Toa Baja (TO-ah BAH-hah) is a municipality of the United States Commonwealth of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast, north of Toa Alta and Bayamón; east of Dorado; and west of Cataño. Toa Baja is spread over 5 wards and Gurabo Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
Toa Baja considered to be the Metropolitan Area. It shares its metropolitan area status with San Juan, Bayamón,Guaynabo, Cataño, Carolina and Trujillo Alto.
Toa Baja is located fifteen minutes by car from San Juan and one hour from Ponce.
People from Toa Baja are known as Toabajeños.
History
Founding
Called La Ciudad Bajo Aguas, Toa Baja was founded in 1745.
Flag
According to a publication of the Municipality of Toa Baja, the official flag of this Municipality consist of two(2) vertical bands: the left side is green and the right side is yellow. The green band have two (2) keys one in yellow and the other in white color. The green band represent the mountains and the yellow band represent the "Valley of Toa", also simbolises the rays of the sun. The keys simbolises the Saint or "Patron" of the City: San Pedro Apostol (Saint Peter Apostle).
Coat of Arms
The waving stripe represents the Toa River, one of the first mentioned in the history of Puerto Rico, and in whose shores Juan Ponce de Leon tried to settle the first population of Puerto Rico.
The keys, crossed in vane, symbolize Saint Peter, patron saint of the town. In similar form they appear in the altar of the Parochial Church San Pedro Apostle, of Toa Baja. The F and the J, represent Don Fernando II of Aragón and V of Castile, and his daughter, Doña Juana, sovereign of Castile and Leon.
The handfuls of yucca refer to one of the main crop of this area, and constitute a symbol of the Indians who cultivated it, and whose main food was cassava or bread of yucca. The sugar cane stems refer to the cultivation and industry, that represented the main source of wealth of Toa Baja; the wealth is represented by gold of the field of the shield.
Demographics
Barrios (Districts/Wards)
- Candelaria
- Levittown (comunidad)
- Media Luna
- Palo Seco
- Sabana Seca
Geo/Topography
Northern Coastal Plains and in the karst zone.
Rivers; Cocal, Hondo and Plata.
Economic
Agriculture
Fruits, Sugarcane. Dairy Cattle.
Industrial
Manufacturing (metal, plastic, concrete, textile, electrical and electronic machinery and rum).
Landmarks and Places of Interest
- Bacardí Rum Refinery Tourist Complex
- Cañuelo Fortress
- Central Constancia (sugar mill)
- Goats Island
- Hermana IslandNuestra Señora del Carmen Catholic Church
- Palo Seco Thermoelectrial Power Station
- Punta Salinas Beach
- San Pedro Apostle Catholic Church
- Santa Elena Hacienda
Festivals and Events
- Craft Festival - March
- Patron Celebrations - June
- Each Festival - July
- Musical Band Festival - August
- Chirstmas Festivities - December
Notable Toabajeños
- Ernesto Juan Fonfrías - Lawyer, novelist and poet.
- Luis M. Santiago - Profesor and author of Toa Baja's hymn.
- Manuel Padilla Dávila - Surveyor and poet.
- Virgilio Dávila - Poet
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:25, October 23, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toa_Baja%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=80154867
