Gurabo... Town Of Stairways
Foundation:
Before Gurabo (goo-RAH-bo) was declared an independent municipality it was Burabo, a district of Caguas. This district was distant from Caguas, which caused transportation problems during the eighteenth century. Caguas could not take care of the problems of their neighbors in this district.
In 1812 the residents of Gurabo decided to take action on this matter. The 168 heads of family who lived in the district met to discuss their problems. They decided to declare themselves orphan of all medical, ecclesiastical, and judicial authority. They complained of not receiving municipal services, and because of the significant number of inhabitants, they were entitled to better economic and social considerations. In this meeting, power was granted to Don Luis del Carmen Echevarría to manage the foundation of the new town, obtaining this in 1815. Seven years later, in 1822 the town erected canonically its own parish under the advocation of Patriarch San José.
Location:
Located in the central eastern region, it is bordered by: Trujillo Alto on the north, San Lorenzo on the south, Caguas on the west, and Carolina and Juncos on the east.
Area:
73.0 sq km / 28.0 sq mi
Population:
36,743 (census 2000)
Population Density:
503.3 per sq km / 1,312.2 per sq mi
People are known as:
Gurabeños
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Gurabo is also known as:
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El Pueblo de las Escaleras (Town Of Stairways)
Puerta del Turismo del Sureste (The Southeastern Tourism Gateway)
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Wards:
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Census 2000:
Population by Wards - Gurabo
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Habitants
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Celada
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2,288
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Gurabo Gurabo
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1,960
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Hato Nuevo
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7,377
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Jaguar
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810
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Jaguas
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2,075
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Mamey
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4,203
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Masa
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1,677
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Navarro
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5,015
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Quebrada Infierno
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675
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Rincón
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10,663
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Total
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36,743
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Source:
Census 2000
Political Division - Administrative:
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Patron:
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San José
San José Parish
Apartado 733
Gurabo, Puerto Rico 00778
(787) 737-2656
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Topography:
Gurabo belongs to the Caguas Valley region. To the north it contains the Cuchilla de Hato Nuevo, whose culminating point in Gurabo territory is the Silla Hill (Masa Ward), with 367 meters (1,204 feet) of altitude. In the southeast (Mamey Ward) it has other smaller elevations corresponding to the Sierra de Cayey.
Hydrography:
The Grande de Loíza River serves as the border with the municipality of Caguas and its affluent is the Gurabo River. Some gorges that water this municipality and affluents of the Grande de Loíza River are the Grande, Infierno and Maracuta gorges.
Climate:
Average high temperature is 87.0º F, the low is 65.5º F and the average annual rain is 63.35 inches.
Economy:
Manufacturing (metal, paper, plastics, chemistries, phamaceuticals, textiles, electrical and electronic equipment, and electrical machinery) and agriculture (dairy farms).
Average Salary:
N/A
Flag:
With eleven stripes, six green and five yellow, alternated, the yellow with the superior (top) edge indented forming a stairway. Each step measures two units high by three wide. The flag has the main colors of the municipal Coat of Arms, green and gold representing the metal, in this case by the color yellow, and its design alludes to the five stairways characteristic of the urban profile of the population.
Coat Of Arms:
In a green field resides a widened gold patriarcal cross. Below the bottom arm are two shields in silver. The one on the left has a fleur de lis and the one on the right three lilies with stems in a natural way. Three towers in gold crown the shield.
Public Schools sorted by educational levels.
Updated: 08/07/2003
Humacao Region
Gurabo 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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CELADA CARRETERA
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K-6
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(787) 737-4346
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PO Box 1131, P.R. 00778-0000
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HATO NUEVO
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K-6
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(787) 737-4347
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PO Box 1335, P.R. 00778-0000
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JAGUAS
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K-6
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(787) 737-6066
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PO Box 1369, P.R. 00778-0000
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LUIS MUÑOZ RIVERA
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PK-3
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(787) 737-2216
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PO Box 1364, P.R. 00778-0000
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MARGARITA RIVERA DE JANER
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4-6
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(787) 737-6594
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PO Box 879, P.R. 00778-0000
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MAXIMINA MÉNDEZ
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K-6
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(787) 737-8366
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PO Box 1359, P.R. 00778-0000
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VILLA MARINA
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K-6
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(787) 737-4344
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PO Box 580, P.R. 00778-0000
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Intermediate
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MATÍAS GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA
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7-9
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(787) 737-2056
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PO Box 1346, P.R. 00778-0000
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Secondary
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SU JOSEFINA SITIRICHE
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K-9
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(787) 737-2626
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PO Box 38, P.R. 00778-0000
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SU SANTA RITA
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K-9
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(787) 737-6222
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HC 1 BOX 4226, P.R. 00778-0000
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SU VIDAL SERRANO
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K-9
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(787) 747-2323
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PO Box 1090, P.R. 00778-0000
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High School
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DRA. CONCHITA CUEVA
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10-12
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(787) 737-2700
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PO Box 1293, P.R. 00778-0000
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Hymn:
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By Miguel Monserrate
En un valle rodeado por montañas nace un
pueblo de entre el barro.
Con valor fue creado por hombre de fe
y constancia para honrar
y alabar al Creador.
En Gurabo un pueblo con mucho orgullo
de costumbres de cultura y devoción
donde el tiempo se detiene ante el arrullo
de su gente de su historia y tradición.
Gurabo es mi pueblo, es mi hogar,
es mi vida, es mi orgullo, es mi cantar,
es mi música, es mi sueño, es mi luchar...
mi instrumento de alegría y mi soñar.
Gurabo es mi pueblo, es mi hogar,
escalera al paraíso terrenal
de las voces de su gente surge el himno
que se cantará por toda la eternidad.
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Events:
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San José Patron Festivities - March
Mapeyé Festival - October
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Places To Visit:
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Centro de Exposición
Hacienda Mirador
Loíza Lagoon
Del Turabo University Museum
Cofresí Park
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Distinguished Citizens:
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Luis del Carmen Echevarría
Nilda González Monclova
Ángel Celestino Morales
Ángel Viera Martínez
(biography)
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Gurabo Mayors 1812 - 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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1812
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Luis del Carmen Echevarría
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1874
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Isidoro Dávila
Matías González
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1816
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José Francisco Díaz
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1876
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Lorenzo Casta
Isidoro Dávila
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1818
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Antonio Monserrate Maldonado
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1878
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Lorenzo Casta
Jaime Sola
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1820
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Pedro Jiménez
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1886
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Esteban García
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1821
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Benedicto Dávila
José Francisco Dávila
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1887
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José A. Jiménez
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1822
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Juan Pedro Díaz
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1891
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Juan Suro
Blas Maldonado
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1823
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Luis del Carmen Echevarría
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1892
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José Jiménez
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1825
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José Francisco Díaz
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1893
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José Vilar Samper
Pedro J. Díaz
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1826
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Luis del Carmen Echevarría
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1896
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Luis Salas
Matías González
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1827
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Inocencio Oballes
José Francisco Díaz
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1897
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Celestino Morales
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1828
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Facundo
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1898
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Gregorio Rivera
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1833
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Luis del Carmen Echevarría
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1899
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Celestino Morales
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1840
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Ramón Antonio Villafane
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1909
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Santiago Morales
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1841
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José Francisco Díaz
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1915
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Ramón González Nieves
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1842
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Alejandro Davila José
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1916
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Porfirio Díaz
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1845
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Miguel López
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1924
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Odilio Díaz
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1848
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Domingo Angiada
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1928
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Francisco Rodríguez
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1849
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José M. Guerra
Joaquín Maria González
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1932
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Natividad Díaz
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1851
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José Llorens
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1937
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José Casellas
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1855
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Manuel Celerino
Eduardo Escalona
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1941
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Miguel González
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1856
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Francisco Caymari
José Muñoz
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1945
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Arturo Carrión
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1866
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José M. Lago
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1951
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Jaime Serrano
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1870
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Joaquín Dapena
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1972
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Ulises Díaz
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1871
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Manuel Boscana Guillermet
Patricio Pérez
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1980
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Ramón García
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1872
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Joaquín M. González
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1992 - 1996
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Víctor Rivera Acevedo
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1873
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Pedro Morales
José Llorens
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1996 - 2004
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José A. Rivera
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2004 - Present
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Víctor Manuel Ortiz Díaz
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Source: Municipality of Gurabo
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Mayor:
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Hon. Víctor Manuel Ortiz Díaz (PNP)
P.O. Box 3020
Gurabo, P.R. 00778
(787) 737-8411
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2004 General Election Results
Municipality of Gurabo
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Party
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Candidate
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Votes
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Percent
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VICTOR MANUEL ORTIZ DIAZ
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9,488
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48.78%
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JOSE A. RIVERA
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9,263
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47.62%
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MARIA SOCORRO RESTO CASTRO
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465
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2.39%
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*OTHERS
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235
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1.21%
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Total
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19,451
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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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70
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Registered Voters
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23,659
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Blank
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101
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Votes
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19,451
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Null
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64
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Participation Percent
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82.21%
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Reported Voting Centers: 81 out of 81 for 100.00%
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Total Registered
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23,659
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Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico
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