Gurabo, Puerto Rico

Gurabo (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡuˈɾaβo]) is a town and municipality in eastern Puerto Rico. It is located in the central eastern region, north of San Lorenzo; south of Trujillo Alto; east of Caguas; and west of Carolina and Juncos. Gurabo is spread over 9 barrios and Gurabo Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

For the place in the Dominican Republic, see Gurabo, Dominican Republic.

Gurabo
Municipio de Gurabo
Town and municipality
Gurabo River and valley from Jaguas.
Gurabo River and valley from Jaguas.
Flag of Gurabo
Flag
Coat of arms of Gurabo
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
El Pueblo de las Escaleras", "Puerta del Turismo del Sureste
Anthem: "En un valle rodeado por montañas nace un"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Gurabo Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Gurabo Municipality
Coordinates: 18°15′16″N 65°58′23″W
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
Founded1815
Barrios
10 barrios
Government
 • MayorRosachely Rivera (NPP)
 • Senatorial dist.7 - Humacao
 • Representative dist.31,32
Area
 • Total28.28 sq mi (73.24 km2)
 • Land27.84 sq mi (72.11 km2)
 • Water0.44 sq mi (1.13 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total40,622
 • Rank21st in Puerto Rico
 • Density1,400/sq mi (550/km2)
DemonymGurabeños
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00778
Area code787/939
Major routes
Websitegurabopr.com

History

Gurabo's history dates as far back as the 17th century, when it was actually part of Caguas. Then, the area was known as Burabo. By 1700, transportation, medical and economic troubles were crippling the population of the Burabo area; traveling to Caguas' center for business and medical help was not easy and took hours. This led many of Burabo's citizens to seek autonomy for the area.

It would be long, however, before Gurabo was separated from Caguas. The separation movement was brought forward by an 1812 meeting of all 168 family leaders in Gurabo, who decided to have Luis del Carmen Echevarría lead them in their quest for independence, based on the large number of residents in Burabo.

In 1815, Gurabo became a municipality. In 1822, the first Catholic church in town was erected. In 1903, the first Baptist church opened its doors in Gurabo town.

Gurabo is also known as "La Ciudad de las Escaleras", or the "City of Stairs". Located in the town center district of El Cerro, the stairs (step streets) are about twenty-two floors high, and they are painted in bright colors.[2]

Gurabo's mayor is Rosachely Rivera Santana.[3]

The significant amount of rainfall from Hurricane Maria triggered numerous landslides in Gurabo on September 20, 2017.[4][5] Many people had to be rescued from floods and 489 homes were destroyed.[6]

Geography

Gurabo is located on the east side of Puerto Rico in the Caguas Valley.[7]

Bodies of water

Located in Gurabo are a number of rivers, streams, and unnamed creeks.[8] The main river to cross the municipality is the Gurabo and a portion of the Loíza River runs through Gurabo.[9][10] In 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced work would be done on Gurabo River.[3]

Barrios
Gurabo map with barrio subdivisions

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Gurabo is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a small barrio referred to as "el pueblo", located near the center of the municipality.[11][12][13][14]

  1. Celada
  2. Gurabo barrio-pueblo
  3. Hato Nuevo
  4. Jaguar
  5. Jaguas
  6. Mamey
  7. Masa
  8. Navarro
  9. Quebrada Infierno
  10. Rincón

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

Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)[15] 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.[16][17][18]

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 Gurabo: El Cerro, Estancias de Hato Nuevo, and Villa Alegre.[19]

Climate
Climate data for Gurabo, Puerto Rico (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 97
(36)		 93
(34)		 99
(37)		 99
(37)		 97
(36)		 96
(36)		 97
(36)		 97
(36)		 103
(39)		 96
(36)		 98
(37)		 96
(36)		 103
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 84.5
(29.2)		 84.7
(29.3)		 86.3
(30.2)		 87.5
(30.8)		 88.8
(31.6)		 90.1
(32.3)		 90.2
(32.3)		 90.8
(32.7)		 90.4
(32.4)		 89.5
(31.9)		 87.6
(30.9)		 85.3
(29.6)		 88.0
(31.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 73.2
(22.9)		 73.1
(22.8)		 74.4
(23.6)		 76.5
(24.7)		 78.9
(26.1)		 80.2
(26.8)		 80.0
(26.7)		 80.7
(27.1)		 80.2
(26.8)		 79.4
(26.3)		 77.3
(25.2)		 74.8
(23.8)		 77.4
(25.2)
Average low °F (°C) 61.8
(16.6)		 61.4
(16.3)		 62.6
(17.0)		 65.5
(18.6)		 69.0
(20.6)		 70.4
(21.3)		 69.8
(21.0)		 70.6
(21.4)		 70.1
(21.2)		 69.2
(20.7)		 67.0
(19.4)		 64.3
(17.9)		 66.8
(19.3)
Record low °F (°C) 43
(6)		 42
(6)		 43
(6)		 51
(11)		 50
(10)		 55
(13)		 54
(12)		 54
(12)		 58
(14)		 55
(13)		 53
(12)		 50
(10)		 42
(6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.72
(94)		 2.64
(67)		 3.88
(99)		 4.21
(107)		 5.38
(137)		 3.83
(97)		 5.93
(151)		 8.22
(209)		 8.72
(221)		 6.95
(177)		 6.98
(177)		 4.31
(109)		 64.77
(1,645)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 20.3 17.1 14.1 15.1 17.5 16.5 17.3 18.6 18.6 18.2 20.9 20.5 214.7
Source: NOAA[20][21][22]

Economy

Agriculture
  • Dairy farms

Industry

Manufacturing (metal, paper, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electrical and electronic equipment, and electrical machinery).

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

Some landmarks and places of interest in Gurabo include:[23]

  • Centro de Exposición - Exhibition Center
  • El Cerro
  • Former City Hall and Clock
  • Church of San José
  • Luis Muñoz Marín Plaza (main square of the downtown area)
  • Hacienda Mirador - Mirador Estate
  • University of Turabo Museum
  • Cofresí Park

Culture

Festivals and events

Gurabo celebrates its patron saint festival in March. The Fiestas Patronales de San Jose is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[7][24]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Gurabo include:

  • El Festival del Jodío, which roughly translates to the "Festival of the person who is down on their luck". The seventh annual fair was held in May, 2017. With the assistance of a local bank, funds are collected to help any person in the community with severe medical needs.[25]
  • Home Garden Festival (May)
  • Youth Festival (May)
  • Mapeyé Festival (October)

Sports

Gurabo has a baseball academy named Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School (PRBAHS).

Colegio Bautista de Gurabo (Sports: Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Track and Field.) colegiobautistadegurabo.com

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19008,700—
191011,13928.0%
192012,88215.6%
193015,09517.2%
194015,8705.1%
195016,3953.3%
196016,6031.3%
197018,28910.2%
198023,57428.9%
199028,73721.9%
200036,74327.9%
201045,36923.5%
202040,622−10.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[26]
1899 (shown as 1900)[27] 1910-1930[28]
1930-1950[29] 1960-2000[30] 2010[13] 2020[31]

In 2000, Gurabo had a population of 36,743 and in 2010 it had a population of 45,369.[32] In 2020, the population dropped to 40,622.[33]

Government
Main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Gurabo is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Rosachely Rivera, from the New Progressive Party (PNP). Rivera was elected at the Gurabo mayor special election, 2017.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VII, which is represented by two Senators. In 2016, Miguel Laureano and José Luis Dalmau were elected as District Senators.[34]

Transportation

There are 20 bridges in Gurabo.[8]

Symbols

The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[35]

Flag

With eleven stripes, six green and five yellow, alternated, the yellow with the superior (top) edge indented forming a stairway.[23][36]

Coat of arms

In a green field resides a widened gold patriarchal cross. Below the bottom arm are two shields in silver. The one on the left has a fleur de lis and the one on the right three lilies with stems in a natural way. Three towers in gold crown the shield.[23][36]

Education

See also

References
  1. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. "Las Escaleras de El Cerro Gurabo, Puerto Rico". Descubra Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  3. "Canalizarán el Río Gurabo". Primera Hora (in Spanish). July 10, 2018. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  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. En Gurabo tuvieron que rescatar familias por las inundaciones" [Maria, a name we will never forget. In Gurabo, families had to be rescued from floods]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  7. "Gurabo Municipality". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH).
  8. "Gurabo Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  9. "Rios de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on October 23, 2008.
  10. "Jacksonville District Navigable Waters Lists" (PDF). saj.usace.army.mil. SAJ. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. "Map of Gurabo at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  15. "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  16. "Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)". Puerto Rico Budgets (in Spanish). Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  17. 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
  18. "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza:Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (Primera edición ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, p. 273, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  20. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  21. "Station: Gurabo SUBSTN, PR PQ". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  22. "Monthly Highest Max Temperature and Monthly Lowest Min Temperature for Gurabo Substation, PR". Applied Climate Information System. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  23. "Gurabo Municipality - Municipalities | EnciclopediaPR".
  24. J.D. (May 2, 2006). "Gurabo". Link To Puerto Rico.com (in Spanish). Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  25. "Celebran "Festival del Jodío" en Gurabo". Primera Hora (in Spanish). May 26, 2017. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  26. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  27. "Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899". War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  28. "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.
  29. "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.
  30. "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.
  31. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  32. "Gurabo". Fact Finder US Census. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2006.
  33. "Census of Population and Housing, 2000 [United States]: Summary File 4, Puerto Rico". ICPSR Data Holdings. April 28, 2004. doi:10.3886/icpsr13563.v1. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  34. Elecciones Generales 2016: Escrutinio General Archived 2013-01-15 at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  35. "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). Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  36. "GURABO". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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