Humacao, Puerto Rico

Pearl of The Oriente

Humacao (oo-mah-KOU) is known as “the Pearl of the East,” “the gray city,” and “the bone-gnawers”. The patron saint is Our Lady of Immaculate Conception and the Catholic church is dedicated to the Sweet Name of Jesus.

Humacao is located on the east coast of Puerto Rico and is part of the eastern coastal valleys. It is bordered by the municipalities of Naguabo on the north, Yabucoa on the south, and Las Piedras on the west, and to the east by the Vieques Passage. Agricultural production is high because of Humacao’s alluvial soil. The lowlands are located near the coast and are mainly used for coconut farming.

Humacao has several natural attractions, one of which is the Humacao pterocarpus forest, declared a natural reserve in 1986. There are also many beaches, which have made the area very attractive for tourism. Palmas del Mar, a resort complex located in the area, is visited by many local and foreign tourists. Punta Santiago is another attractive area, with a public beach, a resort, and a variety of restaurants. The town is home to one of the University of Puerto Rico’s regional campuses.

A mainstay of the economy of Humacao is the manufacturing of electronic, chemical and leather products, as well as scientific instruments, electrical equipment and clothing, among others. The construction industry, commerce, truck farming, cattle ranching, and fishing also contribute to the local economy.

Foundation:

At the moment of the conquest and colonization of Puerto Rico, this territory was governed by the Taíno Chief Jumacao. The name Humacao derives from this chief, whose territory was along the Honónimo River, at a short distance from the ocean. Chief Jumacao was the first Taíno Chief to learn how to read and write. This fact was corroborated when he wrote a letter to the King of Spain complaining about the Governor of the island not complying with the peace treaty, and that other chiefs as well as himself were virtually prisoners of the regime. He stated also in this communication that he was a free man and capable of responding for his own acts. The King was so moved by the letter, that he ordered immediately that Puerto Rico honor the terms of the peace treaty.

The foundation of the town took place in 1793. In 1881 it was given the title of “Villa” and by 1893 it had achieved the title of “City”. It is believed that the founders of Humacao were decedents from Spain’s Canary Islands.

Location:

Humacao is located in the eastern coast of the island, it borders north with Naguabo, south with Yabucoa, west with Las Piedras and east with the Atlantic Ocean.

Area:

117 sq km / 45 sq. mi.

Population:

59,035 (census 2000)

Population Density:

504.5 per sq km / 1,311.8 per sq. mi.

People are known as:

Humacaeños

Humacao is also known as:

La Perla del Oriente (Pearl Of The Orient)
La Ciudad Gris (The Gray City)
Roye Huesos (The Bone Grinders

Wards: Humacao, Puerto Rico

Census 2000: Population by Wards – Humacao	Habitants
Antón Ruíz	3,770
Buena Vista	3,718
Candelero Abajo	3,365
Candelero Arriba	3,747
Cataño	2,508
Collores	2,653
Humacao Pueblo	4,787
Mabú	8,526
Mambiche	2,052
Mariana	3,237
Punta Santiago	5,524
Río Abajo	7,144
Tejas	8,004
Total	59,035

Source: Censo 2000

Topography:

Humacao belongs to the Eastern Coastal Valleys. For the most part the terrain is level, below the 100 meter mark, which makes it susceptible to floods. It has some minor elevations, the Candelero Hill in southeastern region and the Mabú in the northeastern region.

Hydrography:

Humacao is bathed by the Antón Ruíz, Humacao & Candelero rivers and the Frontera, Cataño, Mariana, Del Inglés & Del Obispo gulches. All of them belong to the Vieques Passage.

Economy:

Light industries that included textiles, plastics, electronic machinery, chemical products, leather articles, scientific instruments & electrical equipment. It also produces coffee, sugar, rice and tobacco. Other economic activities are fishing, cattle, tourism and construction.

Flag:

It consists of three horizontal stripes: gold that stands for Chief Jumacao’s crown, red that symbolizes the Coat of Arms and the green that represents the arrows used by the Taínos. Chief Jumacao was the first Taíno Chief to learn how to read and write. This fact was corroborated when he wrote a letter to the King of Spain complaining about the Governor of the island not complying with the peace treaty, and that other chiefs as well as himself were virtually prisoners of the regime. He stated also in this communication that he was a free man and capable of responding for his own acts. The King was so moved by the letter, that he ordered immediately that Puerto Rico honor the terms of the peace treaty.

Coat Of Arms:

The coat of arms consists of two colors, gold and green. The gold represents the sun, Humacao is located in the island were the sun rises. Green symbolizes our native Indian heritage as well as the natural tropical valley where the city is located. The shield itself represents Humacao’s native and Indian name origin and the Christian backbone of the town.

The crown above the shield is standard of all cities and towns close to Humacao area ordered by the Royal Spanish Crown. It also represents Chief Jumacao’s royalty. The other two components of the shield are the two arrows and a small shield. The arrows represent the two wars Jumacao fought against the Spanish during the XVI century. The small shield in the center represents the name of Humacao’s Catholic Church; Dulce Nombre De Jesús.

The shield was designed by Roberto Biascochea Lota in 1975 and was adopted by the Municipal Assembly that same year in November.

Events:

• Kings Holidays – January
• Bomba and Plena Festival – April
• Cross Festival – March
• Planua Boat Festival – June
• Festival Pana Mariana Barrio – August
• Pana Festival – September
• Santa Cecilia Festival (Patron saint of musicians) – November
• Festivities – December
• Community Festival of the Catholic Church – December

Places To Visit:

• Humacao Airport
• Pterocarpus de Humacao Forest – it has the largest freshwater swamp forest on the Island.
• Arts Center Angel “Lito” Peña
• Grain Factory – elaborates the native frying of Humacao.
• Monument to Cacique Jumacao – chieftain who dominated the territory.
• Monument to the Teacher – dedicated to the guild of educators.
• Roig House Museum – Designed in 1919 by Antonin Nechodoma. It was restored in 1989 by the University of Puerto Rico to which it currently belongs. It serves as a museological headquarters and cultural center.
• Astronomical Observatory, University of Puerto Rico in Humacao.
• Pantheon of the Guzmán family (Guzmán Hermitage)
• Humacao Water Park
• Luis Muñoz Rivera Square (Recreation Square)
• Humacao Wildlife Refuge – located in the humid subtropical zone of the southeast coast of Puerto Rico. There is a diversity of natural resources: swamps, marshes, canals and a lagoon complex. Carey and Tinglar, two species of sea turtles, nest in their land.

Beaches:

Distinguished Citizens:

• Marta Casals de Istomin – Casals Musical Festival Director
• Osiris Delgado – Artist
• Emilio E. Huyke – Father of the puertorrican basketball
• Águedo Mójica -Lawyer, educator and politician
• Rita Moreno – Actress, dancer, singer and a 1961 Oscar reciepient
• Antonia Sáez – Professor
• Luis Rafael Sánchez – Dramatist y novelist

Name	Level	Telephone	Address
Elementary
ADRIÁN MEDINA	K-6	(787) 850-3233	PO Box 487, P.R. 00792-0000
ANTÓN RUÍZ	K-6	(787) 850-0010	HC 3 BOX 6101, P.R. 00791-9511
ANTONIA SÁEZ	K-6	(787) 852-1215	PO Box 8417, P.R. 00792-0000
ANTONIO A. ROIG	K-6	(787) 852-1478	PO Box 8419, P.R. 00791-0000
ASUNCIÓN VALLEJO LÓPEZ	1-6	(787) 850-7375	PO Box 851, P.R. 00792-0851
CÁNDIDO BERRIOS	PK-6	(787) 850-1165	BA3 CALLE 26 PO Box 217, P.R. 00791-1165
CARMEN PILAR SANTOS	K-6	(787) 852-2065	50 CALLE, PROGRESO, P.R. 00791-0000
DR. VÍCTOR RINCÓN	K-6	(787) 850-3015	PO Box 912, P.R. 00741-0000
LIDIA FIOL SCARANO	PK-6	(787) 850-7080	CALLE 6 PO Box 0250, P.R. 00791-4615
LUZ A. CRUZ DE SANTANA	K-6	(787) 850-6460	PO Box 10033, P.R. 00791-0000
MAMBICHE BLANCO II	K-6	(787) 852-6452	PO Box 8419, P.R. 00791-0000
MANUEL SURILLO	K-6	(787) 852-7720	HC 1 BOX 1741, P.R. 00791-0000
ESC. NUEVA BO. MARIANA	K-6	(787) 852-3650	PO Box 487, P.R. 00792-0487
PADRE RIVERA	K-6	(787) 850-5588	PO Box 8717, P.R. 00792-0000
PEPITA LÓPEZ	K-6	(787) 850-4488	PO Box 487, P.R. 00792-0000
RUFINO VIGO	K-6	(787) 852-3215	URB. VILLA UNIVERSITARIA, P.R. 00791-4349
Intermediate
AVELINO PEÑA REYES	EE	(787) 285-6542	PO Box 487, P.R. 00791-0000
CARLOS RIVERA UFRET	7-9	(787) 285-0052	PO Box 10194, P.R. 00792-0000
JUAN DE DIOS LÓPEZ	7-9	(787) 285-1068	PO Box 487, P.R. 00792-0487
JUAN PONCE DE LEÓN	7-9	(787) 852-1242	MSC 342 PO Box 890, P.R. 00791-0890
Others
ACADEMIA DE ADULTOS	2-12, ADULTOS	(787) 285-0390	PO Box 8450, P.R. 00791-0000
Second Level
FRANCISCO ISERN JIMÉNEZ	K-9	(787) 852-1130	PO Box 875, P.R. 00741-0000
SU AGAPITO LÓPEZ FLORES	K-9	(787) 852-6494	PO Box 911, P.R. 00741-0000
SU CRUZ ORTIZ STELLA	K-9	(787) 852-5740	PO Box 10086, P.R. 00792-1086
SU JOSÉ TORO RÍOS	K-9	(787) 852-4435	PO Box 944, P.R. 00792-0000
SU LUCIANO RÍOS	K-9	(787) 850-7443	PO Box 851, P.R. 00792-0000
SU ROSA MARIA ROSARIO DE LEÓN	K-9	(787) 850-1474	PO Box 851, P.R. 00792-0000
High School
ANA ROQUE DE DUPREY	10-12	(787) 852-1115	PO Box 86, P.R. 00792-0000
PETRA MERCADO BOUGART	10-12	(787) 852-7780	PO Box 9141, P.R. 00791-9141
SUPERIOR VOCACIONAL	10-12	(787) 852-1315	PO Box 890, P.R. 00792-0890
All Levels
ESCUELA LIBRE DE MÚSICA	2-12	(787) 285-7901	PO Box 487, P.R. 00792-0487

Hymn:

By Prof. Miguel Correa López