Humacao, Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Humacao is a city 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 in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa
Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Yabucoa is a small town in the south eastern tip of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas and about one hour from San Juan. Yabucoa is spread over 9 wards and Yabucoa Pueblo...
; south of Naguabo
Nagüabo, Puerto Rico
Naguabo is a municipality in Puerto Rico located in the east coast of the island, north of Humacao; south of Río Grande and Ceiba; and east of Las Piedras. Naguabo is spread over 8 wards and Naguabo Pueblo...
; east of Las Piedras
Las Piedras, Puerto Rico
Las Piedras is a municipality in east Puerto Rico located in the center region of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Canóvanas and Río Grande; east of Juncos and San Lorenzo; and west of Naguabo and Humacao. Las Piedras is spread over 7 wards and Las Piedras Pueblo...
; and west of Vieques Passage
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Vieques , in full Isla de Vieques, is an island–municipality of Puerto Rico in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands...
. Humacao is spread over 10 wards and Humacao Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Humacao has three secondary care hospitals (HIMA-San Pablo Humacao, Dr. Domínguez (Clínica Oriente), and Ryder Memorial).
Humacao is famous all over Puerto Rico for its granitos, a greasy snack food
Snack food
A snack is a portion of food oftentimes smaller than that of a regular meal, that is generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged and processed foods and items made from fresh ingredients at home....
which is composed of fried rice flour with cheese in its center. People have for years driven to Humacao from other cities just to taste this snack food.
History
Jumacao
Jumacao a.k.a. Jumaca was the Taíno Cacique of the area in Puerto Rico named after him .-Before and after the arrival of the Conquistadors:...
, a beautiful monument of whom welcomes visitors from the east. Humacao's mayor is Marcelo Trujillo Panisse, a peaceful, chubby, noble-hearted, outstanding basketball player and community leader.
On March, 2008, a new Roman Catholic diocese was established as the Fajardo-Humacao diocese. Its first bishop is Monsignor Eusebio 'Chebito' Ramos Morales, a maunabeño who was rector of the Humacao's main parish in the 1990s.
For almost a decade, Humacao has been led by mayor Marcelo Trujillo-Panisse, a chubby, easy-going, and charismatic man, with strong convictions on his people's power to achieve goals. A basketball star in his early years, he is pushing for the development of magnificent infrastructure facilities for sports and the fine arts. First lady Rosin Plumey is, certainly, the promotor behind his projects and decisions.
Flag
It consists of three horizontal stripes: gold that stands for Chief Jumacao's crown, red that symbolizes the Coat of Arms and the green that represents the arrows used by the Taínos.Coat of arms
The coat of arms consists of two colors, gold and green. The gold represents the sun, Humacao is located in the island were the sun rises. Green symbolizes the native Indian heritage as well as the natural tropical valley where the city is located. The shield itself represents Humacao's native and Indian name origin.Barrios (Districts/Wards)
- Antón Ruiz
- Buena Vista
- Candelero Abajo
- Candelero Arriba
- Cataño
- Collores
- Cotto Mabu
- Jaguelles
- Junquito
- Las Asturianas
- Mabú
- Mambiche (Blanco and Prieto)
- Mariana
- Pasto Viejo
- Punta Santiago
- Palmas Del Mar
- Río Abajo
- Tejas
Topography
- Rivers are: Antón Ruíz, Candelero and Humacao
- Gulches are: Cataño, Del Obispo, Del Inglés, Frontera and Mariana
- Two islands belong to Humacao:
- Cayo SantiagoCayo SantiagoCayo Santiago, also known as Isla de los monos , is an uninhabited island, located at , 950 m southeast of Punta Santiago, Humacao, Puerto Rico.-Geography:...
(Monkey Island) (including Cayo de los Algodones) - Cayo BatataCayo BatataCayo Batata is an uninhabited, grass-covered island, located at , 600 m east of Morro de Humacao, the closest mainland feature , in Humacao, Puerto Rico.-Geography:...
- Cayo Santiago
Economy
Tourism
Palmas del MarPalmas Del Mar Beach Resort
Palmas del Mar is a beach resort located in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico, on the southeast corner of the island.It is the largest master-planned community in the Caribbean...
, the island's largest resort, makes Humacao its home. This megaresort is composed of over 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of land and occupies the entire south eastern portion of the municipal territory. The resort contains over 20 tennis courts, two world-class golf courses, miles of unspoiled beaches, several restaurants and a world class riding center.
Landmarks and places of interest
- Astronomical Observatory
- Buena Vista Beach
- Casa RoigCasa RoigCasa Roig is a Prairie School-style house designed by architect Antonin Nechodoma and built in Humacao, Puerto Rico in 1920. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The house has been restored and is now a museum of regional history and contemporary art...
- El Morrillo Beach
- Guzmán Ermit
- Punta Santiago Beach
- Wildlife Refuge
- The Co-cathedral
- La Casona (Municipal cultural venue)
Festivals and events
The Fiesta patronalFiesta patronal
The Fiestas patronales are yearly celebrations held in countries influenced by Spanish culture.A fiesta patronal is usually dedicated to a saint or virgin, who is the patron of whichever city holds the fiesta. Usually, town members adorn the town streets with colorful decorations and other things...
dedicated to the Immaculate Conception is held at the beginning of December. It has lost most of its religious content to become a popular festival with live music, food, drinks and verbenas.
The Breadfruit
Breadfruit
Breadfruit is a species of flowering tree in the mulberry family, Moraceae, growing throughout Southeast Asia and most Pacific Ocean islands...
Festival (Festival de la Pana) is celebrated during the first weekend of September. It is organized by the Mariana's Recreational and Cultural Association (ARECMA), a community organization of the Barrio Mariana. Its main theme is about the preparation of dishes whose main ingredient is breadfruit. Typical Puerto Rican music, crafts and foods as well as other cultural and sports activities can also be enjoyed. Most years it has been held at one of the highest places of the sector with a spectacular view to Humacao, Las Piedras
Las Piedras, Puerto Rico
Las Piedras is a municipality in east Puerto Rico located in the center region of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Canóvanas and Río Grande; east of Juncos and San Lorenzo; and west of Naguabo and Humacao. Las Piedras is spread over 7 wards and Las Piedras Pueblo...
, Naguabo, Vieques and Yabucoa.
One of Puerto Rico's most important charity fund-raising activities, La Buena Vida Festival, takes place in Palmas del Mar every year. Now in its 15th year, La Buena Vida gathers several hundred good-hearted Puerto Ricans and visitors from abroad, to enjoy fine art, excellent food from our foremost chefs-de-cuisine, and the best wines available in Puerto Rico. A silent art and wine auction is held at the peak of the activity. Led by chairlady Ivonne Cruz-Serrano, last year's LBVF was able to collect close to $100,000.00 for four of our Eastern region service organizations.
Every February, the community gathers to celebrate the Festival Comunitario de Humacao, sponsored by the Dulce Nombre de Jesús parish. A big celebration, indeed, where people of all creeds celebrate Life with nearby towns neighbours.
Transportation
Humacao's airportHumacao Airport
Humacao Airport is a public use airport owned by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Humacao, a city in Puerto Rico....
is no longer used for daily flights to Vieques
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Vieques , in full Isla de Vieques, is an island–municipality of Puerto Rico in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands...
and Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Isla Culebra is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico originally called Isla Pasaje and Isla de San Ildefonso. It is located approximately east of the Puerto Rican mainland, west of St. Thomas and north of Vieques. Culebra is spread over 5 wards and Culebra Pueblo...
as it was in the past. It is now used for charter flights and for skydiving. The skydiving facilities located in Humacao are of the most actively used on the island.
Humacao is served by two freeways and one tolled expressway, therefore is one of a few cities in Puerto Rico with good access. Puerto Rico Highway 30
Puerto Rico Highway 30
Puerto Rico Highway 30, or PR-30 is a main freeway in Puerto Rico which connects the city of Caguas to the town of Humacao.-Exits:It is 30 kilometers long, and has several exits :CAGUAS...
, Autopista Cruz Ortiz Stella, serves as the main highway coming from the west (Caguas, Las Piedras), while Puerto Rico Highway 53
Puerto Rico Highway 53
Puerto Rico Highway 53 is a main tollway that is parallel to Puerto Rico Highway 3, which goes from Fajardo to Salinas. Some segments are still under construction, but when finished it will have about of length. Two tunnels, about 1 km long each, in the towns of Yabucoa and Maunabo were...
serves from the north (Fajardo, Naguabo) and south (Yabucoa). Puerto Rico Highway 60
Puerto Rico Highway 60
Puerto Rico Highway 60 or PR-60 is a 3 km long freeway entirely located in Humacao, Puerto Rico. It connects Puerto Rico Highway 30 to Puerto Rico Highway 3 and has two exits:...
, the Carretera Dionisio Casillas, is a short freeway located entirely in Humacao, and has exits serving downtown Humacao and Anton Ruiz.
Puerto Rico Highway 3
Puerto Rico Highway 3
Puerto Rico Highway 3 ' at nearly 101 miles long, is the second longest highway on Puerto Rico . It connects the San Juan neighborhood of Rio Piedras to downtown Salinas indirectly around the eastern coast of the island...
, the main highway bordering the east coastline of Puerto Rico from San Juan, passes through Humacao and has its only alt route in the town, known locally as the Bulevar del Rio (River Boulevard) where it has access to the main judiciary center of the city, as well as a future theatre that is being built, the Centro de Bellas Artes de Humacao (Humacao Fine Arts Center). The alt route allows people to pass by the downtown area, as PR-3 enters into the downtown and business center of the town.
Puerto Rico Highway 908
Puerto Rico Highway 908
Puerto Rico Highway 908 is a main highway in the city of Humacao, Puerto Rico. It begins in PR-3 as a two-lane per direction road, which ends being that way approaching University of Puerto Rico at Humacao. It intersects PR-30 just before approaching the institution. After that it becomes a rural...
is another important highway, which begins at PR-3 and intersects PR-30 and has access to the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, as well as some main schools.
Humacao, together with San Juan and Salinas, is one of three municipalities in Puerto Rico that has controlled-access highways leaving its boundaries in all directions (in this case north to Naguabo and south to Yabucoa via PR-53 and west to Las Piedras via PR-30)
Education
There are various excellent elementary and high school facilities, three of which were recognized by the Middle States Association of Secondary Schools and each has their own National Honor Society chapters.The University of Puerto Rico at Humacao
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao
The University of Puerto Rico at Humacao is a state university located in the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico...
, formerly the CUH, educates over 4,000 students and is well known for its sciences, producing many of the island's most skilled microbiologists, marine biologists, wildlife biologists and chemists at the undergraduate level. It also manages an astronomical observatory where many tourists and locals come visit and view the stars and planets and the Museo Casa Roig were arts expositions and cultural events are celebrated.
Sports
The Grises basketball team (Humacao Grays), founded in 2005, belongs to Puerto Rico's National Superior Basketball league. In 2010, they changed their name to the Caciques de HumacaoCaciques de Humacao
The Caciques de Humacao is a BSN basketball team in Humacao, a town in the east of Puerto Rico. The team was created in 2005, when the now extinct Toritos de Cayey franchise was moved to Humacao. The Grises' homecourt is the Emilio Huyke coliseum...
. They play on the Emilio E. Huyke Coliseum
Emilio E. Huyke Coliseum
Emilio E. Huyke Coliseum is an indoor sporting arena located in Humacao, Puerto Rico. The coliseum is named after sports writer and former Secretary of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, Emilio E. Huyke....
.
The Grises is also a Double A class amateur baseball team that has won one championship (1951) and four sub-championships (1950, 1960, 1965 and 1967).
Notable natives and residents
- Rita MorenoRita MorenoRita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the only Hispanic and one of the few performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, and was the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award....
, Academy Award-winning actress - Rafael PérezRafael Pérez (police officer)Rafael Antonio "Ray" Pérez , is a former Los Angeles Police Department C.R.A.S.H officer and the central figure in the LAPD Rampart Scandal. He was involved in the coverup of a $722,000 bank robbery, shot and framed Javier Ovando, and stole and resold at least $800,000 of cocaine from LAPD...
, notable criminal figure - Edwin NúñezEdwin NúñezEdwin Núñez Martínez was a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners , New York Mets , Detroit Tigers , Milwaukee Brewers , Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics ....
, Professional Baseball Player - Luis Rafael SánchezLuis Rafael SanchezDr. Luis Rafael Sánchez a.k.a. "Wico" is a Puerto Rican playwright. Possibly his best known play is La Pasión según Antigona Pérez , a tragedy based on the life of Olga Viscal Garriga-Early years:...
, Novelist and author - Rafael Martinez TorresRafael Martínez TorresRafael Martínez Torres is a Puerto Rican jurist. Since 2009 he has served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.-Early life and education:...
, Justice, Supreme Court of Puerto Rico - Eddie MiróEddie MiróEddie Miró , is a television show host in Puerto Rico of Sephardic origin. He is best known for being the host of Telemundo Puerto Rico's variety show "El Show de las 12" for over 40 years...
, TV personality - Tito RojasTito RojasJulio César Rojas better known"El Gallo Salsero" Tito Rojas is a salsa singer and bandleader.-Early years:...
, Salsa singer - Adamari LópezAdamari LópezAdamari López Torres is a Puerto Rican actress famous for participating in several Puerto Rican and Mexican soap operas.-Early career:...
, Actress - JumacaoJumacaoJumacao a.k.a. Jumaca was the Taíno Cacique of the area in Puerto Rico named after him .-Before and after the arrival of the Conquistadors:...
, Taino Cacique - Benito Pastoriza IyodoBenito Pastoriza IyodoBenito Pastoriza Iyodo is a Puerto Rican author of poetry, fiction and literary articles. He is known for the daring topics of his literary creations, which are both lyrical and thought provoking. He writes primarily in Spanish...
, Poet, Narrator and Essayist - Carlos PonceCarlos PonceCarlos Armando Ponce, Jr. is a Puerto Rican actor, singer, composer and television personality. Ponce began his acting career by participating in Spanish language soap operas for Televisa and Telemundo. Ponce continued to expand his acting career by participating in various American television...
, Actor - Luis Antonio RiveraLuis Antonio RiveraLuis Antonio Rivera a.k.a. "Yoyo Boing" is a comedian, actor and television show host, who was also one of the pioneers of Puerto Rican television.-Early years:...
, Actor and Comedian