Cabo Rojo... Cofresí's Town
Los Morillos Lighthouse, built in 1882.
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Foundation:
Cabo Rojo (KAH-bo, ro-ho) derives its name from Christopher Columbus' companions during his second voyage to the Americas. During this trip the Admiral discovered Puerto Rico. While trying to to round the southeastern end of the island the crew observed the reddish color of the terrain of that zone (well known today as Los Morrillos) and named it "Cabos Rojos". Nevertheless the Spaniards were not the first ones in observing the beauties of this land. Through anthropological studies there, the general idea that at the beginning of the Christian era, the Cabo Rojo coast was inhabited by a native group called Siboney. Later on and with the arrival of the Aruaco groups, new establishments were developed in the region known as the Ostinoide culture, which cultivated the yuca "casabe" plant and crafted ceramics. The American archeologist Christopher Goodwin, asserts that Punta Ostiones was the first center of merchandise interchange among the native cultures of the island with other groups of the Caribbean.
Most of the population groups of nowadays coincide with the places where centuries ago the indigenous villages were located. The historian Salvador Brau y Asencio comments that in 1512 the first group of settlers inhabited an area near Los Morillos. As early as 1525 the Cabo Rojo salt mines were of great economic importance to the town, the envy of neighboring towns. Cabo Rojo's first request to constitute itself as a town was denied in 1759. Don Nicolás Ramírez de Arellano was entrusted to take the first steps for founding the town, which were completed in 1771. Cabo Rojo or Tierras Bajas de los Morrillos (Low Lands of Los Morrillos) at the moment has a population that exceeds the 40,000 inhabitants.
The Spaniards constructed the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse in 1882 on a limestone cliff 200 feet above the sea. Also known as "Los Morillos Lighthouse," this old lighthouse was automated in 1967.
*Translated from "El Vocero" newspaper, September 12, 1994.
Location:
Located in the southwestern end of the island, it is bordered by: Mayagüez and Hormigueros on the north, the Caribbean Sea on the south, the Mona Passage on the west, and Hormigueros, San Germán and Lajas on the east.
Area:
187 sq km / 72 sq mi
Population:
46,911 (census 2000)
Population Density:
250.8 per sq km / 651.5 per sq mi
People are known as:
Caborrojeños
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Cabo Rojo is also known as:
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El Pueblo de Cofresí (Cofresí's Town)
Los Mata con Hacha (The Hatchet Killers)
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Wards:
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Census 2000:
Population by Wards - Cabo Rojo
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Habitants
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Bajura
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2,364
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Boquerón
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4,963
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Cabo Rojo (city)
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1,305
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Guanajibo
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3,577
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Llanos Costa
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3,495
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Llanos Tuna
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5,765
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Miradero
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14,358
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Monte Grande
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6,275
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Pedernales
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4,809
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Total
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46,911
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Source:
Census 2000
Political Division - Administrative:
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Patron:
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San Miguel Arcángel
San Miguel Arcángel Parish
P.O. Box 625
Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico 00623
Tel. (787) 851-1283
Mass Schedule:
Daily: 6:30am & 7:30pm
Saturday: 6:30am & 5:00pm
Sunday: 7:00am, 9:00am, 10:30am & 7:30pm
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Topography:
Because of its location in the Western Coastal Valley, its territory is mainly flat. Nevertheless, the following hills can be mentioned; Mariquita 987 feet, Buena Vista 850 feet, Vargas 623 feet and Los Peñones de Melones with 328 feet.
Hydrography:
The Guanajibo River, Cajul Stream, Caño Conde Avila and various ravines.
Economy:
Fishing, tourism, manufacture (clothing, nutritional products, medical equipment) and agriculture (cattle & sugar cane).
Average Salary:
$230.77 weekly (1998)
Flag:
The flag contains elements of the coat of arms, excluding the sword, the anchors and the crown. The Municipal Assembly of Cabo Rojo and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture officially approved the flag and coat of arms in 1971. Mr. Roberto Bíascochea created them.
Coat Of Arms:
The main colors of the shield - blue, red and silver - refer to the fundamental aspects of the life of two eminent caborrojeños; Don Nicolás Ramírez de Arellano and Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances.
These three colors are latent as much in the coat of arms of the Ramírez de Arellano lineage as in the symbols of the ideals of Betances. They constituted in the second instance, the chromatic representation of the principles of freedom, applied by Betances to all human beings.
The point or red triangle symbolizes the "cabo bermejo" (cape bermejo) in Los Morillos. The blue and white, with the anchors, represent the sea that bathes our coasts. The flaming sword, is an attribute to San Miguel de Arcángel, patron of the town. Finally, the crown, which heightens and distinguishes the shield, stands for the status of municipality.
Public Schools sorted by educational levels.
Updated: 08/07/2003
San Germán Region
Cabo Rojo District
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Name
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Level
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Telephone
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Address
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Elementary
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CARLOTA MATIENZO
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K-6
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(787) 255-3725
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PO Box 1315, P.R. 00623-1315
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JAMES GARFIELD
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K-6
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(787) 851-5027
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PO Box 770, P.R. 00623-0770
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LUIS MUÑIZ SOUFFRONT
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K-6
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(787) 851-0884
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PO Box 1326, P.R. 00623-0868
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MANUEL FERNÁNDEZ JUNCOS
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K-6
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(787) 851-1825
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PO Box 278, P.R. 00622-0278
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PEDRO FIDEL COLBERG
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K-6
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(787) 851-1168
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PO Box 538, P.R. 00622-0000
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RAMON E BETANCES
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K-6
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(787) 255-6705
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PO Box 770, P.R. 00623-0000
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SEVERO E COLBERG RAMÍREZ
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PK-6
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(787) 255-2720
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PO Box 1150, P.R. 00623-0000
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Intermediate
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LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN
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8-9
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(787) 851-1601
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77 CALLE RIUS RIVERA
PUEBLO NUEVO, P.R. 00623-0000
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PEDRO NELSON COLBERG
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7-8
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(787) 851-1470
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PO Box 1316, P.R. 00623-1316
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Secondary
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SEBASTIÁN PABÓN ALVES (COROZO)
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K-9
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(787) 255-2028
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PO Box 1322, P.R. 00623-1322
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SU ANTONIO ACARON CORREA
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1-9
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(787) 851-3383
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PO Box 1315, P.R. 00623-1315
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SU BARTOLOMÉ JAVIER PETROVITCH
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K-9
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(787) 851-3500
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PO Box 1306, P.R. 00623-0000
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SU CARMEN VIGNALS ROSARIO
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K-9
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(787) 851-3200
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PO Box 868, P.R. 00623-0000
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SU FEDERICO DEGETAU
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K-9
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(787) 851-1047
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Carr. BOQUERÓN, P.R. 00623-0000
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High School
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INÉS MARIA MENDOZA
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10-12
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(787) 851-5037
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PO Box 610, P.R. 00623-0000
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MONSERRATE LEÓN IRIZARRY
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10-12
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(787) 254-2288
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PO Box 1235, P.R. 00622-1235
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Source:
Departamento De Educación
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Hymn:
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By Mildred Arroyo
Hoy estoy triste por la distancia
que me separa de mi dulce patria,
y de un pueblito donde mi
padre y mi madre me esperan
Mi Cabo Rojo pueblo adorado,
jardín de flores te quiero yo
y en la distancia a ti te añoro,
por eso lloro en mi cantar.
Son tus palmeras flores divinas
y son tus playas, un manantial
Mi Cabo Rojo, me siento solo
por eso lloro en mi cantar
pero muy pronto besaré tu suelo
o desde el cielo te adoraré.
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Events:
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Pescao Festival - March
Años Cuarenta Festival - April
Chigüero Festival - April
Betances Festival - April
Oyster Festival - May
Boquerón Bay Crossing - July
Watermelon Festival - July
Retorno a la Arena - July
Patron Festivities - September
Paleta Festival - December
Le Lo Lai Festival - December
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Places To Visit:
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Nautical Club
Cofresí Cave
Ratones Island
Joyuda Lagoon
Market Plaza
Boquerón Beach
El Combate Beach
Joyuda Beach
Punta Arenas Beach
Punta Real Beach
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Distinguished Citizens:
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Roberto Cofresí (1791-1825) - Pirate of the Caribbean
(biography)
Ramón Emeterio Betances (1827-1898)- Doctor, politician y abolicionist
(biography)
Salvador Brau (1842-1912) - Novelist & poet
(biography)
Severo Colberg Ramírez - Professor y Legislator
(biography)
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Cabo Rojo Mayors 1949 - Present
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Year
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Mayor
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Year
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Mayor
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1949-1964
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Blanca Colberg
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1985
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Jorge Fas Ramírez
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1965-1972
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Santos Ortíz Montalvo
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1985-1996
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Santos Ortíz Ruíz
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1973
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Alfredo Pabón
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1997- Present
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Santos E. Padilla Ferrer
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1974-1984
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Pedro Franqui y Acosta
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Mayor:
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Hon. Santos Padilla Ferrer (PNP)
P.O. Box 1308
Cabo Rojo, P.R. 00623
(787) 851-1025
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2004 General Election Results
Municipality of Cabo Rojo
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Party
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Candidate
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Votes
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Percent
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SANTOS E. 'SAN' PADILLA FERRER
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13,432
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54.62%
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EMILIO CARLO ACOSTA
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10,049
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40.87%
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DAGOBERTO 'TITO' MONTALVO
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830
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3.38%
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*OTHERS
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279
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1.13%
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Total
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24,590
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Breakdown of Others
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Reported Voting Centers Participation
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Direct Nomination
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35
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Registered Voters
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30,051
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Blank
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122
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Votes
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24,590
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Null
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122
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Participation Percent
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81.83%
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Reported Voting Centers: 98 out of 98 for 100.00%
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Total Registered
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30,051
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Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico
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