Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico

Santa Isabel (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsantajsaˈβel]) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Coamo; east of Juana Díaz; and west of Salinas. Santa Isabel is spread over 7 barrios and Santa Isabel Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center). It is the principal city of the Santa Isabel Micropolitan Statistical Area and is part of the Ponce-Yauco-Coamo Combined Statistical Area.

Santa Isabel
Municipio Autónomo de Santa Isabel
Town and Municipality
Skyline of Jauca 2 barrio in Santa Isabel
Skyline of Jauca 2 barrio in Santa Isabel
Flag of Santa Isabel
Flag
Coat of arms of Santa Isabel
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
Tierra de Campeones,
La Ciudad de los Potros
Capital de la Agricultura
Anthem: "En un pedazo del sur estás presente"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Santa Isabel Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Santa Isabel Municipality
Coordinates: 17°57′58″N 66°24′18″W
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
FoundedOctober 5, 1842
Barrios
8 barrios
Government
 • MayorBilly Burgos Santiago (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist.6 - Guayama
 • Representative dist.27 
Area
 • Total34.3 sq mi (88.9 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total20,281
 • Rank60th in Puerto Rico
 • Density590/sq mi (230/km2)
DemonymSantaisabelinos
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00757
Area code787/939
Major routes

Santa Isabel is known as The Capital of Agriculture,[2] La Ciudad de los Potros ("City of Colts") due to the number of potreros (or racehorse stud farms) in the area.

History
Relic of the old sugar processing plant, Central Cortada, in Santa Isabel

Before being founded, the area where Santa Isabel is located today was part of the boundary between the cacicazgos (or Taíno regions) of Guaynia and Guayama. During the Spanish conquest and settlement of Borinquen, the area became key to the settlement and agriculture of Coamo which at the time was the second town to be founded in the southern part of the island.[3] Numerous estancias were established in the region during the time to cultivate "frutos menores" or small crops for local use such as rice, corn, beans and root vegetables. The area where Central Cortada is located was originally called Estancia Descalabrado, and was owned by Catalan settler Juan de Quintana from 1737.[4]

The municipality of Santa Isabel was officially founded on October 5, 1842, by Antonio Vélez. Vélez led a group of residents to obtain independence from the municipality of Coamo, which Santa Isabel was originally a part of.[5]

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 conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Santa Isabel was 4,858.

On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Santa Isabel, close to 500 people had to be rescued, the agriculture was leveled. The strong winds, 15 inches of rain, and rivers that crested, caused an estimated 12,000 homes to be completely or partially destroyed.[2]

Geography

Santa Isabel is on the southern coast.[6]

Barrios
Subdivisions of Santa Isabel.

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Santa Isabel is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo".[7][8][9][10]

  1. Boca Velázquez
  2. Descalabrado
  3. Felicia 1
  4. Felicia 2
  5. Jauca 1
  6. Jauca 2
  7. Playa
  8. Santa Isabel barrio-pueblo

Sectors

Barrios (which are like minor civil divisions)[11] and subbarrios,[12] 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.[13][14][15]

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 Santa Isabel: Playita Cortada, Sector Islote,[16] Sector Canta Sapo, Sector Descalabrado, Sector El Río, Sector Florida, Sector la Pica, Sector Villa Pote, and Sector Villa Pulga (Villa del Mar).[17]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19004,858—
19106,95943.2%
19207,2574.3%
19308,88622.4%
194011,46829.1%
195013,47817.5%
196014,5427.9%
197016,05610.4%
198019,85423.7%
199019,318−2.7%
200021,66512.1%
201023,2747.4%
202020,281−12.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]
1899 (shown as 1900)[19] 1910-1930[20]
1930-1950[21] 1960-2000[22] 2010[9] 2020[23]

As of the 2020 United States Decennial Census, Santa Isabel had a population of 20,281 residents, a decrease from the 2010 Census when the population was of 23,274 residents. In 2020, the racial makeup of the municipality was 50.2% White, 33.3% Black, 13.4% two or more races, and 0.1% Native American. The majority of the population, 99.8%, are Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 0.2% are non-Hispanic White residents.[24]

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

There are 29 beaches in Santa Isabel.[25] Some of the main attractions of Santa Isabel are:

  • El Malecón (boardwalk)
  • Indian Museum
  • Jauca Beach
  • Hacienda Alomar Ruins
  • Central Cortada (Cortada Sugarcane Refinery)

Santa Isabel has two listings in the United States National Register of Historic Places:

Economy
Crops in Felicia, Santa Isabel.

Agriculture

The surrounding areas produces fruits and vegetables such as mango, guineo and avocado.[26] Campo Fresco, a Puerto Rican company, owns a plant in Santa Isabel, from where they produce Jugos Lotus juice and other drink brands.[27]

Industry

Aerospace, electrical and electronic, metal products and nutritional products.

Culture

Festivals and Events

Santa Isabel celebrates its patron saint festival in July. The Fiestas Patronales de Santiago Apostol is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[6]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Santa Isabel include:

  • Agroferia Santa Isabel - April
  • Carnaval de Baloncesto Barrio Ollas - July
  • City Foundation Anniversary - October
  • Encendido Navideño Barriada Felicia, Calle Elifaz Ostolaza - November

Schools

Elementary
  • Escuela Martín G. Brumbaugh
  • Escuela John F. Kennedy
  • Escuela Esther Rivera
  • Escuela Ana L. Rosa Tricoche
  • Escuela Apolonia Valentín
  • Escuela Ana Valldejuly
  • Escuela Emilio Casas

Middle school
  • Escuela Manuel Martín Monserrate

High school
  • Escuela Elvira M. Colón

Second Units
  • Escuela S.U. Pedro Meléndez (Playita Cortada)

Private Education
  • Colegio Evangélico Fuente De Sabiduría (K-6)
  • Colegio LOGOS

Sports

Santa Isabel is known as Tierra de Campeones (Land of Champions) because of its rich sports tradition (especially in Baseball). The city is home to the Santa Isabel Potros baseball team. The Potros won the 1992 National Championship of the Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Puerto Rico. The team plays its home games at Estadio Municipal Luis Guillermo Moreno.

  • Class A Baseball Teams (Wild Passages of Paso Seco, Marlins de Felicia and Jueueros de Jauca)
  • Double A Baseball Team (Ponies of Santa Isabel)
  • Basketball Carnival (Ollas neighborhood) - July
  • Interbarrio Children's Basketball League - August–November
  • Sporting Goods Store (BBB Sports)
  • Double A Youth Baseball Team (Potritos U19)
  • Soccer Teams (Santa Isabel Soccer Club)
  • Collegiate Volleyball (UAGM Santa Isabel)

Government
Main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. Enrique "Quique" Questell (of the New Progressive Party) was elected at the 2004 general election and served from 2005. Questell lost to Rafael "Billy" Burgos Santiago in the November 2020 elections.[28]

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which is represented by two senators. In 2012, Miguel Pereira Castillo and Angel M. Rodríguez were elected as district senators.[29]

Transportation

There are 12 bridges in Santa Isabel.[30]

Symbols

The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[31]

Flag

The flag is divided horizontally into three stripes; white at the top, yellow in the center and red at the bottom, and may be decorated with sugarcane stems.[32]

Alternate flag of Santa Isabel with sugar cane stem ornamentation

Coat of arms

The crown stands for Saint-Queen Elizabeth of Hungary (Isabel in Spanish), patroness of the Third Order of Saint Francis. The shells are a symbol of St. James the patron saint of the town, as well as for the many shells found in the beaches near the town.[32]

Notable Santaisabelinos
  • Irrigation method in Santa Isabel
    Irrigation method in Santa Isabel
  • View of Caribbean Sea from Santa Isabel
    View of Caribbean Sea from Santa Isabel
  • Cattle in Jauca.
    Cattle in Jauca.

See also

References
  1. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. "María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. El huracán María arrasó con la agricultura en Santa Isabel" [Maria, a name we will never forget. Hurricane Maria leveled Santa Isabel's agriculture]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  3. "Santa Isabel PR ¡Historia viva!". Santa Isabel PR (in Spanish). Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  4. "Cortada". jaimemontilla.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  5. "Antonio Vélez: El joven fundador de Santa Isabel" [Antonio Vélez: The young founder of Santa Isabel]. Santa Isabel PR (in Spanish). April 8, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  6. "Santa Isabel Municipality". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  7. 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 1, 2019.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. "Map of Santa Isabel at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  11. "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  12. "P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Santa Isabel Municipio, PR" (PDF). www2.census.gov. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  13. "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.
  14. 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
  15. "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  16. "Dura realidad en Playita Cortada e Islote". Primera Hora (in Spanish). October 14, 2017. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  17. 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
  18. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  19. "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.
  20. "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.
  21. "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.
  22. "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.
  23. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  24. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Santa Isabel Municipio, Puerto Rico". www.census.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  25. "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.
  26. "Somos Santa Isabel: tierra fértil con sabor a mangó". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  27. "La planta de jugos Campofresco en Santa Isabel". Santa Isabel PR. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  28. "Enrique Questell Alvarado reconoce la victoria de Rafael "Billy" Burgos en Santa Isabel". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  29. Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived 2013-01-15 at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  30. "Santa Isabel Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  31. "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.
  32. "SANTA ISABEL". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.

Further reading
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