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Toa Alta, Puerto Rico facts for kids

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Toa Alta

Municipio Autónomo de Toa Alta
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción y San Fernando
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción y San Fernando
Flag of Toa Alta
Flag
Coat of arms of Toa Alta
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
La Ciudad del Toa,
Cuna de Poetas,
Ciudad del Josco
Anthem: "Cuna de historia y de grandes poetas"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Toa Alta Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Toa Alta Municipality
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)
 • Total 66,852
 • Density 2,435.93/sq mi (940.52/km2)
Demonym(s) Toalteños
Time zone UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Codes
00953, 00954
Area code(s) 787/939
Major routes PR secondary 5.svg PR secondary 167.svg PR secondary 142.svg PR secondary 159.svg PR secondary 165.svg Ellipse sign 199.svg Ellipse sign 861.svg

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.

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
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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Toa Alta para niños

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