Río Grande (REE-o GRAHN-de) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Northern Coastal Valley, North of Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba; east of Loíza and Canóvanas and west of Luquillo. Río Grande is spread over 8 wards and Río Grande Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Major: Eduard Rivera Correa (PPD)
Senate: District #8

Hon. Lornna Soto (PNP)
Hon. Hector Martinez (PNP)
Representative: District #36, #37

Hon. Johnny Mendez (PNP)
Hon. Angel Bulerin (PNP)
The city is one of the examples of a shared government between the top parties in Puerto Rico, PPD and PNP. Like is happining at the state level, with a governor from the PNP and the Houses with PNP majority.

Past Majors: 1976-1984 Wilfredo Mercado Ortíz
1984-1992 Ángel L. Bulerín Ramos
1992-1996 Wilfredo Mercado Ortíz
1996-2000 Cesar Méndez Otero
2000-2004 Emilio Rosa Pacheco
2004-Present Eduard Rivera Correa

History

Founding

Rio Grande was founded by Desiderio Escobar and Quillimaco in Río Grande was founded in July 25, 1840 by Deriderio Brothers and Quilimaco Escobar. with the approbation of governor Miguel López.

The town is named after a regional river that annexes with a local river called the Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit), The name of the regional river, is "Rio Grande de Loíza".

Flag

The Río Grande flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal size united by a white triangle placed on the side of the mast. On the white triangle a Puerto Rican parrot.

Coat of Arms

In a silver field, two Puerto Rican parrots(Amazon vitatta vitatta) , accompanied by a waving blue stripe, a green mountain with three peaks. The top portion of the shield is blue, with an opened silver book, accompanied on each side by five gold coins. Topped by a three tower gold crown outlined in black with green openings.

Demographics

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

• Ciénaga Alta - 4,606
• Ciénaga Baja - 18,220
• Guzmán Abajo - 6,614
• Guzmán Arriba - 928
• Herreras - 839
• Jiménez - 2,903
• Mameyes II - 2,919
• Zarzal - 13,385
  

Geo/Topography

Rio Grande de Loíza.

Economic

Agriculture

Fruits, ornamentales plants, sugar cane, vegetables and cattle.

Industrial

Manufacture of textiles.

Landmarks and Places of Interest

• Coco Beach
• El Yunque
• Indio Cave
• Las Picúas Beach
  

Festivals and Events

• Cross Festival - May
• Patron Celebrations - July

Notable Riograndeños

• Agustin Guerra
• Anibal Díaz Montero - Story Teller
• Carmen Reyes Padro
• Cecilia Arnaldi de Olmeda
• Enrique Calderon
• Eugenio Guerra
• Franciso Mojica
• Jesus Parilla Calderon
• José Reymundi
• Manuel Siaca Rivera
• Ovidio de Jesus Uriguen
• Pedro Carlos Timothe Morales - Lawyer, educator

Río Grande, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 3). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:27, October 20, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=R%C3%ADo_Grande%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=79156712