Naguabo (nah-GWAH-bo) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the east coast of the island, north of Humacao; south of Río Grande and Ceiba; and east of Las Piedras. Naguabo is spread over 10 wards and Naguabo Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Naguabo is said to be the birth place of the "pastelillo de chapín," which is a very popular food in Puerto Rico. It is trunkfish wrapped inside a flour dough that is deep fried; a very tasty food found in almost any seaside establishment on the island.

History

Founding

Naguabo was founded in July 15, 1821. Derives its name from a local Indian Chief Naguabo.

Naguabo is a town of 23,753 inhabitants (Census 2000) located on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico founded in 1794. It is named that way because of the word used by the taino indians of the area, who ruled that area of the iland at the time of the Spanish colonization. and means "Here is the land where waters lie" Naguabo is also known as "the soaked city" because of the large amount of precipitation the territory receives every year due to its proximity to the El Yunque tropical rain forest.

Flag

Shield of rectangular form, round off in its inferior part, stamped with a three tower crown mural and adorned with two palms and a banner at its base.

Coat of Arms

Shield of rectangular form, round off in its inferior part, stamped with a three tower crown mural and adorned with two palms and a banner at its base.

Demographics

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

• Daguao
• Duque
• Húcares
• Lima
• Maizales
• Mariana
• Peña Pobre
• Río
• Río Blanco
• Santiago

Topography

It is located in the Regional area of the Southeast. The northern part is within the Luquillo Mountain Range. Within some of its hills are two of greater elevations in this mountain range, the Picos (tips) of the Este and the Oeste, respectively with 1,051 and 1,020 meters (3.448 and 3,346 feet) of altitude above sea level. The rest of the territory of this municipality is level.

Landmarks and Places of Interest

• Algodones Key
• Caribbean National Forest
• Naguabo Beach
• Punta Lima Beach
• Ramón Rivero "Diplo" Monument
• Yudelmi Center
  

Festivals and Events

• Pedro Flores Week - March
• Chapín Festival - June
• Diplo Festival - June
• Virgen del Carmen Fiesta - July
• Matron Celebrations - October
  

Notable Naguabeños

• Arturo Gallardo Woods
• Carmen Delia Dipini
• Fernando Gallego - Lawyer, judge and poet.
• Filiberto Ojeda Rios, - Famous Puerto Rican fugitive who was killed by the FBI, is buried in his home town of Rio Blanco, which is a part of the Naguabo municipality.
• Inés María Mendoza Vda. de Muñoz - First Lady.
• Joaquín R. Parrilla - Poet
• Matías González García - Journalist, storyteller and novelist.
• Orlando Rodríguez Cabreras
• Pedro Carlos Timothe Morales -Lawyer, educatorand storyteller.
• Plácido Figueroa - Trovadore and poet.
• Pedro Flores (1894- 1979) - Composer
• Ramón López - Poet
• Ramón Ortiz del Rivero, "Diplo" - Famous comedian.
• Tito Enriquez.

Nagüabo, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 13). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:23, October 19, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nag%C3%BCabo%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=81242579