Ceiba, Puerto Rico

Soup Eaters

Ceiba (sai-EE-bah) and its residents are known as “soup eaters” and the “Marlins” and the town is known as the “Marlin City.” The patron saint is San Antonio de Padua.

Ceiba is bordered on the north by the municipality of Fajardo, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea and on the west by the municipality of Naguabo.

Topographically, Ceiba is part of the region known as the eastern coastal valleys. Its soil, mostly alluvial, was formed by the materials washed down from the mountains by water. It has fertile land on the plains and stony soil in the higher elevations.

Ceiba has several manufacturing businesses, most of which are dedicated to manufacturing clothing. The Roosevelt Roads naval base was an important factor in the business development of the municipality during the 60 years it was in operation. In the previous century, rice, tobacco and sugar cane were grown in Ceiba, and fruits are still cultivated. There was also iron mining in the past. In substitution of sugar cane, the Puerto Rico Land Authority implemented programs for farming minor fruits and domestic livestock, including beef and dairy cattle, as well as swine.

Foundation:

Luis de la Cruz founded Ceiba on April 7, 1838. The name derives from the Taíno word “seyba”, a native tree of Puerto Rico “ceiba pentandra”.

Ceiba it’s admired because of its powerful architectural grayish trunk, which has thorns. Its roots can extend for miles. There was the belief that at some time there was a forest of these trees and for that reason the town was named after them.

Though Ceiba is also known as the town of the Soup Eaters (Come Sopas), there is no official reason why the Ceibeños are so called.

The town of Ceiba was part of the Fajardo district until the May 12, 1838. To separate themselves from Fajardo, a local group of the population wrote to the governor. Although they had some opposition, they finally obtained their separation in 1838.

Ceiba served as home to the U.S. Naval base Roosevelt Roads. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered the construction of the facility in 1940 and it was finished in 1943. It served as a training base for Navy ships and aircraft since World War II.

Location:

Ceiba is located on the east coast. It is bordered by: Río Grande, Luquillo, Fajardo and the Atlantic Ocean on the north, Naguabo on the south, Río Grande and Naguabo on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east.

Area:

71.5 sq km / 27.5 sq mi

Population:

18,004 (census 2000)

Population Density:

251.8 per sq km / 654.6 per sq mi

People are known as:

Ceibeños

Ceiba is also known as:

Los Come Sopas (Soup Eaters)
La Ciudad del Marlin (Marlin City)

Wards: Ceiba, Puerto Rico

Census 2000: Population by Wards – Ceiba	Habitants
Ceiba Town	3,816
Chupacallos	2,265
Daguao	237
Guayacán	3,242
Machos	4,186
Quebrada Seca	1,568
Río Abajo	871
Saco	1,819
Total	18,004

Información: Source: Censo 2000

Topography:

Due to its location in the Eastern Coastal Plains it displays few topographic changes. Its very irregular coasts form the areas of Ensenada Honda and Medio Mundo. It also has several keys and small barren islands. The Luquillo Mountain Range crosses it, two of the higher elevations are Pico del Este and Pico del Oeste mountains.

Hydrography:

The Fajardo, Demajaguas, Daguao rivers and the Aguas Claras and Secas ravines, among others.

Climate:

The average annual precipitation is 1.312 mm and the annual average temperature is 26.1° C. During the month of February the climate is dry. During May thru September there is a period of humidity.

Economy:

Manufacturing (plywood, apparel, hardware products).

Average Salary:

$414.04 weekly (1998)

Flag:

The flag of Ceiba derives its design and colors from the municipal Coat of Arms and maintains the same symbolism. It consists of two vertical stripes of equal width, red immediate to the hoist, and green the second one. The first stripe has a superposed yellow cross.

Coat Of Arms:

In field of gold, one ceiba tree, a mural crown, at the head a cross in gold with lily flowers of the same metal. The shield is flanked by two sugar cane stems, with their leaves crossed at the bottom.

The ceiba tree symbolizes the name of the town and simultaneously represents the indigenous prehistory of Puerto Rico. The cross and the lily flowers represent the first and last name of Don Luis de la Cruz, founder of the town. The cross also symbolizes the christian origin of the population.

Distinguished Citizens:

• Felisa Rincón de Gautier – Political leader. Belonged to the Liberal Party. Helped Luis Muñoz Marín found the Popular Democratic Party. Was mayor of San Juan for 22 years. Selected “Woman of the Americas” in 1954.
• Isabel Rosado Morales – Teacher. Participated in the Nationalist Revolution of 1950. Served eleven years in the prison for women in Vega Alta after participating in the nationalist attack on the United States Congress.
• Carmen E. Pérez – Poet who wrote the poem “Canto a Ceiba,” which was selected as the town’s hymn.
• Luis Vigoreaux Rivera – Actor, host and radio announcer. Chief of programming at the broadcaster WRIO. Television producer. President of the Announcers Association of Puerto Rico.
• Narciso Solero Feliciano – Representative in the House of Representatives.

Name	Level	Telephone	Address
Elementary
CEIBA ELEMENTAL URBANA NUEVA	K-6		Apartado 235, P.R. 00735-0000
CEIBA PARCELAS AGUAS CLARAS	K-6	(787) 885-2269	PO Box 235, P.R. 00735-0235
CEIBA RIO ABAJO	K-6	(787) 885-0160	HC 55 Box 24252, P.R. 00735-0000
Intermediate
CEIBA INTERMEDIA NUEVA	7-9	(787) 885-3170	PO Box 1070, P.R. 00735-0000
High School
SANTIAGO IGLESIAS PANTIN	10-12	(787) 885-3200	PO Box 1404, P.R. 00735-0000

Hymn:

Lirics Carmen E. Pérez – Música Lito Peña