Vega Alta, Puerto Rico - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Vega Alta (ˈbeɣa ˈalta) is a municipality

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 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...

. Vega Alta is located on the northern coast of the island, north of Morovis and Corozal

Corozal, Puerto Rico

Corozal is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-eastern region, north of Orocovis and Barranquitas; south Vega Alta; southwest of Toa Alta; east of Morovis and Orocovis; and west of Naranjito. Corozal is spread over 12 wards and Corozal Pueblo...

; east of Vega Baja; and west of Dorado

Dorado, Puerto Rico

Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...

with an area of 28 square miles (72.5 km²). Vega Alta is spread over seven wards and Vega Alta Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Vega Alta is west 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...

, the capital of Puerto Rico. It is the home of the Hyatt Regency Cerromar, although many consider it part of the neighboring city of Dorado. Vega Alta is the home town of New York Yankees

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

All Star Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams

Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and Puerto Rican musician.-Early life:...

. Vega Alta is also known for the beautiful Cerro Gordo, one of the most visited beaches in Puerto Rico. Another point of interest is the town's Catholic church, known as Inmaculada Concepción, founded in 1813. For naturalists and hikers, the Vega Alta Forest offers plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs. In fact, the Vega Alta Forest is the first forest reserve you will encounter as you travel west from San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico

.

During the first week of December, Vega Alta celebrates its patron, The Immaculate Conception

Immaculate Conception

The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...

History

Vega Alta was founded in 1775 by Francisco de los Olivos. It was first named La Vega de Espinosa and known as el pueblo de los Ñangotaos ("the squatters", in reference to the "jíbaros" country folk who would squat due to lack of benches to wait for the train). Before this it was part of a group of towns known as "Las Vegas." It was then that one area was named Vega Baja and the other Vega Alta.

On October 12, 1898 the city's mayor, Francisco Vega, received U.S. troops as part of the Spanish-American War

Spanish-American War

The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...

. On that same day, for the first time in Vega Alta's history, the U.S. flag was lifted on city hall. From 1902 to 1905, Vega Alta became once more part of the neighbor city of Vega Baja. In 1905, the government of Puerto Rico passed a law, allowing Vega Alta to become a municipality with its own limits. Vega Alta has a great historian, Benjamin Negron Rodriguez, who updates the city's history.

Flag

It is divided vertically in seven stripes in the order, colors, and proportions as described: the first (the immediate one to the mast) white (five modules); second: green (five modules); third: white (nine modules); sixth: green (five modules); and seventh: white (five modules.

Coat of arms

It consists of three bars, the center one formed by a silver amphora from which a branch of lilies excels; it symbolizes the Inmaculada Concepción de María. The crown, indicates category of town, because it has three towers. In the shield there are two sugar cane stems, because this was product cultivated in the region.

Climate

According to the Weather Channel's website, June is the warmest month, March is the coolest month, October is the wettest month, and June is the driest month.
Records:

The highest recorded temperature was 98°F in July 2007.
The lowest recorded temperature was 40°F in January 1945.

Source: http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/vacationclimatology/monthly/00692?from=vac_guide_dom

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

Bajura
Candelaria
Cienegueta
Espinosa
Maricao
Mavilla
Sabana
Pueblo (downtown)

Vega Alta's U.S. ZIP Code

ZIP Code

ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...

is 00692

Geography

Rivers: Río Cibuco
Río Cibuco
-See also:*List of rivers of Puerto Rico-References:*USGS Hydrologic Unit Map – Caribbean Region *...

, Río Mavilla
Río Mavilla
-See also:*List of rivers of Puerto Rico-References:*USGS Hydrologic Unit Map – Caribbean Region *...

and Río Unibón
Río Unibón
-See also:*List of rivers of Puerto Rico-References:*USGS Hydrologic Unit Map – Caribbean Region *...

.
Beaches: Cerro Gordo Beach
Land area: 27.75 square miles (71.87 km²)
Water area: 9.76 square miles (25.28 km²)
Population: 37,910 as of 2000 U.S. Census
Density: 527.5 per km² (1,366.1 per sq mi)
Housing units: 13,526
Housing density: 188.2 per km²
Per capita income: $7,356

Past and present mayors

Teodomiro Ramirez
Antonio Navas Rumoroso
Emilio Escalera
Arturo Rivera
Ramon Cestero
Emilio Davila Diaz
Jose Vega Nevarez
Francisco Chinea
Carmelo Mercado
Jacinto Seijo
Jose Rosado Negron, (1977–1980; b. 1934, d. 1999)
Manuel "Manolin" Chinea (PDP, 1981–1993)
Isabelo "Chabelo" Molina (PNP, 1993–2001)
Juan "Mane" Cruzado (PPD, 2001–2002) resigned, Vice-Mayor Jose Colon assumed post.
Jose Colon (PPD, 2002–2004)
Isabelo "Chabelo" Molina (PNP, 2004–present)

Agriculture

Banana, fruits, grains, and sugar cane.
Flowers and ornamental plants.
Dairy and meat cattle, pigs, and poultry.

Business

The Gallery at Gran Caribe
Cooperativa de Ahoro y Crédito [VEGACOOP]
General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...

, dmall manufacturing plant of electrical components
Margo Caribe, Inc
Owens-Illinois
Owens-Illinois
Owens-Illinois Inc. is a Fortune 500 company that specializes in container glass products. It is one of the world's leading manufacturers of packaging products, holding the position of largest manufacturer of glass containers in North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and Europe...
El Morro Corrugated Box Corporation
Terraza Aggregates, Inc.
Raices Irrigation & Landscape Corp.
El Cemi Irrigation & Landscape Inc.
Gasolina (drink)
Gasolina (drink)
Gasolina Urban Blends is a line of ready to drink alcoholic beverages made from spirits and fruit juices. Gasolina Urban Blends is produced in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, by Pan American Properties. The cocktail is packaged in an aluminum pouch with a volume of 6.75oz...

Urban Blends
AGN Enterprises

Industry

Manufacture of chemicals, electrical and electronic machinery, furniture, food, and plastics.
Logistics Center

Tourism

Cerro Gordo Beach: Local beach opened to general public.
Hyatt Regency Cerromar: closed, hotel no longer operating. It is now used as a timeshare. It may reopen as a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...

.

Landmarks and places of interest

Cerro Gordo Beach
The Gallery at Gran Caribe
Bosque de la Vega (Forest of Vega Alta)
Hyatt Regency Cerromar (no longer in operation)
Central Carmen Sugar Mill Smokestack (closed in 1945, smokestack still standing and preservation work done in 2001 to repair damage from lightning strike)

Festivals and events

Three Kings Fiestas - January
Sung Rosary - February
Vegalteño Carnival - February
Kite Festival - July
Virgen del Carmen Walk - July
Rooster Festival - October
Patron Festivities - December

Transportation

Puerto Rico's Highway 22 provides access to Vega Alta from the far away city of Mayaguez, or from San Juan. Highway 2 also provides access from the western cities of Manatí

Manatí

Manatí may refer to:*Manatí, Puerto Rico*Manatí, Atlántico in Atlantico, Colombia*Manatí, Cuba, a municipality in Las Tunas, CubaManatí is also the Spanish word for manatee.*See also: Special:Allpages/Manatí...

, Arecibo

Arecibo

Arecibo may refer to:*Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a municipality located by the Atlantic Ocean*Arecibo Observatory, a very sensitive radio telescope located approximately south-southwest from the city of Arecibo...

and the eastern cities of Bayamón and Guaynabo bordering the shore to the Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...

. It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the town from San Juan.

The closest airport is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...

in Carolina
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...

.
Other public transportation close to the area is El 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...

(TU).

Public schools

Antonio Paoli/Elementary
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
Elemental Urbana/Elementary
Elisa Davila Vazquez/Elementary
Ignacio Miranda/high school
Dr. Cañaco Stalingrad III/ High School
Jose D. Rosado/Elementary
Jose M. Pagan/Elementary
Rafael Hernadez/Elementary
Apolo San Antonio/Middle School
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
Nueva Escuela Brenas/Middle School, Second Unit
Second unit
In film, the second unit is a team that shoots subsidiary footage for a motion picture. Its work is distinct from that of the first unit, which shoots all scenes involving principal actors...
Adelaida Vega/Middle School, Second Unit
Ileana de Gracia/High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
Ladislao Martinez (Maestro Ladi)/first High School

Private schools

Academia Dicipulos de Cristo (Disciples of Christ)/Elementary and Middle School
Colegio de la Vega
Academia Cambu

Sports

Vega Alta Maceteros (Double A Baseball League)

Vega Alta is known for having amateur ball players as well as professional. Basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

is played in local communities. Other sports practiced include tennis

Tennis

Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...

, volleyball

Volleyball

Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...

, handball

Team handball

Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...

, cock fighting, and amateur

Amateur

An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....

surfing

Surfing

Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...

among others.

Vega Alta is also known for having famous Major League Baseball players such as The Molina Brothers which consits of Yadier Molina

Yadier Molina

Yadier Benjamin Molina known affectionately by fans as "Yadi", is a Major League Baseball catcher who plays for the St. Louis Cardinals.Molina was the third catcher to play in two World Series before age 25, along with Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra. He is considered one of the best defensive...

, Bengie Molina

Bengie Molina

Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina , nicknamed "Big Money", is a former Major League Baseball catcher.He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina....

and José Molina

José Molina

José Molina is the name of:*José Francisco Molina, Spanish football goalkeeper* José Molina from Puerto Rico* José Molina of the TV series Dark Angel, Firefly, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit...

. Other famous sport personalities include former New York Yankees

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

center fielder Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams

Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and Puerto Rican musician.-Early life:...

and professional boxer Ángel Chacón

Ángel Chacón

Ángel Chacón , is a Puerto Rican professional boxer in the Lightweight division. He's the former WBC FECARBOX Super Bantamweight, WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight, and the IBA Featherweight Champion.-Amateur career:...

Music

The Jukebox is a tribute band created to honor the English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

rock band The Beatles

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

. Heriberto "Heri" Palos formed The Jukebox in his hometown of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico about 10 years ago. After playing in the Puerto Rican

Puerto Rico

rock scene for about 10 years, he followed his heart, got together a couple of friends, and The Jukebox was born. Band members are Heri Palos, bass, piano and vocals; Jacob Rodríguez, guitar, piano and vocals; Juan Carlos del Valle, drums and vocals; Francisco Cairol, guitar and vocals.

Another well known musician from Vega Alta was Ladislao Martinez

Ladislao Martinez

Ladislao Martinez a.k.a. "El Maestro Ladi" , was a master cuatro musician. He became the first Puerto Rican to play a cuatro solo on the radio.-Early years:...

a.k.a. "El Maestro Ladi" (June 27, 1898–February 1, 1979), a master cuatro musician. He became the first Puerto Rican to play a cuatro solo on the radio.

Fiel a la Vega

Fiel a la Vega

Fiel a la Vega is a Rock en Español band from Puerto Rico formed in 1994. Band members Tito Auger and Ricky Laureano come from the northern city of Vega Alta, while brothers Pedro Arraiza and Jorge Arraiza come from the city of Vega Baja, which is next to Vega Alta.-Early years :Childhood friends...

, a rock en español (rock in Spanish) band, was formed in 1994. Band members Tito Auger and Ricky Laureano are from Vega Alta, while brothers Pedro Arraiza and Jorge Arraiza come from next-door Vega Baja. Their first album spawned hits like "Salimos de Aquí" and "El Wanabí", both of which were released with videos.

History

Flag

Coat of arms

Climate

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

Geography

Past and present mayors

Agriculture

Business

Industry

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

Festivals and events

Transportation

Public schools

Private schools

Sports

Music

Further reading