Villalba, Puerto Rico

Villalba, Puerto Rico
Municipality

Flag
Nickname(s): Ciudad de los Avancinos", "Ciudad del Gandul", "Ciudad de los Lagos", "Ciudad del Cooperativismo
Anthem: "A las orillas del Río Jacaguas"

Location of Villalba in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°07′38″N 66°29′32″W / 18.12722°N 66.49222°W / 18.12722; -66.49222Coordinates: 18°07′38″N 66°29′32″W / 18.12722°N 66.49222°W / 18.12722; -66.49222
Country United States
Territory Puerto Rico
Founded 1917
Government
 • Mayor Hon. Luis Javier 'Javi' Hernández Ortiz (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist. 6 - Guayama
Area
 • Total 37.69 sq mi (97.61 km2)
 • Land 37 sq mi (96 km2)
 • Water 0.62 sq mi (1.61 km2)
Population (2010)
 • Total 26,073
 • Density 690/sq mi (270/km2)
Demonym(s) Villalbeños
Time zone UTC−4 (AST)
Zip code 00766

Villalba (Spanish pronunciation: [biˈʎalβa]) (a shortening of Villa Alba) is a municipality of Puerto Rico (U.S.) located in the central region, northeast of Juana Díaz; south of Orocovis; and west of Coamo. Villalba is spread over 6 wards and Villalba Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the Ponce Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Villalba was founded in 1917 by José Ramón Figueroa y Rivera and Walter McJones. Its current mayor is the Hon. Luis Javier Hernàndez.

Geography

  • Guayabal Lake
  • Toa Vaca Lake
  • Toro Negro Forest Reserve

Cityscape

Barrios

  • Caonillas Abajo[1]
  • Caonillas Arriba
  • Hato Puerco Abajo
  • Hato Puerco Arriba
  • Vacas
  • Villalba Abajo
  • Villalba Arriba
  • Villalba El Pino
  • Villalba La Serirria

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

  • Guayabal Lake
  • La Corona Hill
  • Toa Vaca Lake
  • Toro Negro Forest Reserve
  • Biblioteca Pública
  • Centro de Bellas Artes Hon. Adrian Rosado
  • Iglesia Católica Nuestra Señora del Carmen

Economy

Agriculture

  • Coffee, Green Pigeon Peas.

Industry

  • Manufacturing of aluminum packaging and electrical and electronic machinery, nutritional products, medical devices, and others.

Culture

Festivals and events

  • Matron Celebrations - July
  • Puerto Rico Marathon - July
  • Areyto Festival - November
  • Carlos Báez Marathon - December
  • Festival del ñame y carne frita- November
  • Celebración del centenario- Abril 2017

Government

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. Waldemar Rivera Torres (of the Popular Democratic Party) has served as mayor since 2005 to 2012. The actual mayor is Javier (Javi) Hernández. He has been the mayor since 2013.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Miguel Pereira Castillo and Angel M. Rodríguez were elected as District Senators.[2]

Symbols

Flag

Four horizontal, unequal stripes in width, that from top to bottom have the following order: green, white, green and yellow. In the immediate side to the flagstaff, in the superior stripe, appears, in white color, the star of the shield.

Education

  • Villalba School District (Puerto Rico Department of Education)
  • Puerto Rico Criminal Justice College- Villalba Campus (Puerto Rico Police Academy)

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/villalba.pdf
  2. ↑ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived December 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. on CEEPUR
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