Camuy, Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Camuy is a municipality
in Puerto Rico
located on the Valley of Quebradillas, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Lares
; east of Quebradillas
; and west of Hatillo
. Camuy is spread over 12 wards and Camuy Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). The town celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2007.
Camuy is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
is located in the northwestern coastal region of Puerto Rico, less than 5 minutes west of Hatillo on PR 2 and PR 119. The name Camuy is known to be derived from the Taíno
language, although a number of legends give differing explanations for the origin of the name. One such legend claims the name comes from the Taíno word for "sun", another claims derivation from camuy
, Taíno for "beautiful scenery", and still another states that Camuy was the name of the Taíno chief Yumac with the letters inverted. The "sun" legend is reflected in the coat of arms for the municipality.
In its beginnings Camuy was integrated into the Partition of San Antonio de la Tuna. The "partitions" were great expanses of land that divided Puerto Rico. This region today is known as Isabela, Puerto Rico
. At the time the partition covered the areas between Aguadilla
and Arecibo, what is known today as the municipalities of Camuy, Hatillo, Quebradillas, Isabela, Utuado
, and San Sebastián
.
The population of Camuy was 40,302 at the 2000 census
, and it has land area of 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²). The municipality is a popular suburb
.
The Camuy River forms part of the hydrographic system with a length of 24 miles, which at one point becomes a narrow canyon that forms one of the most beautiful cave systems in the world: the Rio Camuy Caverns
, first explored in 1958. The Camuy River along with the Caverns are the 3rd largest and longest underground system in the world and the river is one of the few remaining active underground rivers in the Americas, stretching for miles.
The Cibao River is also part of the system.
In terms of commercial development, several fast foods franchises, banks and stores can be found in Camuy. Two strip malls are also planned to be constructed in the city.
Tourism plays an important role in Camuy's economy due in part to the Rio Camuy Caves
, La Cueva de Camuy Recreational Area and Camuy's public beaches.
The patron saint
of Camuy is San José
. His day is celebrated on May 1. The patron saint festivities (Fiestas Patronales) are celebrated every year around the last 2 weeks of the month of May, the month of Saint Joseph. His official liturgical day is May 1.
, The Miraculous Medal (also known as "El Calvario"), in the Piedra Gorda ward and the third one is The Assumption of Mary, located at Barrio Quebrada. The other famous church is the Methodist church named "Iglesia de Piedra" (Church of Stone) because of its design. The whole church is made completely out of stone.
A new municipal sports complex is planned to start construction by the end of 2009.
Municipalities of Puerto Rico
The Municipalities of Puerto Rico number 78 and they make up the smallest electoral division of the Commonwealth. Each municipality is divided into barrios, though the latter are not vested with political authority.-Administrative divisions:...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
located on the Valley of Quebradillas, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Lares
Lares, Puerto Rico
Lares is a small mountain municipality of Puerto Rico's central-western area located north of Maricao and Yauco; south of Camuy, east of San Sebastián and Las Marias; and west of Hatillo, Utuado and Adjuntas. Lares is spread over 10 wards and Lares Pueblo...
; east of Quebradillas
Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
Quebradillas is a municipality of the island of Puerto Rico, located in the north-western shore bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of San Sebastián; east of Isabela; and west of Camuy. Quebradillas is spread over swven wards and Quebradillas Pueblo...
; and west of Hatillo
Hatillo, Puerto Rico
Hatillo is a municipality located on Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spread over 9 wards and Hatillo Pueblo...
. Camuy is spread over 12 wards and Camuy Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). The town celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2007.
Camuy is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Camuy founded in 1807 by Petronila Matos, and formerly part of AreciboArecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo is a municipality in the northern midwest coast of Puerto Rico and located by the Atlantic Ocean, north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta, and Florida. Arecibo is spread over 18 wards and Arecibo Pueblo...
is located in the northwestern coastal region of Puerto Rico, less than 5 minutes west of Hatillo on PR 2 and PR 119. The name Camuy is known to be derived from the Taíno
Taíno language
Taíno, an Arawakan language, was the principal language of the Caribbean islands at the time of the Spanish Conquest, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys, and the Lesser Antilles...
language, although a number of legends give differing explanations for the origin of the name. One such legend claims the name comes from the Taíno word for "sun", another claims derivation from camuy
, Taíno for "beautiful scenery", and still another states that Camuy was the name of the Taíno chief Yumac with the letters inverted. The "sun" legend is reflected in the coat of arms for the municipality.
In its beginnings Camuy was integrated into the Partition of San Antonio de la Tuna. The "partitions" were great expanses of land that divided Puerto Rico. This region today is known as Isabela, Puerto Rico
Isabela, Puerto Rico
Isabela is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the north-western region of the island, north of San Sebastián; west of Quebradillas; and east of Aguadilla and Moca. Isabela is spread over 13 wards and Isabela Pueblo...
. At the time the partition covered the areas between Aguadilla
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Aguadilla , founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is spread over 15 wards and Aguadilla Pueblo...
and Arecibo, what is known today as the municipalities of Camuy, Hatillo, Quebradillas, Isabela, Utuado
Utuado, Puerto Rico
Utuado is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-western mountainous region of the island known as La Cordillera Central. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west of Ciales and Jayuya. In land area it is the third-largest...
, and San Sebastián
San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
San Sebastián is a municipality of Puerto Rico located northwest of the island south of Isabela and Quebradillas; north of Las Marías; east of Moca and Añasco; and west of Lares. San Sebastián is spread over twenty-four wards and San Sebastián Pueblo...
.
The population of Camuy was 40,302 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, and it has land area of 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²). The municipality is a popular suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
.
Flag
The flag is green like the coat of arms. A white undulating band runs horizontally across and is interrupted in the middle by the figure of the Camuy sun, in this case represented by the colors yellow and black.Coat of arms
The silver-waving stripe symbolizes the Camuy River (interrupted in the center because the river goes underground for part of its trajectory). The three tower crown distinguishes Camuy as a municipality.Barrios (Districts/Wards)
- Abra Honda
- Camuy Arriba
- Camuy Pueblo
- Cibao
- Ciénagas
- Membrillo
- Piedra Gorda
- Puente
- PuertosPuertosPuertos is a subdivision of Camuy, Puerto Rico....
- Quebrada
- Santiago
- Yeguada
- Zanja
Geography
Camuy belongs to the zone designated as the plateau of the northwest where the terrain is level and known as the Valley of Quebradillas. Towards the interior of the municipality, the topography becomes very irregular near Cibao. This strip of land, a zone of wooded hills and depressions, divides Camuy completely into two strips, north and south. The northern strip is known as Lomas de los Puertos.The Camuy River forms part of the hydrographic system with a length of 24 miles, which at one point becomes a narrow canyon that forms one of the most beautiful cave systems in the world: the Rio Camuy Caverns
Rio Camuy Caves
The Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy , is one of the largest cave systems in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. It is located between the municipalities of Camuy, Hatillo and Lares in northwestern Puerto Rico, but the main entrance to the park is located in Quebrada, Camuy...
, first explored in 1958. The Camuy River along with the Caverns are the 3rd largest and longest underground system in the world and the river is one of the few remaining active underground rivers in the Americas, stretching for miles.
The Cibao River is also part of the system.
Business
There's an active manufacturing industry in the city, including companies such as Alaska based Cazador Apparel, Seamless Textiles, Hanes, Best Quality Coop and Camuy Furniture Warehouse.In terms of commercial development, several fast foods franchises, banks and stores can be found in Camuy. Two strip malls are also planned to be constructed in the city.
Tourism plays an important role in Camuy's economy due in part to the Rio Camuy Caves
Rio Camuy Caves
The Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy , is one of the largest cave systems in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. It is located between the municipalities of Camuy, Hatillo and Lares in northwestern Puerto Rico, but the main entrance to the park is located in Quebrada, Camuy...
, La Cueva de Camuy Recreational Area and Camuy's public beaches.
Tourism
Camuy is known for its Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy (Camuy River Cave Park), a large network of natural limestone caves and underground waterways shared with nearby municipalities of Hatillo and Lares. The cave system was first documented in the 1973 book Discovery At The Rio Camuy (ISBN 0-517-50594-0) by Russell and Jeanne Gurnee. The park built around the cave system features tours of some of the caves, and is one of the most popular natural attractions in Puerto Rico. The caverns were created by the Río Camuy (Camuy River), the third longest underground river in the world. In recognition of this, the Camuy coat of arms includes a symbol for the underground river.Landmarks and places of interest
- Hacienda Morell
- Peñon Brussi Beach
- Peñon Amador Beach (Home of the Flamingo)
- Rio Camuy Cave Park
- La Cueva de Camuy
- El Cerro De Perico
- Paseo Tablado del Rio Camuy
- Iglesia de Piedra
- Camuy History Museum
Festivals and events
- Velorio Tres Reyes Magos or Three Kings Celebration - January
- Mondongo Festival - February
- Camuy Carnival - February
- Balseada del Rio Camuy - March
- Patron Festivities San José - May
- Peñon Brussi Beach Festival - July
- Cultural Fair - November
The patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Camuy is San José
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
. His day is celebrated on May 1. The patron saint festivities (Fiestas Patronales) are celebrated every year around the last 2 weeks of the month of May, the month of Saint Joseph. His official liturgical day is May 1.
Education
Camuy currently has:- 11 Public Elementary Schools
- 5 Public Junior High Schools
- 3 Public High Schools
- 1 Private Elementary School
- 1 Community College
Religion
Just like the whole island, Camuy is first and foremost Catholic but there are other religions present in the town, including Protestant denominations such as the Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Methodists, and others. There are three Roman Catholic Parishes in Camuy, San Jose Parish named after the patron of the town and located in the town square, Saint JosephSaint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
, The Miraculous Medal (also known as "El Calvario"), in the Piedra Gorda ward and the third one is The Assumption of Mary, located at Barrio Quebrada. The other famous church is the Methodist church named "Iglesia de Piedra" (Church of Stone) because of its design. The whole church is made completely out of stone.
Sports
The town has many sports (Volleyball, Basketball, Martial Arts, Swimming etc.) but most notably are their baseball teams. Many of them are part of the little league and the intermediate system but at the top the two professional Class A and Double AA baseball teams called "Los Arenosos" (Referring to the abundance of sand from the coastline).A new municipal sports complex is planned to start construction by the end of 2009.
Books about Camuy
- Discovery at the Rio Camuy (amazon link) by Russell & Jeanne Gurnee
- El Solar Morell de Camuy: Sus Ascendientes y Descendientes (amazon link) by P.A. Morell Muñoz