Quebradillas, Puerto Rico

Quebradillas (Spanish pronunciation: [keβɾaˈðiʎas], locally [keβɾaˈðiʎaʔ]) is a town and municipality of the island of Puerto Rico located in the northern shore bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of San Sebastián; east of Isabela; and west of Camuy. Quebradillas is spread over seven barrios and Quebradillas Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Quebradillas
Municipio de Quebradillas
Town and Municipality
Quebradillas Beach
Quebradillas Beach
Flag of Quebradillas
Flag
Coat of arms of Quebradillas
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
"La Guarida del Pirata", "La Ciudad del Cooperativismo"
Anthem: "De lejos canto, porque anhela el corazón"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Quebradillas Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Quebradillas Municipality
Coordinates: 18°28′26″N 66°56′19″W
CommonwealthPuerto Rico
FoundedJune 6, 1823
Barrios
8 barrios
Government
 • MayorHeriberto Vélez (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist.3 – Arecibo
 • Representative dist.15
Area
[1]
 • Total27.7 sq mi (58.8 km2)
 • Land23.2 sq mi (60 km2)
 • Water4.5 sq mi (11.66 km2)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total23,638
 • Rank51st in Puerto Rico
 • Density850/sq mi (400/km2)
DemonymQuebradillanos
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00678
Area code787/939
Major routes
Websitewww.quebradillas.pr.gov

Quebradillas is called "La Guarida del Pirata" (The Pirate's Hideout). A well-known beach in the area, Puerto Hermina, is home to an old structure known to have been a hiding place for pirates and their contraband.

History

The town was founded in 1823 by Felipe Ruiz. There were many factors that cause the inhabitants of this territory of Puerto Rico to be independent from the towns that formed the Hato de la Tuna resulting in the formation of a new municipality. The town lacked chapels or churches, religious services nor priests, a place to bury the dead, a post office, and quality roads to transport. They relied on the neighboring municipalities of Camuy, Hatillo and Isabela. This would however be a problem during the rainy seasons when the Río Camuy and Río Guajataca water level rose resulting in closed off passage to the other municipalities and would sometimes take up to a week for the water level to return to normal. This led the residents of the area to organize a corporation that would look after the political, economic and administrative interests of "Las Quebradillas" and its jurisdiction.[3] This town derives its name from the large number of streams flowing through it. Quebradillas means "small streams".

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 finding that the population of Quebradillas was 7,432.

On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Quebradillas, 800 concrete barriers had to be built to stabilize the Guajataca reservoir which suffered a structural failure and was causing a "life-threatening situation".[4][5][6] "It’s a structural failure. I don’t have any more details," Governor Ricardo Rosselló stated. "We’re trying to evacuate as many people as possible."[6] Rosselló ordered the Puerto Rico National Guard and the Police to help assist in the evacuation effort downstream.[7] The dam lies across the Guajataca River to form a reservoir that can hold roughly 11 billion gallons of water.[8]

In Quebradillas, infrastructure and about 2200 homes were damaged or completely destroyed. [9]

Geography
The coastline and Guajataca Tunnel at Guajataca Beach

Quebradillas, located in the Northern Karst, borders on the Atlantic Ocean, is north of San Sebastián; east of Isabela, and west of Camuy. Quebradillas is home to one of the 20 designated forest preserves in Puerto Rico, the Guajataca State Forest. The forest serves as a great example of an unusual topography known as karst country. Karst is characterized by dissolved limestone formations such as sinkholes and haystack-shaped hills known as "mogotes". It is also home to the beautiful man-made reservoir, Guajataca Lake (2.5 mi or 4.0 km long), where you can fish for largemouth bass, peacock bass, tilapia and bluegill (in Spanish known as "chopa"). You can also go hiking or camping. The Puerto Rico Council of the Boy Scouts of America maintains a campground on the lake known as Camp Guajataka. The name Guajataca comes from the name Wahataka, a Taíno chief who lived in this area. This Indian chief also gives his name to Guajataca Beach to the north where Río Guajataca flowing from Guajataca Lake meets the Atlantic Ocean. Guajataca Beach is popular with surfers and is known for its white sands and wild waves. This beach is ideal for sunning and collecting seashells.[10]

Barrios
Subdivisions of Quebradillas.

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

  1. Cacao
  2. Charcas
  3. Cocos
  4. Guajataca
  5. Quebradillas barrio-pueblo[14]
  6. San Antonio
  7. San José
  8. Terranova

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

Barrios (which are like minor civil divisions)[14] 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.[15][16][17]

Special Communities
Main article: 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 Quebradillas: Guajataca, Montadero, Parcelas Italas in Terranova, San Antonio, and Sector Las Piedras Barrio Cocos.[18]

Climate

The general climate of the town is tropical.

Climate data for Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 82.5
(28.1)		 82.8
(28.2)		 83.6
(28.7)		 84.6
(29.2)		 85.8
(29.9)		 86.8
(30.4)		 87.1
(30.6)		 87.4
(30.8)		 87.7
(30.9)		 87.5
(30.8)		 85.8
(29.9)		 84.1
(28.9)		 85.5
(29.7)
Average low °F (°C) 66.3
(19.1)		 65.4
(18.6)		 66.1
(18.9)		 67.6
(19.8)		 68.7
(20.4)		 69.9
(21.1)		 71.3
(21.8)		 71.4
(21.9)		 71.3
(21.8)		 70.1
(21.2)		 68.7
(20.4)		 67.6
(19.8)		 68.7
(20.4)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.2
(110)		 3.0
(76)		 3.4
(86)		 4.5
(110)		 6.2
(160)		 4.8
(120)		 3.3
(84)		 4.7
(120)		 4.7
(120)		 5.0
(130)		 5.9
(150)		 5.0
(130)		 54.5
(1,380)
Source: Weatherbase[19]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19007,432—
19108,1529.7%
19209,40415.4%
193010,1908.4%
194011,49412.8%
195013,71219.3%
196013,075−4.6%
197015,58219.2%
198019,72826.6%
199021,4258.6%
200025,45018.8%
201025,9191.8%
202023,638−8.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1899 (shown as 1900)[21] 1910–1930[22]
1930–1950[23] 1960–2000[24] 2010[12] 2020[25]

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest
Welcome sign for El Arca de Noé (Noah's Ark), a former private zoo in Quebradillas

There are 6 beaches in Quebradillas.[26]

The town of Quebradillas had a private zoo called El Arca de Noé (Noah's Ark), which was in operation for about 50 years. In 2012 it was closed after its owners where 90 years old and could no longer care for the animals, as a result they were moved to the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo.[27][28] The town also had El Museo de Muñecas (Quebradillas Doll Museum) which housed over 1,000 Barbie dolls in Cocos.

The main attractions of Quebradillas are:

  • El Merendero (Scenic Park and Ocean Look-Out)
  • Miradero Guajataca
  • Guajataca Lake Reservoir
  • The Liberty Theater (downtown)[29]
  • Puerto Hermina Beach Pirate Ruins[30] contains rock carvings such as La Cabeza del Indio (The Indian Face)
  • Puente Blanco (an old railway bridge)
  • Casa Rafols-Iribas, site of Casa de la Cultura Cacique Mabodamaca (non-profit organization dedicated to preserve the culture, the arts and the historical sites of the town of Quebradillas)
  • Los Chorritos Pirata Aquatic Park
  • The municipal mini golf course

Economy

Business

A small shopping center called Quebradillas Plaza is located in this municipality.

An event which negatively affected the region in the decade of the 1990s was the disappearance of tax exemptions to the private corporations Section 936 of the code of the US Internal Revenue Service , which at the time was the resulted in the closure of one of the greater manufacturers of textiles in the northwest area of the island. This decline of the industry of the needle occurred similarly in the bordering cities like Isabela and Camuy, generating a regional economic decline as the locals greatly depended on these jobs. In nearby towns like Hatillo, Mayagüez and Aguadilla, the arrival of mega stores and new shopping centers attracted the jobs that used to be in Quebradillas.

The island lacks mass public transportation, people must resort to private cars. The only road to access the important cities, the Puerto Rico Highway 2 suffers from congestion. The town possesses one tunnel that at the beginning of the 20th century was used by steam driven trains that traveled throughout the Island. This absence aggravates the problem of mass transit and the dependence on privately owned vehicles as these are the only method of transportation.[31]

The economy, entering into the 21st century, is based on retail sales. Many small businesses are located along the two main thoroughfares that cross Quebradillas. These consist mainly of light hardware, bakeries, pharmacies, seafood restaurants, American fast food chains and automobile car repair shops.

The town has bank branches for Banco Popular and local savings and credit Unions. These credit unions are most noted for their involvement in common and cultural activities, sponsoring and participating in festivals of typical music such as "Festival of the Gourd in December", sports and educational activities.

Culture

Festivals and events

Quebradillas celebrates its patron saint festival in October. The Fiestas Patronales de San Rafael Arcangel is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[10][32]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Quebradillas include:

Sports

The town's official basketball team is Los Piratas'[33] who have won a dramatic number of tournaments in the past. Presently the team has made a "comeback" and has won the championship of the island (2013).

  • Basketball teams
  • Surfing – Guajataca Beach and Puerto Hermina (Pirates Cove)
  • Skateboarding – San Jose Skatepark
  • Baseball – Los Cocos Park
  • Longboarding

Government

The town's government is a small unit with few powers it can execute. Elections are hosted in specific schools every four years to choose a town mayor.

There are several versions detailing different individuals who have served as mayor. An official promotional booklet details 46,[34] while another source states 47.[35] It has also been asserted that a woman, Francisca Lamela de Cordero, served between 1944–1945, in a source that presents 56 incumbents,[36] however she is not included in the municipal-approved list, which expresses that since its founding the town has elected 61 mayors:[37]

# Mayor Term start Term end Terms   Party
01 Felipe Ruiz 1823 1 None
02 José de Ribera 1824 1 None
03 Francisco Antonio Bravo 1824 1 None
04 Francisco Rodríguez 1825 1 None
05 Juan Antonio Cancela 1828 1 None
06 Pedro Correa 1828 1 None
07 Antonio Comulada (1st term) 1828 1 None
08 Clemente Correa 1829 1832 1 None
09 Antonio J. Porrata 1833 1 None
10 Antonio Comulada (2nd term) 1839 1 None
11 José Bernabé Carranza 1847 1 None
12 José Cesáreo Zeno 1849 1 None
13 Juan de la Cruz Coca 1850 1 None
15 Máximo Ribas 1852 1 None
16 José Ramón Mestre 1853 1 None
17 Lucas Leonides Villalón 1854 1 None
18 Luis Vega de Alicea 1855 1856 1 None
19 Carlos Garavarain 1859 1860 1 None
20 Eduardo Delgado 1867 1 None
21 Carlos González Jiménez 1868 1 None
22 José Perignat y Ochoa 1868 1 None
23 José de Pinguas 1869 1 None
24 José Bernabé Carrazoza 1870 1871 1 None
25 Manuel Lloveras 1871 1 None
27 Francisco G. Condomo 1871 1872 1 None
28 Fernando Ruiz 1872 1 None
29 Nicolás Iglesias 1872 1873 1 None
30 Joaquín Aldea 1873 1 None
33 Manuel Lamela y Valdés (1st term) 1874 1879 1 None
34 Máximo Laborde 1879 1882 1 None
35 Manuel Lamela y Valdés (2nd term) 1882 1884 1 None
36 Felipe Negrón 1884 1890 1 None
37 Nicasio Rodicio (1st term) 1890 1 None
37 José Fidel Hernández (2nd term) 1891 1 None
38 Buenaventura Ocasio 1892 1 None
39 Eusebio de la Torre 1892 1893 1 None
40 José Fidel Hernández (2nd term) 1894 1 None
41 Nicasio Rodicio (2nd term) 1894 1895 1 None
42 José Garriga 1896 1 None
43 Nicasio Rodicio (3rd term) 1896 1898 1 None
44 Honorio Hernández 1898 1 None
45 Francisco Ramón Saavedra 1898 1 None
47 Conrado Santiago 1900 1 None
48 Manuel R. Ríos 1901 1 None
49 Manuel Reyes Ruiz 1902 1 None
50 Santiago Mestre 1904 1 None
51 Honorio Hernández (1st term) 1908 1 None
52 Honorio Hernández (2nd term) 1912 1917 1 None
53 Arcides Ocasio 1917 1 None
54 Manuel Lamela Abreu 1918 1944 1 None
55 José Pérez Soler 1945 1948 1 None
56 Gerardo Pérez Soler 1948 1960 3 None
57 Federico Molinari de Jesús 1960 1964 1 None
58 Gerardo Pérez Soler 1964 1970 1 None
60 Rafael Pérez Santalíz 1970 1992 3 PPD
59 Juan "Johnny" I. Rivera Vargas 1992 1996 1 PPD
60 Luis "El Cano" A. Pérez Reillo 1996 2005 2 PNP
61 Heriberto Vélez Vélez 2005 Incubment 5 PPD

Transportation

There are 4 bridges in Quebradillas.[38]

Symbols

The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[39]

Flag

It has two red quarters. The red stands for struggle, effort and sacrifice. The other two-quarters have each five green and white wavy stripes, similar to those that appear in the shield.[40]

Coat of arms

The three waved stripes represent the quebradillas (Spanish for creeks or streams), over the green background of the vegetation. The fish and the walking stick (distinctive of the traveler), are insignias of the angel Saint Raphael, by allusion from the episodes narrated in the Book of Tobias in the Old Testament.[40]

Education

The town features various public and private schools. There is also a public electronic library near Los Chorritos Pirata water park. In 2021 the municipal government opened a child daycare center.[41][42] Some schools have been remodeled as a result of a government initiative to have "21st century" schools.

Schools
  • Manuel Ramos Hernandez
  • Juan Alejo de Arizmendi
  • Eugenio Maria De Hostos
  • Luis Muñoz Rivera
  • Honorio Hernandez
  • Pedro Albizu Campos
  • Ramon E. Betances
  • Ramon Avila Molinari
  • Ramon Saavedra
  • Jose De Diego

Private schools:

  • Colegio San Rafael
  • Soles del Jardín
  • Pequeños Aprendiendo
  • Puerto Hermina beach
    Puerto Hermina beach
  • rock which has the profile of a face with blue sky in the background
    El Indio de Puerto Herminia in Quebradillas

See also

References
  1. "El Nuevo Día". María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. (in Spanish). Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  2. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  3. "Historia". Gobierno Municipal de Quebradillas. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  4. "Guajataca Dam fails in Puerto Rico, prompting "extremely dangerous" situation". CBS News. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  5. "Puerto Rico dam failure "imminent" after Hurricane Maria". BBC World News. BBC News. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  6. "Puerto Rico evacuates 70,000 after dam fails in Hurricane Maria's wake". The Guardian. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  7. Talmazan, Yuliya. "Puerto Rico's Failing Guajataca Dam Endangers Thousands". NBC News. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  8. "Damage Assessments, Power Restoration Efforts Begin in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands". The Weather Channel. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  9. "María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. Devastación en Guatajaca" [Maria, a name we will never forget. Devastation in Quebradillas]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  10. "Quebradillas Municipality". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  11. 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.
  12. 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 December 26, 2018.
  13. "Map of Quebradillas" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  14. "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  15. "Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)". Puerto Rico Budgets (in Spanish). Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  16. 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
  17. "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  18. 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
  19. "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Quebradillas, Puerto Rico". Weatherbase. 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
  20. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  21. "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.
  22. "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.
  23. "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.
  24. "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.
  25. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  26. "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.
  27. "A punto de desaparecer El Arca de Noé en Quebradillas". Primera Hora (in Spanish). February 6, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  28. "Desolado el zoológico El Arca de Noé en Quebradillas". Primera Hora (in Spanish). January 16, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  29. "Teatro Liberty". Gobierno Municipal de Quebradillas. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  30. "Puerto Hermina Ruins". Atlas Obscura. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  31. Oliver, Lance (April 16, 2000). "The Prettiest Face Of Puerto Rico". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  32. "Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico". Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores (in Spanish). Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  33. Look for quebradillas "The pirates" for the main page.
  34. "Alcaldes de Quebradillas" [Mayors of Quebradillas]. Hon. Heriberto Vélez Vélez (in Spanish). Yumpu. 2013. p. 5.
  35. "Quebradillas... La Guarida del Pirata" [Quebradillas ... The Pirate's Lair]. Proyecto Salón Hogar (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  36. Hernández Quijano, Edwin. "The Mayors of the Town of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico". RootsWeb. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  37. "Pasados Alcaldes". Gobierno Municipal de Quebradillas. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  38. "Quebradillas Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  39. "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.
  40. "QUEBRADILLAS". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  41. "Inauguran moderno centro de cuido de niños en Quebradillas". Primera Hora (in Spanish). May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  42. elvocero.com, Redacción. "Inauguran un centro de cuido de niños en Quebradillas". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2021.
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