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=== Barrios === {{Main|Subdivisions of San Juan, Puerto Rico}} [[File:Map of San Juan Districts.jpg|thumb|The subdivisions of San Juan]] [[File:San Juan and Rio Piedras municipalities (cropped).jpg|thumb|San Juan and Rio Piedras as separate municipalities on a 1915 map]] As with the other Puerto Rican municipalities, San Juan is administratively divided into ''[[Barrios of Puerto Rico|barrios]].'' What is now known as [[Old San Juan]] occupied the western end of a rocky islet, the [[Isleta de San Juan]], at the mouth of San Juan Bay. During the 20th century, the main population centers surged well beyond the walls of the old city and onto Puerto Rico's main island and merged with the existing settlements east and south of Old San Juan. Together with [[Puerta de Tierra, San Juan|Puerta de Tierra]], Old San Juan comprises the barrio of [[San Juan Antiguo]]. With the annexation of [[Río Piedras, Puerto Rico|Río Piedras]] in 1951, the municipality of San Juan grew to four times its previous size. As a result, the municipality also went from 2 to 18 barrios (barrios),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/sanjuan.pdf |title=San Juan map: Municipo de San Juan |publisher=Welcome.topuertorico.org |access-date=2012-11-25 |archive-date=October 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003180207/https://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/sanjuan.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> 16 of which fall within the former municipality of [[Río Piedras]]. Eight of the 18 barrios are further subdivided into subbarrios, including the two barrios ([[San Juan Antiguo]] and [[Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Santurce]]) that belonged to the original municipality of San Juan. The 18 barrios are: {{Div col}} # [[Caimito, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Caimito]] # [[Cupey, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Cupey]] # [[El Cinco, San Juan, Puerto Rico|El Cinco]] # [[Gobernador Piñero, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Gobernador Piñero]] # [[Hato Rey Central, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Hato Rey Central]] # [[Hato Rey Norte, San Juan|Hato Rey Norte]] # [[Hato Rey Sur, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Hato Rey Sur]] # [[Monacillo, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Monacillo]] # [[Monacillo Urbano, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Monacillo Urbano]] # [[Oriente, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Oriente]] # [[Pueblo, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Pueblo]] # [[Quebrada Arenas, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Quebrada Arenas]] # [[Sabana Llana Norte, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Sabana Llana Norte]] # [[Sabana Llana Sur, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Sabana Llana Sur]] # [[San Juan Antiguo]] (not to be confused with [[Old San Juan, Puerto Rico|Old San Juan]], a historic district within the barrio) # [[Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Santurce]] # [[Tortugo, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Tortugo]] # [[Universidad, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Universidad]] {{div col end}} ==== San Juan Antiguo ==== {{Main|Old San Juan|Puerta de Tierra, San Juan}} [[File:San Juan 3.jpg|thumb|right|Some streets in Old San Juan are still paved with blue [[cobblestones]] from the Spanish colonial era]] During the Spanish colonial times most of the urban population resided in what is today known as [[Old San Juan]]. This sector is located on the western half of a small island called the [[Isleta de San Juan]], which is connected to the mainland by two bridges and a [[causeway]]. The small island, which comprises an area of {{convert|47|sqmi}}, also hosts the working-class neighborhood of [[Puerta de Tierra]] and most of Puerto Rico's [[Executive Departments of the Government of Puerto Rico|central government]] buildings, including the [[Puerto Rico Capitol|Commonwealth's Capitol]]. This is also the largest and most populated ''subbarrio'' of San Juan Antiguo.<ref name="2010 Census">{{cite book |url=https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf |title=Puerto Rico: 2010 Population and housing unit counts |publisher=U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau |year=2010 |page=76 |access-date=2019-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220183043/https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf |archive-date=2017-02-20 |url-status=live}}</ref> The main central part of the old city is characterized by narrow streets made of blue [[cobblestone]] and picturesque colonial buildings, some of which date back to the 16th and 17th century. Sections of the old city are surrounded by massive walls and several defensive structures and notable forts. These include the 16th-century [[Fort San Felipe del Morro]] and the 17th-century [[Castillo San Cristóbal (San Juan)|Fort San Cristóbal]], both part of [[San Juan National Historic Site]], and the 16th-century [[La Fortaleza|El Palacio de Santa Catalina]], also known as [[La Fortaleza]], which serves as the governor's mansion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/60sjspanish/60sanjuan.htm|title=Los Castillos del Viejo San Juan|language=es|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-date=April 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412063451/http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/60sjspanish/60sanjuan.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Other buildings of interest predating the 18th century are the ''Ayuntamiento or Alcaldía'' ([[San Juan City Hall]]), the ''Diputación Provincial'' and the ''Real Intendencia'' buildings, which house the [[Puerto Rico Department of State]],<ref>[http://www.estado.gobierno.pr/galeria.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010215414/http://www.estado.gobierno.pr/galeria.htm|date=October 10, 2009}}</ref> the [[Casa Rosa]], the [[San José Church]] (1523) and the adjacent [[Hotel El Convento]], the former house of the Ponce de León family known as [[Casa Blanca (San Juan)|Casa Blanca]], the [[Teatro Tapia]], the former Spanish barracks (now [[Ballajá Barracks|Museum of Ballajá]]), ''La Princesa'' (former municipal jail, now headquartering the [[Puerto Rico Tourism Company]]), and the [[Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery]], located just outside the city walls.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.coqui.net/sarrasin/ballaja.htm |title=History of ''El Cuartel de Ballajá'' |language=es |publisher=Coquí.Net |access-date=2007-05-03 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305161943/http://home.coqui.net/sarrasin/ballaja.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.com/~prsanjua/pazzi.htm|title=Viejo Cementerio de San Juan (graveyard's history)|author=E. Ramirez Brau|year=2005|language=es|access-date=2007-02-03 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070116042729/http://www.rootsweb.com/~prsanjua/pazzi.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = January 16, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Teatro Tapia|publisher=Yahoo Travel|url=http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2770412-tapia_theater_san_juan-i;_ylc=X3oDMTFka28zOGNuBF9TAzI3NjY2NzkEX3MDOTY5NTUzMjUEc2VjA3NzcC1kZXN0BHNsawN0aXRsZQ--|access-date=2007-05-03|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306041218/http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2770412-tapia_theater_san_juan-i|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Catedral Metropolitana Basílica de San Juan Bautista (San Juan, Puerto Rico)|Cathedral of San Juan Bautista]] (construction began in the 1520s) is also located in Old San Juan and contains the tomb of the Spanish explorer and settlement founder [[Juan Ponce de León]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catedralsanjuan.com/|title=Official Web Site of the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista|language=es|access-date=2007-05-03|archive-date=March 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301034701/http://www.catedralsanjuan.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> Old San Juan, also known as the "old city", is the main cultural tourist attraction in Puerto Rico; its bayside is lined by dock slips for large [[cruise ship]]s. ==== Santurce ==== {{Main|Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico}} [[File:La Placita de Santurce en Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico.jpg|left|thumb|[[La Placita de Santurce|''La Placita'']] in Santurce (2020).]] [[File:Highrise on Ashford Avenue, Condado, Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico.jpg|thumb|Highrises on [[Ashford Avenue]] in [[Condado (Santurce)|El Condado]].]] Santurce is the largest and most populated barrio in the municipality of San Juan, and one of the most densely populated areas of the island (13,257.4 persons per square mile).<ref>{{cite web |title=Link to Puerto Rico – San Juan |url=http://www.proyectosalonhogar.com/Link%20P.R/www.linktopr.com/sanjuan.html |access-date=November 29, 2012 |work=Proyecto Salón Hogar |language=es}}</ref> Santurce, originally named ''San Mateo de Cangrejos'' (Saint Matthew of the Crabs), was a settlement for [[Freedman|freed African slaves]] during the early days of the city. After Pablo Ubarri Capetillo, a Spanish railroad developer and ''Count of San José de Santurce'' under the Spanish colonial period, sought permission to link San Juan with Río Piedras proper via steam tramway in 1878, the time it took to travel between both points were shortened and thereby stimulated the colonization and growth of the district. At the beginning of the twentieth century an electric trolley was installed, the township was split into three parts, and its main settlement, merged with the city, was renamed using the Spanish spelling of [[Santurtzi]] (''[[Saint George]]'' in Basque), Ubarri's birthplace in [[Biscay|Vizcaya]], Spain. The "Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico" ([[Puerto Rico Museum of Art]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mapr.org/|title=Official site of the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico|language=es|publisher=Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico|year=2006|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306085246/http://www.mapr.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> and other important cultural venues are located in Santurce. This barrio is further divided into subbarrios such as the tourist-oriented neighborhood of [[Condado (Santurce)|Condado]], which occupies land that used to be owned by Ubarri Capetillo. Beaches such as nearby [[Ocean Park (Santurce)|Ocean Park]], popular with swimmers, [[surfers]] and [[kitesurfers]], are found all along the district's Atlantic coastline which is also the locus of numerous hotels.<ref>{{cite web |year=2007 |title=Puerto Rico Cheap Hotels: Condado, Old San Juan, Isla Verde and Ocean Park budget hotels |url=http://www.puertoricocheaphotels.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419025520/http://puertoricocheaphotels.com/ |archive-date=April 19, 2018 |access-date=2007-05-06 |publisher=Hola San Juan}}</ref> [[Miramar (Santurce)|Miramar]] is mainly a residential area rising south of the Condado Lagoon. It comprises the former ''[[barrio]]'' of Miraflores, as well as drained marshland and landfill over which was built San Juan's first airport, the Isla Grande airport, which was renamed [[Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport]] in honor of Major [[Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci]] (USAF). Miramar now hosts the [[Puerto Rico Convention Center]] as well as some of San Juan Harbor's cruise ship piers. In 2005 Miramar was designated an historical district of Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miramarpr.com/|title=Informese: Miramar designated a historical district|publisher=MiramarPR|year=2007|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014192026/http://miramarpr.com/|archive-date=October 14, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> ==== Río Piedras ==== {{Main|Río Piedras, Puerto Rico|Hato Rey}} [[File:Plaza de la Convalecencia, Río Piedras, San Juan.jpg|thumb|Plaza de la Convalecencia in [[Pueblo, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Río Piedras Pueblo]] (the historic downtown of Rio Piedras).]] South of Santurce is [[Hato Rey]], part of the former municipality of Río Piedras. Hato Rey was grazing ground for cattle owned by the royal government (hence its name, the ''King's Herd'' in Spanish) as early as the 16th century,<ref name="mini-wall-street" /> and is now considered the financial center of the island. A section of this district is often referred to as ''[[Milla de Oro]]'' (actually {{convert|0.47|mi|km|2|disp=or|sp=us}} long) due in part to the many banks and businesses located there.<ref name="mini-wall-street">{{cite web|url=http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2004/vol8n47/PRSST0847-en.shtml|title=Eatin' Where The Cows Used To Roam: Hato Rey Dining At Its Best|author=Brenda A. Mari|publisher=The Puerto Rico Herald|date=November 19, 2004|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-date=November 24, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041124095522/http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2004/vol8n47/PRSST0847-en.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In the southern part of the city is the socially diversified community of [[Río Piedras]]. Founded in the mid-1850s, Río Piedras was a separate town which hosted sugar cane plantations and the estates of some of San Juan's wealthiest inhabitants (as well as their working-class staff). The Spanish colonial governors also had their summer home there on land which eventually gave way to the main campus of the [[University of Puerto Rico]]. In 1951 the municipalities of San Juan and Río Piedras were merged to redefine San Juan's current city limits. Today Río Piedras comprises the largest area of the municipality of San Juan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Official site of the University of Puerto Rico|url=http://www.uprrp.edu/|language=es|publisher=Universidad de Puerto Rico|year=2007|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306033946/http://www.uprrp.edu/|url-status=live}}</ref> and is home to the "Plaza del Mercado" (Río Piedras [[Marketplace]]), the main campus and the Medical Sciences campus of the [[University of Puerto Rico]] and the [[San Juan Botanical Garden]].
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