Toa Alta, Puerto Rico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toa Alta
Municipio Autónomo de Toa Alta
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Town and Municipality
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Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción y San Fernando
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Nicknames:
La Ciudad del Toa,
Cuna de Poetas, Ciudad del Josco |
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Anthem: "Cuna de historia y de grandes poetas" | |||
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Toa Alta Municipality
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Commonwealth | Puerto Rico | ||
Founded | 1751 | ||
Barrios | |||
Area | |||
• Total | 27.44 sq mi (71.08 km2) | ||
• Land | 27.37 sq mi (70.88 km2) | ||
• Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) | ||
Elevation | 236 ft (72 m) | ||
Population
(2020)
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• Total | 66,852 | ||
• Density | 2,435.93/sq mi (940.52/km2) | ||
Demonym(s) | Toalteños | ||
Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) | ||
ZIP Codes |
00953, 00954
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Area code(s) | 787/939 | ||
Major routes |
Toa Alta is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast of the island, north of Naranjito; south of Dorado and Toa Baja; east of Vega Alta and Corozal; and west of Bayamón. Toa Alta is spread over eight barrios and Toa Alta Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo metropolitan statistical area. There are nine barrios in Toa Alta and altogether in 2020 had a population of 66,852. Río de la Plata, is a large river that runs through Toa Alta. Toa Alta celebrates its patron saint festival in May.
Contents
History
Toa Alta located west of the capital city of San Juan, the town was founded in 1751 making it one of the oldest towns on the Island. The construction of the San Fernando Rey church in the town square began in 1752. The name Toa Alta comes from the Taino word for valley, "Thoa". Over the years, agriculture became an important economic force in the area. At the peak of the agricultural economy, the town was also known as the "Granja de los Reyes Católicos" (the Farm of the Catholic Monarchs). The town is also called "Ciudad del Josco". The town is commonly known by its nickname "La Cuna de los Poetas," or "Cradle of Poets," due to the numerous Spanish-language poets who were born there, such as Abelardo Diaz Alfaro and the musician Tomás "Masso" Rivera.
Geography
Toa Alta Northern Coastal Plain and to the karst zone.
Cityscape
Barrios
- Contorno
- Galateo
- Mucarabones/Bucarabones
- Ortiz
- Piñas
- Quebrada Arenas
- Quebrada Cruz
- Río Lajas
Tourism
Landmarks and places of interest
- Legendary Tree "Bala de Cañón"
- Tomas "Maso" Rivera Municipal Teather
- Tomas "Maso" Rivera Statue
- Plaza Recreo Egozcué
- San Fernando Rey Parish
- Villa Tropical Recreation Center
- Plaza Aquarium Mall
- Valle "El Toa"
Culture
Festivals and events
- Chopa Marathon - March
- Festival de Bellas Artes - April
- Patron Celebrations - May
- Typical Music - November
Symbols
Flag
Horizontally divided in three, the bottom and top red stripes double the size of the center yellow stripe. In the upper left corner a yellow eight point star. The original design was elaborated by professor Herman E. Perez and adopted by the City Council in 1983
Coat of arms
The shield in gold, a red board with a silver sword topped with a gold crown of the same metal, to each side two small shields in red, the right-hand one with a tower in gold and the left-hand one with a gold eight point star, a five tower crown lined in black with red openings. Motto: Non Deserit Alta. Prof. Herman E Pérez included in the Coat of Arm this motto so that the present and future generations will remember: “not abandon higher principles and values”
Economy
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1900 | 7,908 | — | |
1910 | 9,127 | 15.4% | |
1920 | 10,505 | 15.1% | |
1930 | 11,696 | 11.3% | |
1940 | 13,371 | 14.3% | |
1950 | 14,155 | 5.9% | |
1960 | 15,711 | 11.0% | |
1970 | 18,964 | 20.7% | |
1980 | 31,910 | 68.3% | |
1990 | 44,101 | 38.2% | |
2000 | 63,929 | 45.0% | |
2010 | 74,066 | 15.9% | |
2020 | 66,852 | −9.7% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1960-2000 2010 2020 |
Education
There are several public and private schools in Toa Alta and public education is handled by the Puerto Rico Department of Education.
Elementary schools
- Alejandro Junior Cruz
- Heraclio Rivera Colón
- José de Diego
- José María del Valle
- Luis Muñoz Rivera
- Manuel Velilla
- María C. Osorio
- Merced Marcano
- Secundino Díaz
- Violanta Jiménez
- Virgilio Morales
Middle and junior high schools
- José Pablo Morales
- Abelardo Díaz Alfaro
- Felipe Díaz González
High schools
- Adela Rolón Fuentes
- Nicolás Sevilla
- Tomás "Maso" Rivera Morales
Private schools
- Academia Cristiana Yarah
- Colegio Doriber
Transportation
There are 16 bridges in Toa Alta. In January, 2019 the mayor of Toa Alta fought for the reopening of highway #861, which, he stated, was closed without warning by Puerto Rico Public Works.
Notable natives and residents
- Sergeants José Díaz and Francisco Díaz – defended Puerto Rico from a British invasion in 1797
- Dayanara Torres Delgado – Miss Universe 1993
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Toa Alta para niños