Salinas, Puerto Rico

Salinas (Template:IPA, Template:IPA) is a town and municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama. Salinas is spread over 5 barrios and Salinas Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

It has long been a fishing spot for Puerto Ricans, known for its beaches, fish variety and the birthplace of the famous "mojo isleño".

Although Salinas doesn't have any commercial airports, there is a military training area there, Camp Santiago, which is one of the training centers of the Puerto Rico National Guard. Army National Guard, Air National Guard, State Guard, U.S. Army ROTC, U.S. Army Reserve and the U.S. Army also conduct military training at Camp Santiago.

History

Salinas was founded in 1840. On July 22, 1841, its first municipal council was established by Don Agustín Colón Pacheco as Mayor, Don Jose Maria Cadavedo as Sargent of Arms, Don Juan Colon as Captain of the Civil Guard and five hacendados which were Don Antonio Semidey, Don Antonio Morelli, Don Francisco Secola, Don Julio Delannoy and Don Jose Antonio Torres. In 1847 it was annexed to the municipality of Guayama until 1851 when it regained its status as a municipality.

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 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Salinas was 5,731

In the 21st century the availability of clean drinking water has become an issue for Puerto Rico and especially for Salinas which is located in a dry region of the island.<ref name="Kaufman 2019">Template:Cite web</ref>

On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Salinas, 2800 homes were destroyed by the winds, flooded rivers, and ocean surge.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During Hurricane Fiona on September 18, 2022, flood waters from Template:Convert of rain caused the river to flood neighborhoods and destroy homes in Salinas.<ref name="NPR.org 2022">Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

File:Mangroves in Puerto Rico.JPG

Mangroves in Salinas

File:Salinas, Puerto Rico locator map.png

Subdivisions of Salinas.

Salinas is on the southern coast.<ref name="PR_Ency">Template:Cite web</ref>

• Gorges: The Callao, La Palma y Majada and Pasto Viejo.
• Lagoons: Mar Negro and Punta Arctias.
• Rivers: Río Jájome, Río Jueyes, Río Lapa and Río Nigua (Río Salinas).
• Mountains: Cerro Las Tetas, Montes Oscuros

Barrios

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Salinas is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as Template:Lang.<ref name="Pico_1969">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Law2015">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="US2010Census" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1. Aguirre
2. Lapa
3. Palmas
4. Quebrada Yeguas
5. Río Jueyes
6. Salinas barrio-pueblo<ref name="Barrio-Pueblo">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sectors

Barrios (which are like minor civil divisions)<ref name="Barrio-Pueblo"/> and subbarrios,<ref name="Census map">Template:Cite web</ref> are further subdivided into smaller areas called Template:Lang (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="Law 1-2001">Template:Cite web</ref>

Special Communities

File:Children from Las Mareas community welcoming new neighbor, Tuque the manatee (6217586155).jpg

Children of Las Mareas community welcoming "Tuque the manatee"

Template:Lang (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 Salinas: Las Mareas, Playita, el Coco, Comunidad Aguirre, El Coquí, Parcelas Vázquez, San Felipe, Sector Borinquén, and Sector Villa Cofresí.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Climate

File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - AGUIRRE, PR.svg

Climate chart for Salinas

According to data provided by the Aguirre weather station, Salinas has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw). The annual average temperature of Salinas is Template:Convert, of which August is the hottest month with an average temperature of Template:Convert, and January is the coolest month with an average temperature of Template:Convert.<ref name=NCEI/> There are about 105 days with a temperature above Template:Convert every year, and there are 4 hot days with a temperature above Template:Convert every year; at the same time, there are also 4 nights with a temperature below Template:Convert every year.<ref name=NOWData/> The annual precipitation in Salinas is Template:Convert, of which the rainy season is from May to November, and the precipitation accounts for about 82.5% of the whole year.<ref name=NCEI/> Among them, September is the wettest, and the precipitation can reach Template:Convert.<ref name=NCEI/> The temperature extremes ever recorded in Salinas ranged from Template:Convert on December 3, 2013 to Template:Convert on September 18, 2016.<ref name=NOWData/> Template:Weather box

Economy

Agriculture

File:Picking tomatoes in Salinas, Puerto Rico.jpg

Picking tomatoes in Salinas

Salinas is one of the main agricultural producers on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It has large banana and papaya farms in its Lapa and Aguirre barrios. The Río Jueyes barrio is one of the main producers of beef in the south, counting with La Hacienda Las Carolinas which supplies Ganaderia Santiago, a slaughter house, with meat. Salinas also is headquarters for Canto Alegre, a company which specializes in poultry. This company supplies most of Puerto Rico's supermarkets with fresh poultry.

Business

• Apparel
• Commercial fishing: Salinas has a private marina with a hotel and convention center.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Industry

The Aguirre Sugar Cane Mill was the last operational sugarcane mill in Puerto Rico and closed its doors in 1993. The Central Aguirre Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic places but there are no current plans to renovate the area and is now mostly in ruins.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some other industries in Salinas include electrical and electronic machinery, plastics, sunglasses.

Tourism

File:Cayo Matías, Salinas, Puerto Rico.jpg

View of "El Cayo Matias" in Salinas

Landmarks and places of interest

There are 17 beaches in Salinas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some of Salina's main attractions are:

• Albergue Olímpico (Olympic Hostel), is a sports complex and hostel with air-conditioned rooms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Antigua Central Aguirre (Sugar Cane Mill)
• Camp Santiago
• Montes Oscuros
• Monumento al Jíbaro

Culture

Festivals and events

Salinas celebrates its patron saint festival in September. The Template:Lang is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.<ref name="PR_Ency" />

Other festivals and events celebrated in Salinas include:

• Abey Carnival – February to celebrate Abey – Cacique (Chief) of Yucayeque, a former Taino village in the area of Abeyno, Salinas
• Template:Lang – June
• Template:Lang

Demographics

Demographic distribution

Race – Salinas, Puerto Rico – 2000 Census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Population	% of Total
White	4,645	74.6%
Black/African American	647	10.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native	29	0.4%
Asian	8	0.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	2	0.1%
Some other race	599	9.8%
Two or more races	211	4.5%

Government

Template:Main All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. Karilyn Bonilla Colón (of the Popular Democratic Party) was elected as mayor at the 2012 general election, succeeding Carlos Rodríguez Mateo.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which is represented by two Senators. In 2024, Rafael Santos Ortiz and Wilmer Reyes Berríos were elected as District Senators.<ref>Elecciones Generales 2024: Escrutinio General Template:Webarchive on CEEPUR</ref>

Transportation

There are 41 bridges in Salinas.<ref name="bridge">Template:Cite web</ref>

Symbols

The Template:Lang has an official flag and coat of arms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Flag

On a green rectangular field, five white isosceles triangles equal in size, placed in the center of the flag and forming a row that covers the extent of the background. The green represents the land and the triangles hills of salt from which the name of the town is derived.<ref name="LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico 2020">Template:Cite web</ref>

Coat of arms

The shield uses the traditional colors of the town; green and silver. The salt knolls indicate in graphical form the name of the town: Salinas. The fish refer to the fishing. The sugar cane leaves that surround the shield, symbolize the sugar cane plantations.<ref name="LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico 2020" />

Notable people

• Angel "Cholo" Espada - former World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion of the world
• Evelina Lopez Antonetty - Puerto Rican civil rights activist and founder of United Bronx Parents
• Zuleyka Rivera - Miss Universe 2006
• Héctor Santiago-Colón - Medal of Honor recipient in the Vietnam War
• Jay Wheeler - reggaeton singer
• Georgina Borri - )born 1954) actress

Gallery

• Trees in Salinas
  Trees in Salinas
• Beach in Salinas
  Beach in Salinas
• Montes Oscuros
  Montes Oscuros
• The Town hall building in 1920
  The Town hall building in 1920

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans
• History of Puerto Rico
• Did you know-Puerto Rico?

Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Puerto Rico Government Directory – Salinas

• https://www.salinaspuertorico.com

• http://www.caneydelafamasalinas.com