Río Grande (ˈri.o ˈɣɾande) is a municipality 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...

 located in the Northern Coastal Valley, North 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...

, 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...

 and Ceiba

Ceiba, Puerto Rico

Ceiba is a small town in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Naguabo, south of Fajardo, and east of Río Grande. It is located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan...

; east of Loíza

Loíza, Puerto Rico

Loíza is a small town and municipality in the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico, north of Canóvanas; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Loíza is spread over 5 wards and Loíza Pueblo...

 and Canóvanas

Canóvanas, Puerto Rico

Canóvanas is a municipality in Puerto Rico, located in the northeastern region, north of Juncos and Las Piedras; south of Loíza; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Canóvanas is spread over 7 wards and Canóvanas Pueblo...

 and west of Luquillo

Luquillo, Puerto Rico

Luquillo is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northeast coast, northwest of Fajardo; and east of Rio Grande. Luquillo is spread over 5 wards and Luquillo Pueblo...

. Río Grande is spread over eight wards and Río Grande Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Rio Grande was founded on July 25, 1840 by Desiderio and Quilimaco Escobar, with the approbation of governor Miguel López.

The town is named after the Río Grande and is located where the Río Grande and the Río Espíritu Santo

Río Espíritu Santo

The Río Espíritu Santo is a river of Puerto Rico.-References:*USGS Hydrologic Unit Map – Caribbean Region *...

 (Holy Spirit) join.

Flag

The Río Grande flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal size united by a white triangle placed on the side of the mast. On the white triangle a Puerto Rican parrot. it is very large

Coat of Arms

In a silver field, two Puerto Rican parrots(Amazon vitatta vitatta) , accompanied by a waving blue stripe, a green mountain with three peaks. The top portion of the shield is blue, with an opened silver book, accompanied on each side by five gold coins. Topped by a three tower gold crown outlined in black with green openings.

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

• Ciénaga Alta - 4,606
• Ciénaga Baja - 18,220
• Guzmán Abajo - 6,614
• Guzmán Arriba - 928
• Herreras - 839
• Jiménez - 2,903
• Mameyes II - 2,919
• Río Grande Pueblo
• Zarzal - 13,385

Tourism

Rio Grande is home to one of the largest secluded areas with beach access (Coco Beach) on the entire island.

Major hotels in the area include Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort and Gran Melia Puerto Rico Resort.

Every March, the Trump International Golf Club plays host to the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open.

Within a ten-minute drive is El Yunque National Forest

El Yunque National Forest

El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Luquillo National Forest, and the Caribbean National Forest, is a forest located in northeastern Puerto Rico. It is the only tropical rain forest in the United States...

, the only tropical rain forest within the United States National Forest System and a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of Nature receiving thousands of votes from around the globe at http://www.n7w.com

Business

Local retail stores are aside the PR-3. Large shopping centers were not present mainly due to the closness of the Canóvanas shopping district area. However, now there's one large shopping mall located on 65fh of Infantry express way and 956ht street. Because it is relatively new many of its spaces are not leased yet. Together both cities are growing economically very fast and becoming the eastern pole of economy of the northeastern area of Puerto Rico attracting hotels, shopping malls, sport venues among others. Another thing that is making Rio Grande more attractive to tourists and businesses alike is the newly constructed and opened Route 66th (or ruta 66), which makes it a lot more accesible and more appealing to home buyers.

Hotels

• Rio Grande Plantation Eco Resort
• The Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa
• The All Inclusive Paradisus Puerto Rico
• Gran Melia Resorts & Villas
• St. Regis Beach Resort

Landmarks and places of interest

• Coco Beach
• El Yunque
  El Yunque, Puerto Rico
  The mountain lies completely within the boundaries of the El Yunque National Forest, part of the U.S. Forest Service, which is the only rainforest that belongs to the U.S. Forest Service. The peak itself is one of the highest in Puerto Rico, standing at 1,080 meters above sea level...
  
  
• Indio Cave
• Las Picúas Beach

External links

• Río Grande and its barrios, United States Census Bureau