Ceiba, Puerto Rico

Ceiba (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsejβa]) is both a small town and a municipality in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the north-east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, south of Fajardo, north of Naguabo and southeast of Río Grande. Located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan, Ceiba is spread over 7 barrios and Ceiba Pueblo (the downtown area and administrative center). It is part of the Fajardo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Ceiba
Municipio de Ceiba
Town and Municipality
Facade of building with letters that read Alcaldia
Town Hall of Ceiba
Flag of Ceiba
Flag
Coat of arms of Ceiba
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
"Los Come Sopas", "La Ciudad del Marlin", "Los Sin Sopa"
Anthem: "Ceiba"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Ceiba Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Ceiba Municipality
Coordinates: 18°14′17″N 65°37′40″W
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
FoundedApril 7, 1838
Barrios
8 barrios
Government
 • MayorSamuel “Sammy” Rivera Báez (PNP)
 • Senatorial dist.8 - Carolina
 • Representative dist.36
Area
 • Total77.33 sq mi (200.28 km2)
 • Land27.2 sq mi (70.5 km2)
 • Water50.11 sq mi (129.78 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total11,307
 • Rank73rd in Puerto Rico
 • Density150/sq mi (56/km2)
Demonymceibeños
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Codes
00735, 00742
Area code787/939
Major routes

History

Ceiba was founded on April 7, 1838 by Luis de la Cruz. Ceiba derives its name from an Indian word Seyba, which is the name for a famous tree that grows in the island, Ceiba pentandra, the kapok tree.[2]

Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico and the population numbers of Ceiba were consolidated with the population numbers of Fajardo.[3]

Ceiba, situated near Fajardo, used to be home of an American military Naval base, the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. Most of the units were relocated and the base was closed in 2004. Ex-governor Sila María Calderón suggested turning the property into a major international airport, to serve as a relief to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, and to increase the number of international airlines that operate into Puerto Rico. She was met with skepticism about these plans from such groups as environmentalists, economists and others, but in 2008, José Aponte de la Torre Airport was inaugurated at the base's former site.

Locals are commonly known as "Los Come Sopa" (Spanish for 'the soup-eaters'). Even though there is no official reason as to why they are called this, a few stories have been suggested. Among the tales is the belief that since the town did not have a local meat market people had to travel long distances in order to buy some meat and therefore mostly ate soup.

Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017 triggered numerous landslides in Ceiba.[4][5] Forty-nine structures in Punta Figuera were destroyed completely.[6] In July 2018, some residents received monies via FEMA to rebuild their homes.[7]

  • National Guard working in Ceiba after the hurricane
    National Guard working in Ceiba after the hurricane

Geography

The Reserva Natural Medio Mundo y Daguao (Nature Reserve Medio Mundo and Daguao) extends along the coastline between Ceiba and Fajardo.[8] 95% of the forest is classified as mangrove. Various species of birds can be seen as well as turtles and manatees. Its rivers includes; Río Daguao, Río Demajagua and Río Fajardo.[2]

The municipality extends northwest into the seas between Fajardo and Culebra and thereby includes the reefs and islets named Arrecifes Hermanos and Arrecifes Barriles.[9] The reef are closest to the coastal barrio of Machos, but barrio boundaries are not defined in that area.[10]

The highest point in the municipality is Pico del Oeste in the Sierra de Luquillo at 3,346 feet (1,020 m) of elevation.[11]

Barrios
Subdivisions of Ceiba.

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Ceiba is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo", near the center of the municipality.[12][13][14][15]

  1. Ceiba barrio-pueblo
  2. Chupacallos
  3. Daguao
  4. Guayacán
  5. Machos
  6. Quebrada Seca
  7. Río Abajo
  8. Saco

Sectors
Further information: List of barrios and sectors of Ceiba, Puerto Rico

Barrios (which are like minor civil divisions)[16] in turn are further subdivided into smaller local populated place areas/units called sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.[17][18][19]

Special Communities
See also: Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development

Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Ceiba: Saco, Las Calderonas, Parcelas Aguas Claras, Parcelas Nuevas, Prado Hermoso, and Quebrada Seca.[20][21]

Climate
Climate data for Ceiba, Puerto Rico (Roosevelt Roads Naval Station) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 90
(32)		 90
(32)		 90
(32)		 96
(36)		 91
(33)		 95
(35)		 95
(35)		 95
(35)		 93
(34)		 94
(34)		 96
(36)		 95
(35)		 96
(36)
Average high °F (°C) 82.9
(28.3)		 83.5
(28.6)		 84.2
(29.0)		 85.9
(29.9)		 86.7
(30.4)		 88.1
(31.2)		 88.8
(31.6)		 89.1
(31.7)		 88.8
(31.6)		 88.3
(31.3)		 86.2
(30.1)		 84.1
(28.9)		 86.4
(30.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 77.2
(25.1)		 77.5
(25.3)		 78.1
(25.6)		 79.6
(26.4)		 81.1
(27.3)		 82.7
(28.2)		 83.0
(28.3)		 83.4
(28.6)		 82.6
(28.1)		 82.0
(27.8)		 80.4
(26.9)		 78.4
(25.8)		 80.5
(26.9)
Average low °F (°C) 71.4
(21.9)		 71.4
(21.9)		 71.9
(22.2)		 73.3
(22.9)		 75.4
(24.1)		 77.3
(25.2)		 77.3
(25.2)		 77.6
(25.3)		 76.4
(24.7)		 75.7
(24.3)		 74.5
(23.6)		 72.8
(22.7)		 74.6
(23.7)
Record low °F (°C) 61
(16)		 61
(16)		 59
(15)		 63
(17)		 64
(18)		 68
(20)		 66
(19)		 68
(20)		 68
(20)		 68
(20)		 65
(18)		 62
(17)		 59
(15)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.62
(67)		 1.97
(50)		 1.84
(47)		 2.99
(76)		 6.71
(170)		 3.90
(99)		 4.31
(109)		 4.32
(110)		 6.40
(163)		 5.75
(146)		 6.07
(154)		 3.99
(101)		 50.87
(1,292)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 16.4 13.2 13.6 13.0 15.3 15.4 18.9 18.1 17.9 17.7 18.3 18.1 195.9
Source: NOAA[22][23]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19205,973—
19307,27521.8%
19407,021−3.5%
19509,19931.0%
19609,075−1.3%
197010,31213.6%
198014,94444.9%
199017,14514.7%
200018,0045.0%
201013,631−24.3%
202011,307−17.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[24] 1920-1930[25]
1930-1950[26] 1960-2000[27] 2010[14] 2020[28]

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest
Bridge on PR-971 between Fajardo and Ceiba near Las Tinajas, Charco Frio and Hacienda Tinajas, tourist attractions just inside the eastern side of the El Yunque National Forest

There are 60 beaches in Ceiba, including Los Machoes Beach.[29] Other places of interest include:

Culture

Festivals and events

Ceiba celebrates its patron saint festival in June. The Fiestas Patronales de San Antonio de Padua is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[2][30] The festival has featured live performances by well-known artists such as Grupo Manía, and Domingo Quiñones.[31]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Ceiba include:

  • Maratón de los Enamorados - February
  • Festival de Chiringas - March
  • Festival de Marlin or Marlin Festival- May or June
  • Fiesta Nacional de la Raza - October
  • Maratón del Pavo - November

Sports

Former IBF world Jr. Middleweight boxing champion Carlos Santos hails from Ceiba. Ceiba also has an amateur AAA baseball team Los Marlins de Ceiba. Chi-Chi Rodriguez, Pro golfer is from Ceiba.

Economy

Manufacturing (plywood, apparel, hardware products).

Transportation

José Aponte de la Torre Airport offers commercial (mostly domestic) flights on three airlines; it also houses an MD-82 jet donated by American Airlines to local air mechanics students.

There are 29 bridges in Ceiba.[32]

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Ceiba include:

  • Carlos Santos - former IBF Junior Middleweight Champion of the World.
  • Luis Vigoreaux - radio and television show host, announcer, comedian and producer. Luis Vigoreaux was found murdered on January 17, 1983. His wife Lydia Echevarria arranged his murder.
  • Domingo Quiñones - although born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey; Domingo Quiñones moved to Ceiba at the early age of 4 and lived there until the age of 14.
  • Pablo Casals - built his home in Ceiba at the age of 80; the place was known as "El Pesebre".
  • Rogelio Figueroa Garcia - was born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico; however, was raised in Parcelas Aguas Claras (Barrio El Corcho) in Ceiba. He is a Puerto Rican engineer, a politician, and the co-founder of the Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico (PPR) political party.
  • McJoe Arroyo - IBF Super Flyweight world boxing champion
  • Jaron Brown - is a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. He was born in Ceiba, PR.
  • Isabel Rosado Morales - was born in Barrio Chupacallo in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. She studied in La Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Rico Piedras and obtained a bachellor's degree in Education and Social Work. During the 1930s she was a rural teacher, position she held during 14 years. Alongside Blanca Canales, Carmen Rivera de Alvarado and other women, she was a founding member of La Sociedad Insular de Trabajadores Sociales, known today as Colegio de Trabajadores Sociales de Puerto Rico. She was a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and activist for the Puerto Rican Independence Movement. She lived until reaching the age of 107.

Government
Main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Ceiba is Angelo Cruz Ramos, of the New Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected at the 2012 general elections.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VIII, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Pedro A. Rodríguez and Luis Daniel Rivera were elected as District Senators.[33]

Symbols

The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[34]

Flag

Ceiba's flag derives its design and colors from the municipal coat of arms. This maintains the same symbolism given to the coat of arms. It is made of two vertical lines of the same width, red in the left side and green on the right. The red side depicts a yellow cross.[35]

Coat of arms

The Ceiba coat of arms depicts a shield with a Ceiba tree. In the upper part of the shield is a red horizontal space with a golden cross in the middle and a golden fleur-de-lis on either side. The cross symbolizes the Christian faith as well recognizing Luis de la Cruz as Ceiba's founder. Around the shield are sugar cane stalks. Above the shield there is a golden Spanish fort.[35]

See also

References
  1. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. "Ceiba Municipality". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  3. Joseph Prentiss Sanger; Henry Gannett; Walter Francis Willcox (1900). Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office (in Spanish). Imprenta del gobierno. p. 41.
  4. "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico". USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  5. "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico" (PDF). USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  6. "María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. María barrió con lo que dejó en pie el huracán Irma" [Maria, a name we will never forget. María swept up what Hurricane Irma left]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). June 13, 2019. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  7. Torres Gotay, Benjamín (September 20, 2021). "Damnificada del huracán María: "Nunca pensé en irme de mi casa"". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  8. "Así es la extensa biodiversidad que ofrece el Municipio de Ceiba". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  9. Census 2000 map of Ceiba Municipio
  10. Census 2000 map of Machos barrio
  11. "Pico del Oeste (1611655)". www.usgs.gov/. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  12. Picó, Rafael; Buitrago de Santiago, Zayda; Berrios, Hector H. Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  13. Gwillim Law (May 20, 2015). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4766-0447-3. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  14. Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  15. "Map of Ceiba at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  16. "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  17. "Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)". Puerto Rico Budgets (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  18. Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (first ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  19. "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (1st ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, p. 273, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  21. "Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  22. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  23. "Station: Roosevelt Roads, PR PQ". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  24. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  25. "Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  26. "Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  27. "Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  28. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  29. "Las 1,200 playas de Puerto Rico [The 1200 beaches of Puerto Rico]". Primera Hora (in Spanish). April 14, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  30. J.D. (May 2, 2006). "Ceiba". Link To Puerto Rico.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  31. "Fiestas de Pueblo Ceiba 2013". sondeaquiprnet. El Gobierno Municipal de Ceiba. Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  32. "Ceiba Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  33. Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived 2012-12-03 at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  34. "Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios". LexJuris de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  35. "CEIBA". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.

Further reading
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