produce tobacco and sugar cane.
Contents
History
San Lorenzo was founded in 1737 and the church was erected in 1811, the original name San Miguel de Hato Grande was changed to San Lorenzo. According to tradition it was because the latter saint appeared to several neighbors in the river valley. San Lorenzo is known as "The People of the Samaritans" because of the following story; "By 1920, in the barrio Hato of San Lorenzo according to the media available at the time and verbal testimonies of people who are still alive, crowds of people climbed a mountain where a young girl of 12 years of age lived. This young girl named Julia Vazquez Torres, according to some sources, had a supernatural power that repeatedly gave healing to people in need. These undeniable achievements were not present at the time, she used home remedies applied with medicinal plants and minerals and the purity of the water from a well, near the mountain where people came to see her. As time passed, she became an adult, but her reputation for integrity and dedication to the wellbeing of the people accompanied her every day her life".
Geography
San Lorenzo is located in the eastern central region, north of Patillas and Yabucoa; south of Gurabo; east of Caguas and Cayey; and west of Juncos and Las Piedras.
- Cayey Mountain Range
- Rivers
- Río Cayaguás
- Río Emajagua
- Río Grande de Loíza
- Río de Las Vegas
- Wards or barrios
- Pueblo - Population 2,490
- Cayaguas _ Population 1,345
- Cerro Gordo - Population 4,400
- Espino - Population 3,345
- Florida - Population 5,791
- Hato - Population 7,109
- Jagual - Population 4,316
- Quebrada - Population 2,231
- Quebrada Arenas - Population 2,751
- Quebrada Honda - Population 2,309
- Quemados - Population 4,771
- Landmarks and places of interest
- Priscilla Flores Theater
- Santuario de la Virgen del Carmen en la Santa Montaña (Holy Mountain)
- Gallera San Carlos-(Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday; Tel.(787)734-7126
- Río Grande de Loíza
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (church); a National Historic Site; built in 1737 and renovated in 1993.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 13,433 | — | |
| 1910 | 14,278 | 6.3% | |
| 1920 | 18,136 | 27.0% | |
| 1930 | 23,479 | 29.5% | |
| 1940 | 26,627 | 13.4% | |
| 1950 | 29,248 | 9.8% | |
| 1960 | 27,950 | −4.4% | |
| 1970 | 27,755 | −0.7% | |
| 1980 | 32,428 | 16.8% | |
| 1990 | 35,163 | 8.4% | |
| 2000 | 40,997 | 16.6% | |
| 2010 | 41,058 | 0.1% | |
| 2020 | 37,693 | −8.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1960-2000 2010 2020 |
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Tourism
Landmarks and places of interest
- Priscilla Flores Theater
- Santuario de la Virgen del Carmen in Montaña Santa
- Gallera San Carlos
- Residencia Machín–Ramos
- Río Grande de Loíza (its main source is located within municipal boundaries)
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (the church located on the main town square); a historic church built in 1737 and renovated in 1993.
- Hacienda Muñoz
Economy
- Agriculture
The economy of San Lorenzo was founded on livestock farming and later included the cultivation of sugar cane, which had been processed on steam-driven farms with oxen. Coffee and fruits are also now cultivated in the municipality. Timber production, which was once very prolific, has declined due to the uncontrolled exploitation of forests.
- Industry
Clothing, pharmaceuticals, footwear, electromechanical equipment, industrial and household paints.
Culture
Festivals and events
San Lorenzo celebrates its patron saint festival in September. The Fiestas Patronales Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.
Other festivals and events celebrated in San Lorenzo include:
- Three Kings Caroling-January
- Cavalcade Moncho Roldán-January
- Candelaria Celebrations-February
- Kite Festival-March
- Cross Celebrations-May
- Embroidering and Weave Festival-September
- Passion Fruit Festival-November
Sports
- Double-A (baseball) team Los Samaritanos - National Champions in 1975, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002
- Agustin Reyes Half Marathon
Transportation
There are 49 bridges in San Lorenzo.
Symbols
The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.
Flag
The flag of San Lorenzo is divided in four rectangles of equal size, two rectangles are yellow and the other two are striped with red and yellow stripes.
Coat of arms The grill is the traditional symbol of San Lorenzo, deacon and martyr, patron of the town, because in a grill he underwent the martyrdom, slowly burned to death. The hill or mountain represent the Gregorio Hill, which dominates the San Lorenzo panorama. The cross is one of the heraldic attributes of San Miguel Arcángel.
Coat of arms
The grill is the traditional symbol of San Lorenzo, deacon and martyr, patron of the town, because in a grill he underwent the martyrdom, slowly burned to death. The hill or mountain represent the Gregorio Hill, which dominates the San Lorenzo panorama. The cross is one of the heraldic attributes of San Miguel Arcángel.
Notable people
- Chayanne - Singer and actor
- Ernestina Reyes “La Calandria” - Singer
- José Tous Soto - Former Speaker House Of Representatives
- Antonio Fernós-Isern - Former Resident Commissioner
- José Aponte Hernandéz - Former Speaker House Of Representatives
- Carmita Jiménez - Singer
- Priscila Flores - Singer
- El Invader #1- Puerto Rican wrestler
- Dr. Marc H. Rosa, - Former Teacher, School Administrator And University Professor
- Josúe "Jay" Fonseca - Political Commentator
- Edwin Cruz - Lead Singer - “Mechi”
- Antulio Parrilla Bonilla - Father of Puerto Rican Cooperative Movement, Jesuit priest.
- Victor Rivera - Wrestler
See also
In Spanish: San Lorenzo (Puerto Rico) para niños
