Morovis, Puerto Rico

Morovis, Puerto Rico

The Island Except Morovis

morovis cueva
Cabachuelas Caverns

Morovis (mo-RO-vis) is known as the Island Except Morovi. The phrase used is originated in a cholera epidemic that devastated Puerto Rico in 1853. Historical records show that Morovis was the only municipality where no cases were reported, and every time the topic was mentioned people would say “All of the island, except Morovis”. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the patron saint, and the festival in her honor is held in July.

Morovis is located in the northern part of Puerto Rico. The municipality is located in the humid northern hills, and the northernmost part of the territory is located in the karst area.

Morovis is bordered on the north by Vega Alta and Manatí, on the south by Orocovis, on the east by Vega Alta and Corozal, and on the west by Ciales. Since the land is very fertile and well irrigated, there is significant agricultural activity.

Today, the economy of the town is based on agriculture, cattle, and light manufacturing, including needlework. Crops include coffee, tobacco and fruits and vegetables. Cattle are raised principally for dairy use. According to 2002 statistics, there were 314 farms that grew tobacco with an annual harvest of 8,919 hundredweights, and 24 first class dairies, producing 8,343,864 quarts of milk.

Foundation:

Its Taíno name is derived from the river that flows through its northern wards. In 1815 a group of residents, under the leadership of Juan José de la Torre began the process to separate Morovis from Manatí with the purpose of establishing it as a town. They based the request on the distance they lived from the head of the municipality and the bad conditions of the roads that prevented them from attending mass and receiving aid from the authorities.

In 1817, the government of Puerto Rico approved the separation, but it wasn’t until the 1818 when the requirements of a population of one thousand residents and the firm commitment to construct a church and other public buildings was fulfilled, that the town of Morovis was officially founded.

Morovis’ first mayor was the founding captain, Juan José de la Torre. In 1822 the mayorship was constructed. In 1823 the new church of the town was constructed dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Carmen on lands donated by Juan Evangelista.

Morovis has a very peculiar nickname. It is known as “The Island Except Morovis”. This became an alternate name because in the year 1853 a cholera epidemic affected all the island. According to the records that were filed, Morovis was the only municipality that did not report cases of the epidemic. The expression became popular because whenever the subject of the cholera epidemic was mentioned… the phrase “The Island Except Morovis” was included.

Location:

mapa morovis It is bordered by: Manatí, Vega Baja and Vega Alta to the north; Orocovis to the south ; Corozal to the east; and Ciales to the west.

Area:

100.3 sq km / 38.6 sq mi

Population:

29,965 (census 2000)

Population Density:

298.7 per sq km / 776.2 per sq mi

People are known as:

Moroveños

Morovis is also known as:

La Isla Menos Morovis (The Island Except Morovis)

Wards: Morovis, Puerto Rico

barrios morovis

Census 2000:
Population by Wards – Morovis
Habitants
Barahona 4,410
Cuchillas 2,211
Fránquez 4,205
Monte Llano 2,781
Morovis Town 1,004
Morovis North 3,257
Morovis South 3,595
Pasto 777
Perchas 1,354
Río Grande 645
San Lorenzo 844
Torrecillas 739
Unibón 3,495
Vaga 648
Total 29,965

Source: Censo 2000

Patron:

Nuestra Señora del Carmen
Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish
PO Box 428
Morovis, P.R. 00687-0428
(787) 862-2620
Founded: 1823
Matron festivities: July 16

morivis iglesia
Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish

Topography:

It belongs to the northern region of humid hills; in addition, the northern part of its territory is part of the karst zone, which is distinguished by the presence of caverns, wooded hills and drains.

Hydrography:

It is bathed by the Grande de Manatí river and its affluents: the rivers Bauta, Culebra, and Sana Muertor; and the gorges La Animas, La Mina, Perchas, Del Muerto, Los Cabros, Minas, Riachuelo, Grande de San Lorenzo, Suro, Riego, Quintero, Pozo de Magala and Del Guano. The remaining bodies of water in this municipality belong to the Cibuco river basin. These are the Unibón and Morovis rivers, all affluents of the Indio river. The Carreras river and the Monte Llano gorge belong to the Unibón river. The Morovis is born in the Morovis ward. Its affluents are the Honda, La Casimba, Grande de Morovis and Fránquez gorges.

Economy:

Mainly agriculture; coffee and cattle, complemented with light industry.

Average Salary:

$235.36 weekly (1998)

Flag:

morovis bandera The flag of Morovis is divided vertically in two equal parts. The immediate one to the mast is yellow and has the eagle of the Coat of Arms, in this case with the head facing right toward the pole. The other half is divided in seven vertical stripes of equal width, four red ones alternated with three yellow ones.

Coat Of Arms:

morovis escudoThe Coat of Arms of the Municipality of Morovis is formed by an eagle in the left partition, which symbolizes San Juan Evangelista and sings in honor of the founder of the town, Don Juan Evangelista Rivera. The five “cuatros” (Puerto Rican instruments) observable in the right partition symbolize the fact that the town of Morovis is the main center of production of such typical Puerto Rican instruments. The shield in the center represents the Order of the Carmelite Nuns, and symbolizes as well the Virgen Carmen, matron of the town.

The left half is a field of yellow color (yellow for gold) in which resides a saber (black) eagle, beak and claws in red, its head enclosed with a halo. The right half division is in red with five cuatros (Puerto Rican instruments) in yellow (for gold); and in the small center shield, the Coat of Arms of the Order of the Carmelite Nuns. At the top is located a three tower crown of yellow, lined in saber (black) with red doors and windows.

Places of interest:

  • Covachuelas caves
  • Siña Carmen Cave
  • El Mamingo Pond
  • Azul Pond
  • Los Machargo Bakery
  • Cultural Center Diógenes Colón Goméz
  • Torrefactora Agrícola coffee roasting facility

Events:

  • Homage to Don Felo – May
  • Patron Saint`s Festival in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – July
  • Cuatro Festival – July
  • Day of the Holy Innocents – December 28

Distinguished Citizens:

  • Angel G. Quintero Alfaro – Professor, writer and essayist. Dean of general studies at the University of Puerto Rico(1950-1958) and secretary of education (1962-1968).
  • Baltasar Corrada del Río – Resident Commissioner (1977-1984), Mayor of San Juan (1985-1989), and supreme court justice judge (1995- until present).
  • Zaida R. Hernández Torres – Member of the House of Representatives (1985-1996) Was the first woman to be elected president of the House of Representatives (1993-1996), judge of the appellate court.
  • José del Río de León – Mayor (1913-1920), representative (1929-1932) and senator (1941-1942).
  • José Rivera Barreras – Prosecutor and superior court judge in San Juan.
  • Heraclio Rivera Colón – Teacher and senator for the district of San Juan( 1949-1964), member of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico constitution.
  • Manuel Joglar Cacho – Lyric poet. Some of his works have won awards from the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
  • Monsignor álvaro Corrada del Río – Auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Washington, D.C. and Bishop of the Diocese of Caguas.
  • Graciany Miranda Archilla – Poet, writer, journalist, and essayist.

Public Schools sorted by educational levels.

Morovis District

Name Level Telephone Address
BARAHONA ELEMENTAL (787) 862-2010 PO BOX 568
DR. PEDRO N. ORTIZ ELEMENTAL (787) 862-3382 PO BOX 387
ELEMENTAL URBANA ELEMENTAL (787) 862-2570 PO BOX 687
ESPERANZA GONZÁLEZ ELEMENTAL (787) 862-2792 HC 1 BOX 2386
FRANQUEZ ELEMENTAL (787) 862-2440 PO BOX 479
JOBOS ELEMENTAL (787) 862-3469 PO BOX 387
MANUEL ALONSO DÍAZ TORRES ELEMENTAL (787) 862-4910 136 CALLE ELÍAS RUSSE
PERCHAS DÍAZ ELEMENTAL (787) 862-3442 PO BOX 459
VAGA I ELEMENTAL (787) 862-4713 PO BOX 2157
ÁNGEL G. QUINTERO INTERMEDIO (787) 862-1716 PO BOX 1571
FRANCISCO RIVERA CLAUDIO INTERMEDIO (787) 862-4985 PO BOX 388
RAMÓN TORRES RIVERA SEGUNDA UNIDAD (787) 862-3406 PO BOX 1772
DAVID COLON VEGA SEGUNDA UNIDAD (787) 862-2835 PO BOX 1584
JOSÉ R. BARRERAS SEGUNDA UNIDAD (787) 862-2814 PO BOX 400
JAIME A. COLLAZO DEL RIÓ SUPERIOR (787) 862-2300 PO BOX 370

Hymn:

¡Oh Morovis, tu vives latente,
en los pechos de todos tus hijos
aunque diga el refrán “La Isla menos”
aunque el mapa te muestre algo chico!

¡Son tus lomas de varios verdores
amplias vías ya son tus caminos
pero aún cuentan historias muy viejas
con sus linfas cantoras tus ríos.

¡ Oh, recuerdos de ayer que dormitan
en las calles de nuestro pueblito!
¡ Oh, la Iglesia que eterna en el centro
es vigencia de fe en Jesucristo!

Aquí está la heredad moroveña
es acervo de todos tus hijos,
que haya fiesta y que el verbo
acompasen tus guitarras… y cuatros… y güiros.

Y marchemos con Fe hacia el futuro
a forjarlo con mil sacrificios
sin jamás olvidar el pasado
¡Por siempre Morovis, unidos!

How to get to Morovis from San Juan.

direction morovis

 

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