Vega Alta, Puerto Rico

Vega Alta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbeɣa ˈalta]) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico. Vega Alta is on the northern coast of the island, north of Morovis and Corozal; east of Vega Baja; and west of Dorado with an area of 28 square miles (73 km2). Vega Alta is subdivided into seven barrios and Vega Alta barrio-pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

For other uses, see Vega Alta barrio-pueblo and Vega Alta, Cuba.

Vega Alta
Municipio Autónomo de Vega Alta
Town and Municipality
Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción in Vega Alta
Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción in Vega Alta
Flag of Vega Alta
Flag
Coat of arms of Vega Alta
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
Pueblo de los Ñangotaos, Los Maceteros
Anthem: "En La Costa Norte De Mi Islita"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Vega Alta Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Vega Alta Municipality
Coordinates: 18°24′44″N 66°19′53″W
CommonwealthPuerto Rico
Founded1775
Barrios
8 barrios
Government
 • MayorMaría Vega Pagán (PNP)
 • Senatorial dist.3 - Arecibo
 • Representative dist.11,12
Area
 • Total27.75 sq mi (71.87 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total35,395
 • Rank32nd in Puerto Rico
 • Density1,300/sq mi (490/km2)
DemonymVegalteños
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00692
Area code787/939
Major routes

Vega Alta is west of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. Vega Alta is known for the beach at Cerro Gordo. Other points of interest include the town's Catholic church, known as Inmaculada Concepción, which was founded in 1813, and the Vega Alta Forest.[2]

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

”Vega Alta” translates to “high meadow” or "upper meadow" in English.

History
Al-Faruq Mosque in Vega Alta, the largest in Puerto Rico, built in 1992

Vega Alta was founded in 1775 by Francisco de los Olivos. It was first named La Vega de Espinosa and popularly known as el pueblo de los 'ñangotaos ("the town of the squatters", in reference to the jíbaros country folk who would wait for the train in a squatting position, due to lack of benches). Before this, it was part of a group of towns known as Las Vegas. It was then separated into two municipalities: Vega Baja and the other Vega Alta.

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 Vega Alta was 6,107.

On October 12, 1898, the city's mayor, Francisco Vega, received U.S. troops as part of the Spanish–American War. 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 neighboring municipality of Vega Baja. In 1905, the government of Puerto Rico passed a law, allowing Vega Alta to become a municipality with its own limits.

Hacienda Carmen and Hacienda Ortega sugar plantations were owned by Juan Gualberto Landron y Martinez born in 1791 in Toa Baja . He owned slaves and purchased them, some coming directly from Africa.

The second-largest mosque in Puerto Rico, built in 1992, is located in Vega Alta.[3]

Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017, triggered numerous landslides in Vega Alta and 90% of homes made of wood were destroyed.[4][5][6]

Geography

Vega Alta is on the northern coast in the Northern Karst region.[7]

Río Cibuco, Río Mavilla and Río Unibón are located in Vega Alta. The Javier Calderón Beach, better known as Cerro Gordo Beach is administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Sports and Recreation.[8]

Vega Alta has a land area of 27.75 square miles (71.87 km2) and water area of 9.76 square miles (25.28 km2).[9]

Barrios
Subdivisions of Vega Alta.

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Vega Alta is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo".[10][11][9][12]

  1. Bajura
  2. Candelaria
  3. Cienegueta
  4. Espinosa
  5. Maricao
  6. Mavilla
  7. Sabana
  8. Vega Alta barrio-pueblo

Sectors

Barrios (which are roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)[13] and subbarrios,[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
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 Vega Alta: Villa Alegria, Villa del Rio, Mavilla, Machuchal, El Nueve, Ponderosa, Manantial, and Corea.[18][19]

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.

Economy

In 1908, Vega Alta was producing coffee, sugar, oranges, tobacco and rum.[20]

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

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

Tourism

There are 6 beaches in Vega Alta,[21] including Cerro Gordo.[22]

Lin-Manuel Miranda
La Placita de Güisín.

The Puerto Rican, award-winning, musician and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda who created the Broadway hit, Hamilton, is from a family with roots in Vega Alta. In 2017, his father opened La Placita de Güisín, a cafe and restaurant in the downtown area of Vega Alta, and in 2019 Lin-Manuel moved his memorabilia to a new gallery, the Lin-Manuel Miranda Gallery, a few steps from Placita de Güisín and opened a store there too, TeeRico. The location has become a tourist attraction.[23][24][25] In one of his musicals, "In the Heights", a woman named "Dani" supposedly is from Vega Alta, according to the following lines:

When I was a little girl, growing up in the hills of Vega Alta My favorite time of year, was christmastime.

Culture

Festivals and events

Vega Alta celebrates its patron saint festival in December. The Fiestas Patronales de La Inmaculada Concepción de María is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[7]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Vega Alta include:

  • Three Kings Fiestas - January
  • Rosarios Cantados (Sung Rosary) - February
  • Carnaval Vegalteño - February
  • Kite Festival - July
  • Virgen del Carmen Parade - July
  • Rooster Festival - October

Sports

Vega Alta Maceteros are the Double-A (baseball) team of Vega Alta.[26]

Vega Alta is known for having amateur ball players as well as professional. Basketball is played in local communities. Other sports practiced include tennis, volleyball, handball, and amateur surfing among others.

Vega Alta is also known for having famous Major League Baseball players such as The Molina Brothers which consist of Yadier Molina, Bengie Molina and José Molina. Other famous sport personalities include former New York Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams and professional boxer Ángel Chacón.

Music

A well known musician from Vega Alta was Ladislao Martinez 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, 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.

Demographic
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19006,107—
19108,13433.2%
19209,97022.6%
193012,33323.7%
194014,32916.2%
195016,52115.3%
196017,6036.5%
197022,81029.6%
198028,69625.8%
199034,55920.4%
200037,9109.7%
201039,9515.4%
202035,395−11.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[27]
1899 (shown as 1900)[28] 1910-1930[29]
1930-1950[30] 1960-2000[31] 2010[9] 2020[32]

    Government
    Town Hall in Vega Alta

    The main women's prison of the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Escuela Industrial para Mujeres in Vega Alta, opened in 1954, replacing a prison in Arecibo; work began on the facility in 1952. Puerto Rico also operates the Hogar de Adaptación Social in Vega Alta, which opened in 1987.[33]

    Past and present mayors
    • Antonio Navas
    • Lorenzo Cabrera
    • 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, 2002–2005)
    • Isabelo "Chabelo" Molina (PNP, 2005–2017)
    • Oscar Santiago Martinez (PPD, 2017–2021)
    • María Vega Pagán (PNP, 2021–Present)

    Transportation

    Puerto Rico's Highway 22 provides access to Vega Alta from as far away as Mayagüez, and connects the municipality to San Juan. Highway 2 also provides access from the western municipalities of Manatí, Arecibo and the eastern San Juan suburban municipalities of Bayamón and Guaynabo bordering the shore to the Atlantic Ocean. It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the town from San Juan. The closest airport is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina. Other public transportation close to the area is Tren Urbano metro system in Bayamón.

    There are 16 bridges in Vega Alta.[34]

    Symbols

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

    Flag

    This municipality has a flag.[36]

    Coat of arms

    This municipality has a coat of arms.[36]

    Anthem

    The anthem used by Vega Alta is the musical composition created in 1958, with lyrics by Domingo Figueroa Ramírez Arreglo and music by Domingo and Elliot A. Knight.

    Education

    Public schools
    • Antonio Paoli/Elementary
    • Elemental Urbana/Elementary
    • Elisa Davila Vazquez/Elementary
    • Ignacio Miranda/elementary school
    • Dr. Cañaco Stalingrad III/ High School
    • Jose D. Rosado/Elementary
    • Jose M. Pagan/Elementary
    • Rafael Hernadez/Elementary
    • Apolo San Antonio/Former high school
    • Nueva Escuela Brenas/Middle School, Second Unit
    • Adelaida Vega/Middle School, Second Unit
    • Ileana de Gracia/High School
    • Ladislao Martinez (Maestro Ladi)/Second High School

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

    Notable natives and residents

    Further reading
    • Leonardo Santana-Rabell. Historia de Vega Alta de Espinosa. 2da edición, Editorial La Torre del Viejo, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, 1995.
    • Domingo Figueroa Ramirez. Memorias y versos: Desde algun rincón de Vega Alta. 1era edición Vega Coop y Econo Mendez Class

    See also

    References
    1. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
    2. "Municipalities: Vega Alta". Encyclopedia of Puerto Rico (in English and Spanish). San Juan: Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades. OCLC 234072526. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2017. Mayors
    3. "Muslims in Puerto Rico". Arab News. December 28, 2012. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 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. "Graves deslizamientos incomunican a Morovis [Serious landslides cut off Morovis]". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
    7. "Vega Alta Municipality". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
    8. "Balneario Cerro Gordo". drdpuertorico (in Spanish). Programa de Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
    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 January 1, 2019.
    10. Picó, Rafael; Buitrago de Santiago, Zayda; Berrios, Hector H. (1969). 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.
    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. "Map of Vega Alta at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
    13. "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
    14. "P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Vega Alta 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.
    15. "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.
    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). Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. 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. "Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
    20. Anuario del comercio, de la industria, de la magistratura y de la administración de España, sus colonias, Cuba, Puerto-Rico y Filipinas, estados hispano-americanos y Portugal (in Spanish). Bailly-Bailliere e Hijos. 1908. p. 353. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
    21. "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.
    22. "Balneario Javier Calderón "Cerro Gordo"". Discover Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved August 26, 2023.
    23. Paulson, Michael (December 26, 2018). "Lin-Manuel Miranda's Passion for Puerto Rico". NYT. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
    24. Ayala Polley, Leonor (May 1, 2016). "In Lin-Manuel Miranda's Puerto Rican Town, Crisis Worries Family Members". NBC. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
    25. "Lin-Manuel Miranda inaugura galería en Vega Alta". El Nuevo Dia. April 30, 2019. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
    26. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    27. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
    28. "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.
    29. "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.
    30. "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.
    31. "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.
    32. Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
    33. "Perfil de la Población de Mujeres Confinadas Año 2015" (Archive). Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Retrieved on December 9, 2015.
    34. "Vega Alta Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
    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. "VEGAALTA". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
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