Las Piedras, Puerto Rico
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| Las Piedras, Puerto Rico | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
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| Nickname(s): "Ciudad Artesanal", "Los Artesanos" | |||
| Anthem: "Somos de la Ribera" | |||
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| Coordinates: 18°10′59″N 65°51′59″W / 18.18306°N 65.86639°WCoordinates: 18°10′59″N 65°51′59″W / 18.18306°N 65.86639°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| Territory | Puerto Rico | ||
| Founded | 1773 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Hon. Miguel A. Micky López (PNP ) | ||
| • Senatorial dist. | 7 - Humacao | ||
| • Representative dist. | 35 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 33.2 sq mi (86.0 km2) | ||
| • Land | 33 sq mi (86 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 38,675 | ||
| • Density | 1,200/sq mi (450/km2) | ||
| Demonym | Pedreños | ||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | ||
| Zip code | 00771 | ||
Las Piedras (Spanish pronunciation: [las ˈpjeðɾas]) is a municipality in east Puerto Rico located in the center region of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Canóvanas and Río Grande; east of Juncos and San Lorenzo; and west of Naguabo and Humacao. Las Piedras is spread over 7 wards and Las Piedras Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Las Piedras, being a colorful town, has many natural attractions such as "La Cueva del Indio" which is a place that has original Indian playgrounds, caves and paintings that denote some characteristics of the ancient island's natives. Las Piedras is located about 45 minutes from San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital and 5 minutes from Palmas del Mar, Humacao which is one of the biggest resorts in the Caribbean.
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[edit] History
Las Piedras was founded in 1773.
[edit] Flag
The flag of Las Piedras has three horizontal stripes of equal width, the stripe at the top is colored white, the center stripe is colored green and the bottom stripe is colored blue. In the middle of the flag rests an image of the Taíno sun in yellow.
[edit] Coat of Arms
In a silver field resides a blue monogram of the Holy Virgin, topped by a blue crown. Seven silver stones border the silver field and at the tip of the shield resides the Taíno sun in gold denominated as the "Sun of Las Piedras".
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)
- Boquerón
- Ceiba
- Collores
- Las Piedras Pueblo
- Montones
- Quebrada Arenas
- Tejas
- El Rio
- La Fermina[1]
[edit] Economy
[edit] Industry
- Manufacturing: computers and pharmaceutical.
[edit] Important People
- Margaro Lopez Lopez - farmer-businessman
- Rafi Jimenez - Broadcaster
- Elwood Cruz - Reporter
- Juan Manuel Lebron - Comedian
- Sotero Gómez Hernández- Puerto Rico House Represantative
- Silvia Ricardo - Judge
- María Elena Gómez Velázquez - Judge. Daughter to the late Rep. Sotero Gómez Hernández, sister to Sotero Gómez Velázquez P.E.
- Carmen Benítez - Teacher
- Modesto Velázquez Flores - Prosecutor
- José R. Camacho - Broadcaster
- Eugenio López - Rancher, Boxer
- Zenón Hernández - Writer, poet.
- Francisco Negrón Díaz - Sport annd businessman
- Miguel Loíz - Teacher, composer, and Senator for district 33 Puerto Rico
- Miguel Hernández Agosto - Puerto Rico senate president 1988-92
- Víctor Santana Pérez - Teacher, historian, writer and planner of Monte del Retiro
- Lcdo. Benjamín García González - Lawyer, has represented Puerto Rico on the “Equal Justice Conference”. Designed and implemented the project known as “TeleAbogado” which is a system dedicated to interview and legally advice people over the phone. This system has helped thousands of citizens in Puerto Rico.
- Tomas Diaz - Clay Artisan
- Cano Diaz - Creator of the now famous "Stringed Hammocs"
- Sotero Gómez Velázquez P.E.- Philanthropist, One-time Puerto Rico East Coast Businessman of the Year, One-Time CIAPR Distinguished Engineer, Contractor/Civil Engineer. Contracted the Museum of History of Carolina, The School of Advanced Science, Math and Tecnology of Carolina, among many other successful constructions. Is the son of the late Rep. Sotero Gómez Hernández, and brother to Judge María Elena Gómez Velázquez.
[edit] Tourism
- The Indian Caves
[edit] Landmarks and places of interest
- Monte del Retiro (Archeological site)
- Artesanial Walk
- Del Indio Cavern
- Francisco Negrón Park
- Las Piedras Historic Museum
- Panoramic Route 917
[edit] Festivals and events
- Güiro Festival - March
- Typical Cultural Festival - April
- Cross Festivities - May
- Youngster's Festivities - July
- Typical Festival - September
- Pork Festival - November
- Patron Festivities - December
