Bacardí Distillery Foundation: Cataño (kah-TAH-no) was founded in 1927. It covers only five square miles making it the smallest municipality of the island. Cataño was a district of the municipality of Bayamón until July 1, 1927, when by virtue of law No. 30 leaders approved that April 25 of that year it was to be constituted as a municipality. The origin of the name comes in honor to a Spanish doctor called Hernando de Cataño who served in this town in 1569, when the Island of Puerto Rico was governed by the Spanish Francisco Bahamonde de Lugo. Cataño at the time was known as "El Hato de Las Palmas". Location: Located in the northern coast of the island, it is bordered by the San Juan Bay. It is also bordered by: Toa Baja and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Guaynabo and Bayamón to the south, Toa Baja to the west, and by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Area: 13.0 sq km / 5.0 sq mi Population: 30,071 (census 2000) Population Density: 2,313.1 per sq km / 6,014.2 per sq mi People are known as: Catañeses Cataño is also known as: El Pueblo Que Se Negó a Morir (The Town That Refused To Die) La Antesala de la Capital (The Capital's Threshold) El Pueblo Olvidado (The Forgotten Town) Wards: The town was divided originally into two districts (barrios), the Town of Cataño and Palmas. But today it numbers ten districts, urbanizations and sectors shown in the following list: Town of Cataño Palmas Juana Matos Cucharillas Las Vegas Puente Blanco Bahía Vista al Morro Marina Bahía Bay View Census 2000: Population by Wards - Cataño Habitants Cataño Town 4,628 Palmas 25,443 Total 30,071 Source: Census 2000 Political Division - Administrative: Senatorial District # 2 Bayamón represented by Hon. Roberto Arango (PNP) and Hon. Carlos Díaz (PNP) . Representative District # 9 represented by Hon. Nelson Del Valle (PNP) . Matron: Nuestra Señora del Carmen Topography: Most of its terrain is at sea level. Hydrography: Bayamón River & El Caño de Cataño. Economy: Refining, commerce, distributing, manufacturing and rum distilling. Average Salary: $377.08 weekly (1998) Flag: The flag reproduces the colors and stripes of the Coat of Arms. It has the same nine horizontal stripes: four blue stripes and five white stripes (substituting for the silver color). A white band diagonally traverses the drape in all its extension, from the upper hoist to the lower fly.     This band is also divided in nine alternating horizontal stripes (their widths equal to the other stripes), five green and four white. Green represents the green color of the coconut palms that surround the Coat Of Arms. At the same time, this green band was used to distinguish the flag from the flags of Greece and Uruguay. The flag was officially adopted by the City Council during the incumbency of Hon. José Álvarez Brunet on September 5, 1974. Coat Of Arms: The Coat Of Arms of Cataño consists of nine horizontal stripes of same the width: four of blue and five of silver. The colors belong to the family of the lawyer Don Hernando de Cataño. The silver ones are symbols of nobility and blue symbolizes royalty, majesty and serenity.     In the superior part of the Coat Of Arms of Cataño a three tower crown distinguishes it as a municipality. The Coat Of Arms is surrounded by coconut palms, green in color, making reference to Hato de las Palmas de Cataño, the name that the town had for a long time. Public Schools sorted by educational levels. Updated: 08/07/2003 Bayamón Region Cataño District Name Level Telephone Address Elementary HORACE MANN K-3 (787) 788-1966 PO Box 630367, P.R. 00963-0367 ISAAC DEL ROSARIO K-6 (787) 788-7210 PO Box 086, P.R. 00963-0086 JOSÉ A. NIEVES K-6 (787) 788-7095 PO Box 247, P.R. 00963-0000 PUENTE BLANCO K-6 (787) 788-1856 PO Box 5327, P.R. 00963-0096 RAFAEL CORDERO PK-6 (787) 788-1557 PO Box 630217, P.R. 00963-0217 ROSENDO MATIENZO CINTRÓN K-6 (787) 788-1612 PO Box 247, P.R. 00963-0000 TEODORO ROOSEVELT K-6 (787) 788-8430 PO Box 247, P.R. 00963-0000 Intermediate MERCEDES GARCÍA DE COLORADO 7-9 (787) 788-4025 PO Box 0125, P.R. 00963-0000 ONOFRE CARBALLEIRA 7-9 (787) 788-8975 PO Box 247, P.R. 00963-0000 High School FRANCISCO OLLER (TOA BAJA) 10-12 (787) 788-1696 PO Box 51179, P.R. 00950-1179 All Levels RAMÓN B. LÓPEZ EE (787) 788-1723 PO Box 247, P.R. 00963-0247 Source: Departamento De Educación Hymn: By Carmen I. Guzmán & Nick Jiménez Olmeda Benemérito mi pueblo antesala de San Juan. La quietud de tus playas y la brisa de tu mar. Saludan al viajero y a nuestra capital. Cataño, Cataño, Serás por siempre ejemplar cuna de grandes figuras y de belleza sin par. Cataño, Cataño, vigilante de San Juan. Quien te haya conocido jamás te podrá olvidar. Noble y querido pueblo majestuoso e importante. Te yergues en la bahía aún en la adversidad mostrándote ante tu gente que nunca te olvidarán. Cataño, Cataño, serás por siempre ejemplar. Cuna de grandes atletas y de sabor musical. Cataño, Cataño, vigilante de San Juan quien te haya conocido jamás de podrá olvidar. Events: San Juan Night - June Matron Festivities - July Fishermen Tournament - July Bacardí Artisans Fair - December Places To Visit: City Hall Nereida Avenue Bacardí Distillery Taína Statue Pedro Rodríguez Sálamo Stadium Boardwalk Cunda Fish Market Punta Salinas Beach Distinguished Citizens: Francisco Oller Salvador de Jesús Julio Rosado del Valle Pedro Juan Soto Cataño Mayors 1927 - Present Year Mayor Year Mayor 1927-1929 Alberto Dávila 1949-1952 Emilio Matos Ríos 1929-1930 Lorenzo Pardo 1953-1960 Emilio Rivera Cara 1930 Fernando Boneta (Interino) 1961-1963 Manuel Barreto 1930-1933 Agustín Espinosa 1963-1968 Emilio Rivera Cara 1933-1937 Antonio Rodríguez 1969-1985 José Álvarez Brunet 1937-1944 Manuel Betancourt 1985-1986 Guadalupe Álvarez 1945-1948 Rafael San Inocencio 1987- 2003 Edwin Rivera Sierra (resigned)     2003- Present Wilson Soto Source: Municipalty of Cataño Alcalde: Hon. Wilson Soto P.O. Box 428 Cataño, P.R. 00963 (787) 788-0404       2004 General Election Results Municipality of Cataño Party Candidate Votes Percent   WILSON SOTO 7,830 46.55% FELIX FUENTES MARRERO 4,851 28.84% EDWIN RIVERA SIERRA 'EL AMOLAO' 3,617 21.50% WILLIAM CANDELARIO NAZARIO 248 1.47% OTHERS 275 1.63% Total 16,821   Breakdown of Others   Reported Voting Centers Participation Direct Nomination 4   Registered Voters 21,874 Blank 57   Votes 16,821 Null 214   Participation Percent 76.90% Reported Voting Centers: 75 out of 75 for 100.00%   Total Registered 21,874 Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico