Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico

Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): La Ciudad de las Aguas Claras", "Los Mulos", "El Oasis de Puerto Rico", "Los Ñocos
Anthem: "Aguas claras"

Location of Aguas Buenas within Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°15′25″N 66°06′11″W / 18.25694°N 66.10306°W / 18.25694; -66.10306Coordinates: 18°15′25″N 66°06′11″W / 18.25694°N 66.10306°W / 18.25694; -66.10306
Country  United States
Territory  Puerto Rico
Founded May 25, 1838
Government
 • Mayor Javier García Pérez (PNP)
 • Senatorial dist. 1 – San Juan
 • Representative dist. 5 
Area
 • Total 30.12 sq mi (78.01 km2)
 • Land 30 sq mi (78 km2)
 • Water 0.004 sq mi (.01 km2)
Population (2010)
 • Total 28,659
 • Density 950/sq mi (370/km2)
Demonym(s) Aguasbonenses
Time zone UTC−4 (AST)
Zip code 00703

Aguas Buenas, commonly known as "La Ciudad de las Aguas Claras" (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈaɣwaz ˈβwenas], Good Waters) or "The City of Clear (Good) Waters", is a municipality of Puerto Rico (U.S.) located in the Central Mountain Range, north of Cidra, south of Bayamón, Guaynabo and San Juan; east of Comerio; and north-west of Caguas. Aguas Buenas is spread over 9 wards and Aguas Buenas pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Aguas Buenas was originally a sector of Caguas known as Aguabuena. In 1798, a group of residents started establishing their houses near some of the rivers in the area and started calling the sector Aguas Claras.

The quantity of residents incremented with time and on July 25, 1832, they organized a meeting and commissioned Francisco de Salas Torres and Ramón Díaz to do the necessary arrangements for the region to be declared a municipality. A resident, Julian López, offered part of his estate to be used for the construction of a town square, a church, the city hall, and the priest house.

The town was officially founded on May 25, 1838, and the name was changed to Aguas Buenas. Francisco de Salas Torres was declared the first mayor. Initially, the economy of the town relied on coffee plantations and commerce. At the end of the 19th century, the town's population was close to 7,000.

In 1906, mayor Don José E. Morales bought nearly six acres of terrain from Don Guillermo Díaz Delgado. In these lands, the sectors of La Pajilla, El Pueblito and El Guanábano were established, expanding the town's area.

Geography

The terrain is moderately mountainous located in the Cayey mountain range ("Sierra de Cayey"), part of the Cordillera Central in Puerto Rico. The highest peaks are La Peña, Santa Bárbara, La Tisa, and La Marquesa.

Water features

Several rivers flow through Aguas Buenas. Some of them are the Bayamón River, and several small rivers that are part of the Río Grande de Loíza, like Bairoa, Caguitas, and Cañas.

Barrios

Town square of Aguas Buenas

Aguas Buenas is divided into 10 barrios, including the downtown area:

  • Aguas Buenas Pueblo
  • Bairoa
  • Bayamóncito
  • Cagüitas
  • Jagüeyes
  • Juan Asencio
  • Mulas
  • Mulitas
  • Sonadora
  • Sumidero

Tourism

Some of the places of the landmarks and places of interest in Aguas Buenas are its town square. The Aguas Buenas Caves are also an important landmark, as well as the Palito and La Tiza mountains.

Culture

Sports

Aguas Buenas has an amateur baseball team called the Tigers.

Festivals and events

Several festivals and annual events are held in Aguas Buenas. The Salsa, Bomba & Plena Festival is held in the late summer, while the Fiestas Patronales are held in September 8. There's also an Agricultural Fest held in May and the "Festival Folklórico de Campo y Pueblo" in January. The annual Carnival is also held in March.

Economy

After its foundation, the economy of Aguas Buenas relied mostly on coffee plantations. Currently, Aguas Buenas is home to an important egg producer of the island called Del Campo. The company has over 180,000 laying hens putting out a daily production of 144,000 eggs. There are also several industries of ladies apparel and construction located in the town.

Demographics

Total Population28,659
Population by Sex/Age[1]
Male14,047
Female14,612
Under 187,185
18 & over21,474
20-241,962
25-343,953
35-495,572
50-645,352
65 & over3,787
Population by Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino28,513
Non Hispanic or Latino146
Population by Race
White20,770
African American3,604
Asian25
American Indian and Alaska Native178
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander5
Other2,781
Identified by two or more1,296
Historical population
YearPop.±%
193012,885—    
194014,671+13.9%
195015,565+6.1%
196017,034+9.4%
197018,600+9.2%
198022,429+20.6%
199025,424+13.4%
200029,032+14.2%
201028,659−1.3%

As of 2010, Aguas Buenas has a population of 28,659. Although that represents a decrease of 373 when compared to 2000, its population had steadily increased since 1930. That year, Aguas Buenas registered a population of 12,885.[2]

According to the 2010 Census, 72.5% of the population identifies themselves as White, and 12.6% as African-American. Also, according to the census, the population is equally divided by gender (49% are males, while 51% are females). Finally, 25% of the population is under 18 years old. The next biggest percentage of population (19.4%) is between 35 and 49 years old.[3]

Government

Aguas Buenas' city hall.

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Aguas Buenas is Javier García Pérez, of the New Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected at the 2016 general elections. The city hall is located in front of the town square.

Since 2011, the city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district I, which is represented by two Senators.[4] In 2012, José Nadal Power and Ramón Luis Nieves were elected as District Senators.[5]

Mayors

The following have been the Mayors of the Aguas Buenas Municipality, from its foundation to the present:

YearsMayorYearsMayor
1838-1841Francisco de Salas Torres1903-1904Jacobo Córdova
1841Miguel Díaz1904-1909José E. Morales Díaz
1841-1843José Mariano Benítez1909-1911Carlos Muñoz Díaz
1843Miguel Díaz1911-1913José G. López Alvarado
1842-1846José Manuel de la Vega1913-1917José E. Morales Díaz
1846-1848Marcos Díaz1918-1927Enrique Lizardi
1848-1850Manuel Otero1927José G. Sánchez
1848-1856Manuel Otero1927-1929Alfredo Disdier Pacheco
1856Valentín Pérez1929-1933José G. López Ferrer (Rafael)
1856-1857Isidoro García1933-1937Rafael González López
1857Valentín Pérez1937-1940Pedro G. López
1857-1859José Tomás de Sarraga1940-1944Rafael González López PPD
1859Valentín Pérez1944-1948Rafael Batalla Reyes PER
1859Tomás Paz1948-1956Miran Carrasquillo Cartagena PPD
1859Buenaventura de las Barcenas1956-1960Ramón López Batalla PPD
1859Valentín Pérez1960-1964Ángel Rivera Rodríguez PPD
1859-1862Manuel Boscana Guillermetty1965-1972Ángel T. Arroyo García PPD
1860Valentín Pérez1972-1980Gregorio Torres Velásquez PPD
1862Santiago Pereira1981-1988Gudelio Díaz Morales PPD
1862-1867Juan Eugenio Vizcarrondo1989-1999Carlos Aponte Silva PNP
1867-1898José Martínez Balasquides1999- 2004Buenaventura Dávila Roldán PNP
1867-1898Agustin J. Díaz2004 – presentLuis Arroyo Chiqués PPD
1898-1902Buenaventura Díaz  
1903Pío Rechani

Symbols

Flag

The flag of Aguas Buenas features a blue triangle with the base at the hoist. The triangle has a solitary white star, like the national banner. A second triangle appears interposed with the first one, in yellow, with its point reaching the other end of the flag. The main field of the flag, under both triangles, is color green.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms features a four-paneled shield. The upper left panel shows the Virgin of Monserrate, while the upper right panel features a Taíno, a symbol of the original inhabitants of this region. At the bottom right panel, lies a cornucopia containing the native fruit of Aguas Buenas. This panel represents how the agriculture was the primary source of income for the town. In the lower left panel, there are four maracas and a güicharo, typical instruments of the "jibaros" of Aguas Buenas and Puerto Rico. The crown, as with other municipalities of Puerto Rico, consists of three towers.

Transportation

To reach the town of Aguas Buenas, visitors must take the Puerto Rico Highway 52 to the city of Caguas. From there, road #156 leads directly to the town square. Other roads lead to nearby towns like Comerío.

Education

There are around 14 public schools in Aguas Buenas. As with all other municipalities, education is handled by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. These are divided as follows:

Elementary Schools

  • Dr. Gustavo Muñoz Díaz
  • Ezequiel Ramos La Santa
  • Jagüeyes Abajo
  • José R. González
  • Luis Santaella
  • Luis T. Baliñas
  • Mulitas Alvelo
  • Ramón Luis Rivera/Juan Asencio
  • Santa Clara

Junior High Schools

  • Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
  • Luis Muñoz Marín
  • Su Bayamoncito
  • Su Sumidero

High Schools

  • Josefa Pastrana

Anthem

By Ramón Cintrón

Aguas claras Alma limpia del Coquí, Orgullosos hijos tuyos, Por haber nacido aquí. Indio noble que en cueva nuestro pueblo verde vió.

La Cruz de España en tus venas, rítmico grito africano nuestra estirpe delineó.

Tus femeninas montañas, plenas de café en flor, cristalinas aguas bañan, como concierto de amor.

Cabeza de cordillera, rostro de nuestro país, el cuatro, triple le cantan, tierra fértil de abundancia, de frutos puros de aquí.

Gente clara, gente buena son tu corazón le aman, viva Aguas Buenas ¡Aguas Buenas para mí!

Notable "Aguasbonenses"

  • Victor Hernández Cruz – Poet
  • Gustavo Muñoz Díaz – Dramatist
  • Jacobo Córdova Chirino (1901–1955) – Journalist & Humorist
  • José Arsenio Torres – Professor
  • Luis Rechani Agrait (1902–1997) – Dramatist
  • Pio Rechani – Journalist
  • Rafael Nicolau – Journalist
  • Josefa Pastrana Lopez (1899–1958) – Professor
  • Joyce Giraud – Actress

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2010 US Census Population Data for Aguas Buenas, PR". US Census 2010. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Población de Puerto Rico por Municipios: 1930-2000". CEEPUR. Archived from the original on 2013-03-21.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico". US Census 2010.
  4. ↑ Distribución de Distritos Senatoriales de Puerto Rico on ElectionsPuertoRico
  5. ↑ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived 2013-01-15 at the Wayback Machine. on CEEPUR
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