Gurabo, Puerto Rico

Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Municipality

Flag
Nickname(s): El Pueblo de las Escaleras", "Puerta del Turismo del Sureste
Anthem: "En un valle rodeado por montañas nace un"

Location of Gurabo in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°15′16″N 65°58′23″W / 18.25444°N 65.97306°W / 18.25444; -65.97306Coordinates: 18°15′16″N 65°58′23″W / 18.25444°N 65.97306°W / 18.25444; -65.97306
Country United States
Territory Puerto Rico
Founded 1815
Government
 • Mayor Rosachely Rivera (NPP)
 • Senatorial dist. 7 - Humacao
 • Representative dist. 31,32
Area
 • Total 28.28 sq mi (73.24 km2)
 • Land 27.84 sq mi (72.11 km2)
 • Water 0.44 sq mi (1.13 km2)
Population (2010)
 • Total 45,369
 • Density 1,600/sq mi (620/km2)
Demonym(s) Gurabeños
Time zone UTC-4 (AST)
Zip code 00778
Area code 787, 939
Website gurabopr.com

Gurabo (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡuˈɾaβo]) is a municipality in eastern Puerto Rico (U.S.) located in the central eastern region, north of San Lorenzo; south of Trujillo Alto; east of Caguas; and west of Carolina and Juncos. Gurabo is spread over 9 wards and Gurabo Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Gurabo's history dates as far back as the 17th century, when Gurabo was actually part of Caguas. Then, the area was known as Burabo. By 1700, transportation, medical and economic trouble were crippling the population of the Burabo area; traveling to Caguas' center for business and medical help was not easy and took hours. This led to many of Burabos citizens to seek for the area to gain autonomy.

It would be long, however, before Gurabo was separated from Caguas. The separation movement was brought forward by an 1812 meeting of all 168 family leaders in Gurabo, who decided to have Luis del Carmen Echevarría lead them in their quest for autonomic independence, based on the large number of residents in Burabo.

In 1815, Gurabo became a municipality. In 1822, the first Catholic church in town was erected. In 1903, the first Baptist church opened its doors in Gurabo town.

Gurabo is also known as "La Ciudad de las Escaleras", or "city of the stairs". Located in the town center, the stairs are about twenty two floors high, and they are painted in bright colors. They cross an important business area of Gurabo. Gurabo's mayor is Rosachely Rivera Santana.

Geography

Mountains of Gurabo.

Cityscape

Barrios

  • Celada
  • Hato Nuevo
  • Jaguar
  • Jaguas
  • Mamey
  • Masas
  • Navarro
  • Rincón

Economy

Agriculture

  • Dairy Farms

Industry

Manufacturing (metal, paper, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electrical and electronic equipment, and electrical machinery)

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

  • Centro de Exposición
  • Cofresí Park
  • Del Turabo University Museum
  • Hacienda Mirador
  • Loíza Lagoon

Culture

Festivals and events

  • San José Patron Festivities - March
  • Mapeyé Festival - October

Sports

Gurabo has a baseball academy named Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School (PRBAHS).

Colegio Bautista de Gurabo (Sports: Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Track and Field.) colegiobautistadegurabo.com

Demographics

In 2000, Gurabo had a population of 36,743 and in 2010 it had a population of 45,369.[1]

Government

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Gurabo is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Rosachely Rivera, from the New Progressive Party (PNP). Rivera was elected at the Gurabo mayor special election, 2017.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VII, which is represented by two Senators. In 2016, Miguel Laureano and José Luis Dalmau were elected as District Senators.[2]

Symbols

Flag

With eleven stripes, six green and five yellow, alternated, the yellow with the superior (top) edge indented forming a stairway.

Coat of Arms

In a green field resides a widened gold patriarchal cross. Below the bottom arm are two shields in silver. The one on the left has a fleur de lis and the one on the right three lilies with stems in a natural way. Three towers in gold crown the shield.

Education

  • Turabo University
  • Puerto Rico Criminal Justice College- Gurabo campus (Puerto Rico Police Academy)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gurabo". Fact Finder US Census.
  2. ↑ Elecciones Generales 2016: Escrutinio General Archived 2013-01-15 at the Wayback Machine. on CEEPUR
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