City Hall Photo by Luis Daniel Beltrán Burgos Foundation: In 1782 the inhabitants of the Juncos (HOON-kos) area requested of the secular and ecclesiastical courts the transfer of the Parochial Church that was located in Las Piedras to the Juncos area. They asked to be allowed to organize a new town separate from Humacao. The request for the formation of the new town of Juncos was accepted by the government and on August 3, 1792 the temporary governor Don Francisco Torralba issued the order for the town to be founded. Don Tomás Pagán Gracia was named the first mayor of Juncos. By request of Don Tomás Pizarro (from neighboring Las Piedras) the new town of Juncos was erected on August 2, 1797. At the time it had a parish dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, celebrating the first mass on September 8, 1797. Later the construction of streets and a public plaza took place.     According to history, in April of that same year, Puerto Rico was attacked by the English. Several residents of Juncos in addition to 323 citizens of Arecibo and Cayey defended San Juan from the foreign attacks.     Little by little they paved streets, built a cemetery and the population grew. By 1894 the population of students was already 589 boys and 593 girls. In 1898 the town underwent many changes. At the request of the United States all citizens that occupied positions for the Spanish Government could continue to work, and those that did not want to continue could resign. Immediately afterwards the mayor Francisco Escuté resigned. On October 1 of that same year a new mayor was named, Ricardo A. Martínez. All the rest of the city council resigned. Including Claudio Calenti, José Costa, Bartolomé Palou and Miguel Mújica because they were Spanish citizens. The residents were agreeable with the appointment of Mayor Martinez and on October 13 named Agustín Collazo as the municipal sindicate (town recorder and collector of fines) and Primitivo Delfaus as the municipal accountant.     In 1912 the "Arcelay Cinema" was constructed. Nowadays this restored historical monument exists thanks to Mayor Gilberto Conde Roman (1996) where today social and cultural activities are celebrated to benefit the town. The first library was named Rosa González Toledo. In 1924 the Asociación de Beneficios Mutuos was created.     Nowadays Juncos is credited with another historical creation, the modern library in honor of José M. Gallardo who was Secretary of Education. For many years this library, which before was a school, was a testament to education for the future of the town. Juncos throughout the years, has been improving as a city for the benefit of its people, forming customs and traditions paced with the times. Location: Located in the eastern central region of the island, it is bordered by: Gurabo, Carolina and Canóvanas to the north, San Lorenzo and Las Piedras to the south, Gurabo and San Lorenzo to the west, and Las Piedras to the east. Area: 67.6 sq km / 26.0 sq mi Population: 36,452 (census 2000) Population Density: 539.2 per sq km / 1,402.0 per sq mi People are known as: Junqueños Juncos is also known as: La Cuidad del Valenciano (Valenciano City) Los Mulos del Valenciano (Valenciano Mules*) * Refers to a baseball team. Wards: Census 2000: Population by Wards - Juncos Habitants Caimito 2,658 Ceiba Norte 8,001 Ceiba Sur 4,600 Gurabo Abajo 3,731 Gurabo Arriba 589 Juncos Town 2,637 Lirios 5,499 Mamey 3,705 Valenciano Abajo 3,782 Valenciano Arriba 1,250 Total 36,452 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 # 33 represented by Hon. Angel R. Peña Rosa (PNP) . Matron: La Inmaculada Concepción de María Inmaculada Concepción Parish Apartado 1728 Juncos, Puerto Rico 00777 (787) 734-2431 Topography: To the north it displays lower elevations of the Luquillo Mountain Range. On the northern border the terrain rises about 700 meters above sea level. In the southern end, in the Valenciano ward, we find smaller elevations of 500 meters. Hydrography: The Gurabo River with its tributary the Ceiba Gorge and the Valenciano River; the Valenciano River receives waters from the Santa and Don Víctor gorges. Economy: Mostly manufacturing: apparrel, scientific instruments, electronic machinery and electrical equipment. In agriculture, several dairy farms produce an appreciable amount of milk. Average Salary: $335.84 weekly (1998) Flag: On a gold field, undulating blue stripes reside in the lower half. These represent the Valenciano River. Centered between the field and above the undulating stripes appear the reeds as they appear in the shield: yellow, blue, green and red. A resolution to accept the flag was approved August 2, 1982, by the Municipal Assembly and by Acting President Hon. Ángel Rafael Boria Gómez and Temporary Mayor Hon. Gilberto Conde Román. Coat Of Arms: Divided into four quarters and presented to the viewpoint of the observer, the shield presents upper left and lower right vertical stripes gold (or yellow) and gules (red) in reference to the region of Valencia, Spain, and to its denomination as "Town of Valencia".     This reference is linked directly to the foundation of the town: during the move in the seventeenth century of the Hato Grande de los Delgado (hato or hatillo means ranch), whose territory covered the northern plains of the Central Mountain Range in the banks of the Grande de Loíza river, a series of smaller ranches appeared. One of them was called Hato del Valenciano, which years later subdivided into the Hatillo de los Lirios and the Hatillo de los Juncos. This last one developed into the village and on August 2, 1797, receiving the title of town.     The other two quarter collect the symbols of the life and the apreciation of the town. The right upper quarter presents on blue background a new moon with twelve small silver stars, symbol of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the matron of the population. It shows also the cross, symbol of the christendom of the town.     In the lower left quarter collects the symbols of the economic history of the region. On a dark blue background a tobacco plant appears in memory of the agricultural life of the community that for many years cultivated tobacco. To the right a chimney symbolizes greatly the industrialization of the zone by sugar cane processing that also gave life in the past to this town.     The upper and lower quarters are divided by an undulating white stripe with blue edges that honors the Valenciano River, so linked to the life of this town.     Under the shield reside green reeds with red flowers in reference to the name of the town, after which the name of the town with the year of its foundation appears. The shield has a three tower crown, which is symbol of cities, villas and towns. Public Schools sorted by educational levels. Updated: 08/07/2003 Humacao Region Juncos District Name Level Telephone Address Elementary AGUSTÍN DUEÑO PK-6 (787) 734-4342 PO Box 1721, P.R. 00777-3401 ÁNGEL GONZÁLEZ K-6 (787) 734-8553 PO Box 3401, P.R. 00777-2086 CAMILO VALLES MATIENZO PK, 4-6 (787) 734-7333 PO Box 1829, P.R. 00777-0000 CARMEN ARZUAGA DE RIVERA K-6 (787) 734-8151 PO Box 1823, P.R. 00777-1823 FULGENCIO PIÑERO RODRÍGUEZ K-3 (787) 734-4733 PO Box 1799, P.R. 00777-0000 JUAN A. SÁNCHEZ K-6 (787) 734-4347 PO Box 1297, P.R. 00777-0000 LAURA NAVARRO K-6 (787) 734-4344 PO Box 1721, P.R. 00777-0000 PEDRO BOSCH K-6 (787) 734-4346 PO Box 3061, P.R. 00777-3061 TEODOMIRO DELFAUS K-6 (787) 734-4348 PO Box 3620, P.R. 00777-3401 Intermediate ALFONSO DÍAZ LEBRÓN 7-9 (787) 734-6806 PO Box 1614, P.R. 00777-0000 JOSÉ A. LÓPEZ CASTRO 7-9 (787) 734-4544 PO Box 31541, P.R. 00777-0000 Secondary SU CLARA M. ARAMBURU K-9 (787) 734-7444 HC 1 Box 6160, P.R. 00777-0000 SU PEDRO RIVERA MOLINA K-9 (787) 736-4148 PO Box 1814, P.R. 00777-0000 High School ISABEL FLORES 10-12 (787) 734-6816 PO Box 2107, P.R. 00777-0000 JOSÉ COLLAZO COLÓN 10-12 (787) 734-4345 PO Box 1268, P.R. 00777-0000 Source: Departamento De Educación Hymn: Juncos Mi Bello París By Luis Díaz Lebrón Yo vivo tan feliz y nunca olvidaré el recuerdo de mi pueblo el recuerdo de mi Juncos. Eres pequeño París. Juncos, tus noches son tan bellas. Pedacito de Tierra, corazón de mi Borinquen. Para ti, con el alma te dedico esta canción. Es tu Valenciano, río de nácar. Juncos, pequeño París. Events: International Marathon - November Patron Festivities - December Places To Visit: Old Tabacco Farm Juncos Sugar Mill Distinguished Citizens: Guillermo Cotto Ramón Fortuna Selles - Poet Clemente Pereda - Poeta & percusionist Modesto Velázquez - Legislator Juncos Mayors 1792 - Present Year Mayor Year Mayor 1792-1795 Tomás García 1862-1864 Juan de la Cruz 1797 Martín Algarín 1864 Santiago Pereira 1795-1798 Blas López 1865-1866 Francisco García 1812 Pedro Hernández 1867 Agustin Peirona 1813-1814 Dámaso Pena 1869-1872 Eladio Saldaña 1814 José Saldana 1870 José Antonio Jiménez 1815 Juan Frayll 1872 Agustin Dueño Juan G. Marti 1817 José Saldaña 1873 Julián Hernández Eladio Saldaña 1818 Pedro Hernández 1874 Pedro Samada 1819 José Saldana 1874-1877 Delfín Sierra 1820 Juan Frayll 1877 Pascual Pérez 1821 Pedro Hernández 1877-85 Delfín Sierra 1822 Antonio de Padua 1885 F. de Thomas 1823 Alejandro López 1885-87 José Jiménez 1824-1825 José Castanon 1888 Juan Gratacos 1826-1827 José Saldana 1888-89 Pedro Navas 1828 Alejandro López 1890 Cándido Farina 1829-1833 Francisco Pagan 1891-1896 Lucas Castro 1838-1839 José Saldana 1897 Francisco Escuté 1840-1841 José Antonio Rodríguez 1898 Teodomiro Delfaus 1842 Anselmo de Rivera 1900-1902 Francisco Escute 1842-43 Rafael Falero 1906-1928 José Barreras 1844 Francisco López 1928-1936 Ceferino Fernández 1849 José L. Rosario 1937 Agapito González 1849 Cándido López 1937-1940 Charles Fertiú 1849-1850 José Mariano Benítez 1940-1948 Ceferino Fernández 1851 José Benito Benítez 1949-1956 Víctor Lanza Méndez 1852-1853 Teodoro Saldaña 1957-1960 Lydia López de Gómez 1853-1854 Manuel Sicardó 1960-1972 Hilda Pacheco de Algarín 1856 Manuel J. Villalobos 1972-1977 Marcos Hernández 1859 Tomás Serrga 1977-1989 Cesar Torres Torres 1850-1861 José M. Buitrago 1989-1993 Rafael Beltrán 1861 Francisco Carretas 1993- 2000 Gilberto Conde Román     2000- Present Alfredo Alejandro Source: Municipality of Juncos Mayor: Hon. Alfredo "Papo" Alejandro (PPD) P.O. Box 1706 Juncos, P.R. 00777 (787) 734- 4443       2004 General Election Results Municipality of Juncos Party Candidate Votes Percent   PAPO ALEJANDRO 12,369 65.31% MARIBEL TORRES GONZALEZ 6,166 32.56% JESUS MANUEL ROQUE 200 1.06% *OTHERS 205 1.08% Total 18,940   Breakdown of Others   Reported Voting Centers Participation Direct Nomination 27   Registered Voters 23,860 Blank 88   Votes 18,940 Null 90   Participation Percent 79.38% Reported Voting Centers: 83 out of 83 for 100.00%   Total Registered 23,860 Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico