Toa Alta (TO-ah AHL-tah) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the nothern coast of the island, north of Naranjito; south of Dorado and Toa Baja; east of Vega Alta and Corozal; and west of Bayamón. Toa Alta is spread over 8 wards and Toa Alta Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
History
Founding
Toa Alta located west of the capital city of San Juan, the town was founded in 1751 making it one of the oldest towns on the Island. The construction of the San Fernando Rey church in the town square began in 1752. The name Toa Alta comes from the Taino word for valley, "Thoa". Over the years, agriculture became an important economic force in the area. At the peak of the agricultural economy, the town was also known as the "Granja de los Reyes Católicos" (the Farm of the Catholic Kings). The town is also called "Ciudad del Josco". The town is commonly known by its nickname "La Cuna de los Poetas," or "Cradle of Poets," due to the numerous Spanish-language poets who were born there, such as Abelardo Diaz Alfaro and the musician Tomás "Masso" Rivera.
Flag
Horizontaly divided in three, the bottom and top red stripes double the size of the center yellow stripe. In the upper left corner a yellow eight point star.
Coat of Arms
The shield in gold, a red board with a silver sword topped with a gold crown of the same metal, to each side two small shields in red, the right-hand one with a tower in gold and the left-hand one with a gold eight point star, a three tower crown lined in black with red openings. Motto: Non Deserit Alta.
Demographics
Barrios (Districts/Wards)
- Contorno
- Galateo
- Mucarabones
- Ortiz
- Piñas
- Quebrada Arenas
- Quebrada Cruz
- Río Lajas
Geo/Topography
Toa Alta Northern Coastal Plain and to the karst zone.
Economic
Agriculture
Important milk producer.
Industrial
Scientific instruments, food, clothing, leather articles, rubber and plastic articles.
Landmarks and Places of Interest
- Legendary Tree
- Masso Rivera Municipal Teather
- Masso Rivera Statue
- Recreo Egozcué Plaza
- San Fernando Rey Parish
- Villa Tropical Recreation Center
Festivals and Events
- Chopa Marathon - March
- Patron Celebrations - May
- Typical Musica - November
Notable Toalteños
- Dayanara Torres Delgado, Miss Universe 1993 and former wife of salsa-star Marc Anthony.
- Misael Morales - Puerto Rico's finest drummers, progressive rocker , lead drummer and percussionist of "Los Rockeros de la Montaña".
Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:18, October 23, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toa_Alta%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=81907943
