Foundation: Aguas Buenas was originally a sector of the Municipality of Caguas, which was known as Aguabuena (Good Water). This territory had as assets springs of pure and crystalline waters. During 1798, a group of neighbors began to settle their homes near to one of these springs and decided to call to the sector Aguas Claras (Clear Waters).     The number of neighbors (residents of the zone) increased with the passing of years. On the 25th of July, 1832, the residents formed an assembly and commissioned Don Francisco de Salas Torres and Don Ramón Diaz to make the necessary arrangements to declare the Aguas Claras region a municipality. Don Julian López, one of the neighbors, had ten acres of land where the new municipality would be formed. There the plaza, the church, the house of the king would be constructed, which at the moment is known as the Municipal Mayorship and the priest's house.     In 1834, during the government of Miguel de la Torre, the creation of a decree for the municipality was authorized. The 25th of May, 1838, the government of Don Miguel López de Baños passed a law forming the Aguas Claras region with its Aquasbonenses settlers into the Aguas Buenas Municipality. Don Francisco Salas Torres was the settlement's first captain or mayor. At the beginning the municipality had economic and administrative difficulties. Gradually the inhabitants developed an agricultural economy based on coffee and commerce. With these developments the Aguas Buenas population grew and had 7,000 inhabitants by the end of 19th century. Location: The Aguas Buenas municipality is located on the eastern side of the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central) of Puerto Rico. It is bordered by: Bayamón, Guaynabo and San Juan to the north, Cidra and Caguas to the south, Caguas to the east, and Comerío to the west. Area: 78 sq km / 30.1 sq mi Population: 29,032 (census 2000) Population Density: 373.2 per sq km / 964.5 per sq mi People are known as: Aguasbonenses Aguas Buenas is also known as: La Ciudad de las Aguas Claras (City Of Clear Waters) Los Mulos (The Mules) El Oasis de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico's Oasis) Los Ñocos Wards: Census 2000: Population by Wards - Aguas Buenas Habitants Aguas Buenas Town 1,990 Bairoa 2,448 Bayamoncito 1,897 Cagüitas 2,704 Jagüeyes 2,487 Juan Asencio 2,860 Mula 3,657 Mulita 267 Sonadora 2,845 Sumidero 7,877 Guerrero 3,366 Total 29,032 Source: Census 2000 Political Division - Administrative: Senatorial District # 7 Humacao represented by Hon. José L. Dalmau Santiago (PPD) and Hon. Sixto Hernández Serrano (PPD). Representative District # 31 represented by Hon. Sylvia Rodríguez de Corujo (PPD). Patron: Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate Espíritu Santo Parish Apartado 1250 Aguas Buenas, P.R. 00703 (787) 732-1270 Topography: The territory is moderately mountainous being in the Mountain Range of Cayey (Sierra de Cayey), which is part of the Central Mountain Range. The highest peaks are La Peña, Santa Bárbara, La Tisa, and La Marquesa. Hydrography: The Cañas, Bairoa, Cagüitas and Bayamón rivers form part of its hydrography. Economy: Construction materials and ladies apparel. Average Salary: $279.27 weekly (1998) Flag: Francisco Díaz Rivera designed the rectangular flag. A blue triangle with the base at the hoist has a solitary white star, like the national banner. Two additional triangles appear in yellow and green colors. These colors denote the agriculture and tropical flora, and the commercial and industrial development of Aguas Buenas.     The blue triangle represents the Puerto Rican nationality. When all these colors and triangles are united, they convey and manifest friendship, hospitality, cooperation, faith, and work of the people of this country; virtues and qualities that distinguish and honor us all. Coat Of Arms: In the shield we find history, traditions and culture, as well as the image of our possibility as a town that knows its origin and knows where it is headed in the preservation of these values. The shield shows us the Virgin of Monserrate at the top right side, a Taino Indian at the top left side, a symbol of the original inhabitants of this region.     At the bottom right side it has a cornucopia containing the native fruit of Aguas Buenas. In the left bottom side, there are four maracas and güicharo, typical instruments of the "jibaros" of Aguas Buenas and Puerto Rico. The crown consists of three towers. Public Schools Sorted by Educational Levels. Updated: 08/07/2003 Caguas Region Aguas Buenas District Name Level Telephone Address Elementary DR. GUSTAVO MUÑOZ DÍAZ PK-6 (787) 732-6261 PO Box 786, P.R. 00703-0786 EZEQUIEL RAMOS LA SANTA K-6 (787) 732-3421 PO Box 1506, P.R. 00703-0000 JAGÜEYES ABAJO K-6 (787) 747-5895 PO Box 407, P.R. 00703-0000 JOSÉ R. GONZÁLEZ K-6 (787) 732-8204 PO Box 1506, P.R. 00703-0000 LUIS SANTAELLA K-6 (787) 732-5001 PO Box 407, P.R. 00703-0000 LUIS T. BALIÑAS K-6 (787) 732-8191 PO Box 68, P.R. 00703-0000 MULITAS ALVELO K-6 (787) 732-4747 PO Box 68, P.R. 00703-0000 RAMÓN LUIS RIVERA (JUAN ASENCIO) K-6 (787) 732-4084 PO Box 68, P.R. 00703-0000 SANTA CLARA K-6 (787) 732-0020 PO Box 575, P.R. 00703-0000 Intermediate DR. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS 7-9 (787) 732-1040 PO Box 786, P.R. 00703-0000 LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN 7-9 (787) 732-3521 PO Box 1298, P.R. 00703-0000 Jr. High SU BAYAMÓNCITO K-9 (787) 732-0440 PO Box 68, P.R. 00703-0000 SU SUMIDERO K-9 (787) 732-4040 PO Box 1137, P.R. 00703-0000 High School JOSEFA PASTRANA 10-12 (787) 732-3375 PO Box 68, P.R. 00703-0000 Source: Departamento De Educación Hymn: By Ramón Cintrón Aguas claras Alma limpia del Coquí, Orgullosos hijos tuyos, Por haber nacido aquí. Indio noble que en cueva nuestro pueblo verde vió. La Cruz de España en tus venas, rítmico grito africano nuestra estirpe delineó. Tus femeninas montañas, plenas de café en flor, cristalinas aguas bañan, como concierto de amor. Cabeza de cordillera, rostro de nuestro país, el cuatro, triple le cantan, tierra fértil de abundancia, de frutos puros de aquí. Gente clara, gente buena son tu corazón le aman, viva Aguas Buenas ¡Aguas Buenas para mí! Events: Festival Folklórico de Campo y Pueblo - January Carnival - March Fiestas Patronales Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate - September Places To Visit: Aguas Buenas Caves Casa de Campo Monte La Tiza Monte El Palito Distinguished Citizens: José Arsenio Torres (1926 - ) - Professor Luis Rechani Agrait (1902-1997 ) - Dramatist (biography) Jacobo Córdova Chirino (1901-1955) - Journalist & humorist Aguas Buenas Mayors 1838 - Present Year Mayor Year Mayor 1838-1841 Francisco de Salas Torres 1903-1904 Jacobo Cordova 1841 Miguel Díaz 1904-1909 José E. Morales Díaz 1841-1843 José Mariano Benítez 1909-1911 Carlos Muñoz Díaz 1843 Miguel Díaz 1911-1913 José G. López Alvarado 1842-1846 José Manuel de la Vega 1913-1917 José E. Morales Díaz 1846-1848 Marcos Díaz 1918-1927 Enrique Lizardi 1848-1850 Manuel Otero 1927 José G. Sánchez 1848-1856 Manuel Otero 1927-1929 Alfredo Disdier Pacheco 1856 Valentín Pérez 1929-1933 José G. López Ferrer (Rafael) 1856-1857 Isidoro García 1933-1937 Rafael González López 1857 Valentín Pérez 1937-1940 Pedro G. López 1857-1859 José Tomás de Sarraga 1940-1944 Rafael González López 1859 Valentín Pérez 1944-1948 Rafael Batalla Reyes 1859 Tomás Paz 1948-1956 Miran Carrasquillo Cartagena 1859 Buenaventura de las Barcenas 1956-1960 Ramón López Batalla 1859 Valentín Pérez 1960-1964 Ángel Rivera Rodríguez 1859-1862 Manuel Boscana Guillermetty 1960-1964 Ángel T. Arroyo García 1860 Valentín Pérez 1964-1972 Gregorio Torres Velásquez 1862 Santiago Pereira 1972-1984 Gudelio Díaz Morales 1862-1867 Juan Eugenio Vizcarrondo 1985-2000 Carlos Aponte Silva 1867-1898 José Martínez Balasquides 2000- 2004 Bonny Dávila Roldan 1867-1898 Agustin J. Díaz 2004 - Present Luis Arroyo Chiques 1898-1902 Buenaventura Díaz     1903 Pio Rechani     Source: Municipality of Aguas Buenas Mayor: Hon. Luis Arroyo Chiques (PPD) P.O. Box 128 Aguas Buenas, P.R. 00703 (787) 732-8621       2004 General Election Results Municipality of Aguas Buenas Party Candidate Votes Percent   LUIS ARROYO CHIQUES 8,189 50.62% BONNY DAVILA ROLDAN 7,407 45.79% FELICITA 'FELA' COTTO ORTIZ 477 2.95% *OTHERS 103 0.64% Total 16,176   Breakdown of Others   Reported Voting Centers Participation Direct Nomination 15   Registered Voters 19,381 Blank 52   Votes 16,176 Null 36   Participation Percent 83.46% Reported Voting Centers: 64 out of 64 for 100.00%   Total Registered 19,381 Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico