This article is about a Municipality located in Puerto Rico. For other places with a similar name, see Salinas.
Salinas (sah-LEE-nahs) is a small 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 7 wards 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 "mojito isleño".

Although Salinas doesn't have any commercial airports, there is a military air base there. In addition, there is a military youth camp there, Camp Santiago, which is visited every year by many groups of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other children's groups.

History

Founding

Salinas was founded in 1841 by Agustín Colón Pacheco.

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.

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.

Demographics

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

• Aguirre
• Coquí
• Lapa
• Palmas
• Quebrada Yeguas
• Río Jueyes
• San Felipe
  

Geo/Topography

Gorges;. The Callao, La Palma y Majada and Pasto Viejo.
Lagoons; Mar Negro and Punta Arctias.
Rivers; Jájome, Jueyes, Lapa and Salina (Nigua).

Economic

Agriculture

Fruit, sugar cane; Cattle.

Business

Apparell, commercial fishing.

Industrial

Aguirre Sugar Cane Mill, which is one of the few that is still in operation in Puerto Rico; Electrical and electronic machinery, plastics, sunglasses.

Landmarks and Places of Interest

• Albergue Olímpico (Olympic Hostel)
• Aguirre Forest
• Antigua Central Aguirre (Sugar Cane Mill)
• Camp Santiago
• Sports Museum
  

Festivals and Events

• Abey Carnival - February
• Abey - Cacique (Chief) of yucayeque-(village) in the area of Abeyno Salinas, Puerto Rico.
• Pescao Festival - June
• Matron Celebration - September

Notable Salinences

Miss Universe - Salinas is famous for being home of several beauties that have had noticiable participation in the international Miss Universe contest. These are former Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2005 Cynthia Olavarria, and the reigning Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera.

• Roberto Alomar, baseball player
• Sandy Alomar, Jr., baseball player
• Sandy Alomar, Sr., baseball player
• Angel "Cholo" Espada, famous boxer and former WBA's world Welterweight champion
• Cynthia Olavarria, former Miss Puerto Rico
• Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Universe 2006
• Elizabeth Zayas, former Miss Puerto Rico
  

Salinas, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:44, October 20, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salinas%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=80828660