Canóvanas (kah-NO-vah-nahs) is a Municipio in Puerto Rico, located in the northeastern region, north of Juncos and Las Piedras; south of Loíza; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Canóvanas is spread over 7 wards and Canóvanas Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
Canóvanas along with San Juan,Bayamón, Carolina, Guaynabo, Cataño, Toa Baja,Trujillo Alto,Caguas,Toa Alta one of the cities that comprises the so called Metropolitan Area of Puerto Rico.
Large numbers of African slaves lived in the Canóvanas area. Because of this, a considerable large number of Canóvanas' population is black.
In 1983, an infamous criminal act occurred in Canóvanas when police tried to intervene in a dispute between a landowner and a group of homeless people that built their wooden houses in Villa sin Miedo. The dispute occurred because of disagreements and breaking of verbal contract between the parts. During the dispute, one policeman was shot on his lung and died shortly after, many other officers and residents were injured in a case that received wide media attention in Puerto Rico.
History
Juan R. Calderón founded Canóvanas in 1909. Canóvanas derives its name from a local Indian chief Canobaná (Canovanax).
Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms today contains the following symbolisms: The colors gold and violet taken from the banner of the "Hijos y Amigos Ausentes de Canóvanas" (Absent Children and Friends of Canóvanas), The crown (castle) symbolizing municipality, the broken chain symbolizing the discontinuation of Canóvanas as a district of Loíza. The crown in the center symbolizing and recalling the supreme hierarchy of the Cacique Canobaná, The laurels indicatiing the 23 consecutive wins (one leaf for each win) of the "Loíza Indians" basketball team, establishing a record in Puerto Rico. The basket in the middle of the leaves represents the team and its accomplishments. The rising sun and its 16 rays of light indicating the sprouting of a new municipality in Puerto Rico and the number of the incumbent mayors, respectively, before Canóvanas was separated from Loíza. The inscription in the banner recalls: the name of the Cacique and the dates of the installation of the municipal seat of Loíza in Canóvanas, November 30, 1909; and its creation August 15, 1970.
Demographics
Barrios (Districts/Wards)
- Campo Rico
- Cubuy
- El Verde
- Hato Puerco
- Las Lomas
- Las Mercedes
- Toma Agua
Geo/Topography
The Grande de Loíza river
Economic
Agriculture
Coffee, fruits, sugar cane vegetables; cattle and poultry
Industrial
Apparel, footwear, chemical agents, electrical and electronic equipment
Tourism
Landmarks and places of interest
- Antigua Lechería (Old Dairy)
- Central Canóvanas Ruins
- El Comandante Racetrack
- El Español Bridge
- Jesús T. Piñero's House
- Old Ceiba Tree
- Villarán Park
Festivals and events
- Cross Festivities - May
- Matron Festivities - October
- Christmas In The Country - December
Sports
Canóvanas was also home of a large number of Taíno Indians. Because of this, Canóvanas' professional sports teams have traditionally been nicknamed the Indios. In 1983, BSN's Indios won Puerto Rico's national basketball championship and they repeated in 1984, but they eventually disappeared during the 1990s. The Indias women's volleyball team has also won a number of championships. In Horse-racing, Canóvanas is home to El Nuevo Comandante, Puerto Rico's most famous horse track, since 1972.
Notable "Canovanenses "
- Benjamín Morales
- Enrique Sánchez Cappa
- Dr. Francisco F. Mundo
- Jesus T. Piñero - First puertorrican governor (not elected)
- Juan Calzada González
- Julio Jiménez
- Rafael José Albandoz
- Rey Francisco Quiñones
Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. (2006, September 18). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:14, October 16, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Can%C3%B3vanas%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=76382995
