Morovis, Puerto Rico

The Island Except Morovis

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:

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

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

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:

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:

The 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.

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.

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

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