Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Hato Rey is a former ward located in the northwest part of the dissolved municipality
of Río Piedras
. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan
, Puerto Rico
:
Because of its location, many Puerto Ricans travelling to Old San Juan must drive through Hato Rey.
Its name means "the king's cattle farm (hato)". In the 18th century, cattle would roam among the sugar cane fields in the area. Its proximity to residential areas in San Juan, Río Piedras, Miramar, etc. made it a perfect location from where to produce what its residents would eat. The area also used to be known as "Las Monjas" (the nuns) due to a convent that used to be located in the area in the 19th century.
The Northern portion of Hato Rey is a startling contrast between the ward of the very poor and La Milla de Oro (The Golden Mile), a stretch that effectively covers only one mile but that is home to the headquarters of many large local and international bank
s that are one of the most important centers of Puerto Rico
and the Caribbean's economy and some upper middle class condominiums.
Hato Rey is also home to a series of boutiques and restaurants (mostly among Roosevelt avenue). The José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum
and the Tren Urbano
(Urban Train) are reshaping Hato Rey and bringing people into the area after hours. The train is also helping to ease traffic woes in the area by decongesting the roads. Fi Sigma Alfa Fraternity's main headquarters are located in Mexico Street, Chile corner of Hato Rey.
Important buildings in Hato Rey include the Banco Popular headquarters, Plaza Las Américas
, and the Roberto Clemente Coliseum
. Puerto Rico's FBI headquarters are also located in Hato Rey. Because of the area's closeness to the airport
, major airlines, such as Avianca
, have had their offices in Hato Rey.
Compaq
at one point operated its Puerto Rico offices in Hato Rey.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Río Piedras
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, 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...
:
- Hato Rey CentralHato Rey Central, San Juan, Puerto RicoWith a population density of 20,320.7 per square mile , Hato Rey Central is the most densely populated barrio in the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico...
- Hato Rey Norte
- Hato Rey Sur
Because of its location, many Puerto Ricans travelling to Old San Juan must drive through Hato Rey.
Its name means "the king's cattle farm (hato)". In the 18th century, cattle would roam among the sugar cane fields in the area. Its proximity to residential areas in San Juan, Río Piedras, Miramar, etc. made it a perfect location from where to produce what its residents would eat. The area also used to be known as "Las Monjas" (the nuns) due to a convent that used to be located in the area in the 19th century.
The Northern portion of Hato Rey is a startling contrast between the ward of the very poor and La Milla de Oro (The Golden Mile), a stretch that effectively covers only one mile but that is home to the headquarters of many large local and international bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
s that are one of the most important centers of 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...
and the Caribbean's economy and some upper middle class condominiums.
Hato Rey is also home to a series of boutiques and restaurants (mostly among Roosevelt avenue). The José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum
José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum
The José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, officially named "Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot" , is the biggest indoor arena in Puerto Rico dedicated to entertainment...
and the Tren Urbano
Tren Urbano
The Tren Urbano — or Urban Train in English — is a fully automated rapid transit that serves the metropolitan area of San Juan, which includes the municipalities of San Juan, Bayamón and Guaynabo. It is electrified by third rail at 750 V DC...
(Urban Train) are reshaping Hato Rey and bringing people into the area after hours. The train is also helping to ease traffic woes in the area by decongesting the roads. Fi Sigma Alfa Fraternity's main headquarters are located in Mexico Street, Chile corner of Hato Rey.
Economy
Plaza Las Américas
Plaza Las Américas is a shopping mall in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico, located at the intersection of Routes 18 and 22. It is near the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, and the WKAQ-TV's studios. "Plaza", as it is known to many Puerto Ricans, was the first indoor mall built...
, and the Roberto Clemente Coliseum
Roberto Clemente Coliseum
The Roberto Clemente Coliseum is a sporting events and concert arena in San Juan, Puerto Rico.It was, for many years, Puerto Rico's largest indoor event facility, and it continues being one of the largest....
. Puerto Rico's FBI headquarters are also located in Hato Rey. Because of the area's closeness to the airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
, major airlines, such as Avianca
Avianca
Avianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...
, have had their offices in Hato Rey.
Compaq
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation is a personal computer company founded in 1982. Once the largest supplier of personal computing systems in the world, Compaq existed as an independent corporation until 2002, when it was acquired for US$25 billion by Hewlett-Packard....
at one point operated its Puerto Rico offices in Hato Rey.