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Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico

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Juana Díaz (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwana ˈði.as]) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 13 barrios and Juana Diaz Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the Ponce Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Juana Díaz
Town and Municipality
Municipio Autónomo de Juana Díaz
San Ramon Nonato Church and main town square in Juana Díaz
San Ramon Nonato Church and main town square in Juana Díaz
Flag of Juana Díaz
Flag
Coat of arms of Juana Díaz
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
"La Ciudad del Maví", "La Ciudad del Jacaguas", "El Belén de Puerto Rico"
Anthem: "Juanadinos, alcemos las voces"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Juana Díaz Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Juana Díaz Municipality
Coordinates: 18°03′09″N 66°30′24″W / 18.05250°N 66.50667°W / 18.05250; -66.50667
Sovereign state United States
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
Settled1582
FoundedApril 25, 1798
Founded byDon Diego Vázquez
Barrios
14 barrios
Government
 • MayorRamón "Ramoncito" Hernández (PPD)
 • Senatorial District5 - Ponce (Half)
 • Senatorial District6 - Guayama (Half)
 • Representative District25 (Precinct 63) Ponce Senatorial District
 • Representative District27 (Precinct 64) Guayama Senatorial District
Area
 • Total
107.04 sq mi (277.23 km2)
 • Land60.29 sq mi (156.15 km2)
 • Water46.75 sq mi (121.08 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
46,538
 • Rank17th in Puerto Rico
 • Density430/sq mi (170/km2)
DemonymJuanadinos
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00795
Area code787/939
Major routes

Juana Díaz is known as "La Ciudad del Maví" (Maví City). Mabi is a fermented Taíno beverage made out from the bark of the mavi tree Colubrina elliptica.

History

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Juana Díaz was founded in 1798 and was known as Ciudad de Jacagua, in honor of the Taíno Cacique Jacaguax.[2] The civil government of this territory was established on April 25, 1798.[3]

Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In August of 1898, Stephen Crane, a war correspondent for Hearst's New York Journal, single-handedly took possession of the town before an American regiment arrived. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Juana Díaz was 27,896.[4]

On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Juana Díaz, 2,500 homes lost their roof.[5]

Geography

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Juana Díaz is located on the southern coast. Several rivers run through the Juana Díaz territory, among them, Río Inabón and the Río Jacaguas, from which Juana Díaz takes it's nickname, "Ciudad del Jacaguas". The Guayabal dam between Juana Díaz and Villalba is located in this river. Among its main tributaries are Río Toa Vaca in Villalba, also dammed. Both Guayabal and Toa Vaca lakes are visible in the map. Lake Toa Vaca is also the main source of drinking water for Juana Díaz, Ponce and other towns.[6] The highest point in the municipality is located close to the top of Cerro Maravilla.

Barrios

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Subdivisions of Juana Díaz.

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Juana Díaz is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo".[7][8][9][10]

  1. Amuelas
  2. Callabo
  3. Capitanejo
  4. Cintrona
  5. Collores
  6. Emajagual
  7. Guayabal
  8. Jacaguas
  9. Juana Díaz barrio-pueblo[11]
  10. Lomas
  11. Río Cañas Abajo
  12. Río Cañas Arriba
  13. Sabana Llana
  14. Tijeras

Sectors

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Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)[11] and subbarrios,[12][13][14] are further subdivided into smaller areas called sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.[15][16][17]

Special communities

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See also: Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development

Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Juana Díaz: Arús (Pastillito), Callejón de los Perros (Los Buenos), Sector San Carlos in Collores, Sector Baldío in Cuevas, La Atómica, Las Palmas and Manzanilla.[18][19]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
190027,896—
191029,1574.5%
192018,529−36.5%
193019,5165.3%
194023,39619.9%
195027,69718.4%
196030,0438.5%
197036,27020.7%
198043,50519.9%
199045,1983.9%
200050,53111.8%
201050,7470.4%
202046,538−8.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1899 (shown as 1900)[21] 1910-1930[22]
1930-1950[23] 1960-2000[24] 2010[9] [25]

Tourism

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To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Juana Díaz page lists Casa Museo de los Santos Reyes, Salto de Collores, and Casa de la historia Juanadina José Rafael Gilot, as places of interest.[27]

 
Schoenstatt Shrine in Juana Diaz

Landmarks and places of interest

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According to a news article by Primera Hora, there are 30 beaches in Juana Díaz.[28]

Economy

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Flamboyan tree in Juana Díaz

Agriculture

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In the past, Juana Díaz was a large producer of sugarcane but with industrial development the sugar cane industry disappeared. Local rums are now produced from raw materials imported from other countries. Juana Díaz produces plantains, bananas, mangoes, and other crops that are consumed in the local markets and also exported to other countries. Cattle and pigs are also raised in local farms.

Industry

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Juana Díaz is a producer of beige marble, one of the finest marbles in the world.

Culture

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Festivals and events

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Juana Díaz celebrates its patron saint festival in late August / early September. The Fiestas Patronales de San Ramón Nonato is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[6][30]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Juana Díaz include:

  • The Three Kings Festival in Juana Díaz is the largest in all of Puerto Rico.[31] Three Kings Festival is celebrated on January 6 - religious and cultural event which began in 1884 celebrating the visit of the Three Kings to baby Jesus. The main event is a parade down Comercio Street to the town's plaza where a big altar is set up for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist begins with an act of the Prophets announcing the coming of the Messiah. The prophesies are followed by the sighting of three kings by the shepherds. The holy mass follows and at the end the Three Kings find and adore baby Jesus. Some people come to the festival dressed up as shepherds.[32]
  • Festival del Mabí (Mauby Festival) - March
  • Bull Frog Festival - April
  • Good Friday - Juana Díaz celebrates many activities during Holy Week each year. The most notable is the Good Friday procession that transits through many of the urban communities with representations of the Stations of the Cross. Thousands of juanadinos and people from other towns visit Juana Díaz on Good Friday.
  • Llorensiana Week - May
  • Puerto Rican Festivities - December

Government

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Main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Juana Díaz is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Ramón Hernández Torres, from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Hernández was elected at the 2000 general election.

Part of the city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district V, which is represented by two senators. In 2012, Ramón Ruiz and Martín Vargas Morales, from the Popular Democratic Party, were elected as district senators.[33] The other part of the city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which has been represented by Miguel Pereira Castillo and Angel M. Rodríguez since 2012.[34]

Symbols

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The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[35]

Flag

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The flag of Juana Díaz is rectangular in shape, formed by two triangles whose hypotenuse extends from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. The upper triangle is white, the symbol of silver and the lower triangle is yellow or gold. At its center is the coat of arms of Juana Díaz in its natural colors.[36][37]

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms features The Nazarene Cross. It is in the center of the coat of arms. It stands out subtly between furrows and space, symbolizing the union of two races by means of the inalienable bond of the Christian faith. The cross also symbolizes the western Christian culture.[38]

The woman represents - Mrs. Juana Díaz, the towns namesake - with her hands the woman strews thirteen grains of corn into thirteen furrows, symbolizing the seeds that germinated and were the base for the foundation and growth of our town. The woman dresses as those of her time.[38][37]

The sun symbolizes a new horizon, hope in the formation of a town. The sun within the coat of arms has thirteen rays, each represents one of the barrios of Juana Díaz.[38][37]

Thirteen knolls stand out in the coat of arms symbolizing each of the thirteen barrios or barrios of Juana Díaz. The mountains also symbolize that Juana Díaz has been one of the richest mineral towns in Puerto Rico.[38][37]

The Indians represents the natives who settled the village before the arrival of the white man. The native carries on his back thirteen sheathed arrows and a bow, and an arrow on his head. The bow and arrow represent the only effective means of defense useful for survival.[38][37]

The shackle and the whip represent Juana Díaz as the martyr of 1887 because the most heinous, repressive institution known at the time was enforced in our town, "El Componte". It was in Juana Díaz where liberal politicians and dedicated patriots were martyred because they fought against the tyranny imposed by Spanish General Romualdo Palacios. Palacios was the most tyrannical and cruel of all the governors of our nation. "El Componte", a military tribunal, was used to quiet the rebel voices of those who loved law and order.[38][37]

The harp represents the music, the quill pen dipped in the ink well represents the verse, the poetry. Juana Díaz has generously given distinguished poets to Puerto Rican literature.[38][37]

Ciudad del Jacaguas is the name by which Juana Díaz was known in the past. Many people knew Juana Díaz as the city of Jacaguas, but Luis Lloréns Torres dubbed it "La Versalles de Ponce" (Ponce's Versailles).[38][37]

Four Castles Represent that Juana Díaz reached the stature of city. Cities have five castles in their coat of arms, villages have four and smaller towns have three.[38][37]

Transportation

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Among the most important roads in Juana Díaz are the Luis A. Ferré Expressway (PR-52) which connects Juana Díaz to Ponce and the airport in just minutes and San Juan in a little more than one hour. Other important roads include road PR-14 which runs through downtown Juana Díaz on its route between Ponce and Cayey, road PR-149 from Juana Díaz to Manatí running through Villalba and the "Cordillera Central" and road PR-1 which goes from Ponce to San Juan through the community of Pastillo in the south coast of Juana Díaz.

There are 51 bridges in Juana Díaz.[39]

Notable people

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Natives of the Juana Diaz are referred to as "Juanadinos" within Puerto Rico. Among the most notable Juanadinos are:

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  •  
    Driving from Juana Díaz to Santa Isabel on PR-52
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    Iglesia de San Juan Bautista y San Ramon Nonato in barrio-pueblo
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    Carvings on rock in Cueva Lucero
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    Puerto Rican singer Tommy Figueroa posing with his bust in the Center for Fine Arts in Juana Díaz

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Cruz Ríos, Melissa (January 5, 2019). "Para reyar y turistear en Juana Díaz". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Rodríguez, Luis E. "Historia". juanadiaz.org. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  4. ^ Joseph Prentiss Sanger; Henry Gannett; Walter Francis Willcox (1900). Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office. Imprenta del gobierno. p. 177. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  5. ^ "María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. María dejó incomunicadas a 70 familias en Juana Díaz" [Maria, a name we will never forget. 70 families are left incommunicado in Juana Díaz]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Juana Díaz Municipality". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  7. ^ Picó, Rafael; Buitrago de Santiago, Zayda; Berrios, Hector H. Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  8. ^ Gwillim Law (May 20, 2015). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4766-0447-3. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Map of Juana Díaz at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Juana Díaz (000) Municipio, PR" (PDF). www2.census.gov. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  13. ^ "P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Juana Díaz (001) Municipio, PR" (PDF). www2.census.gov. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  14. ^ "P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Juana Díaz (002) Municipio, PR" (PDF). www2.census.gov. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  15. ^ "Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)". Puerto Rico Budgets (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  16. ^ Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (first ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  17. ^ "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  18. ^ Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza:Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (Primera edición ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, p. 273, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  19. ^ "Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  20. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  21. ^ "Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899". War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  22. ^ "Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  23. ^ "Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  24. ^ "Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  25. ^ Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  26. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  27. ^ Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando (in Spanish). Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico. 2021.
  28. ^ "Las 1,200 playas de Puerto Rico [The 1200 beaches of Puerto Rico]". Primera Hora (in Spanish). April 14, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  29. ^ "Reyes Magos de Juana Díaz". Reyes Magos de Juana Díaz (in Spanish). Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  30. ^ "Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico". Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  31. ^ "Juana Díaz". Discover Puerto Rico. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  32. ^ Cruz Rí, Melissa (January 5, 2019). "Para reyar y turistear en Juana Díaz". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  33. ^ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived 2013-01-15 at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  34. ^ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived 2013-01-15 at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  35. ^ "Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios". LexJuris de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  36. ^ Rodríguez, Luis E. "Bandera oficial". juanadiaz.org. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i "JUANA DIAZ". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rodríguez, Luis E. "Nuestros Símbolos". juanadiaz.org (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  39. ^ "Juana Díaz Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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