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Manatí... Metropolitan City

Manatí 1941
Manatí 1941
Photo by Jack Delano

Foundation: Manatí (mah-nah-TEE) was officially founded by Don Pedro Menéndez Valdés in 1738. It was the ninth town in receiving the blessing of the Spanish Crown in Puerto Rico. The first Spanish town was established in Manatí by Juan Ponce of Leon attracted by the wealth of the valley and the promises of gold in the Manatuabón River. After constructing the first structures in the borders of the river and as a result of the violent swells of the waters, he left and founded Villa Caparra.
       It is said that Manatí was baptized with this name because of the abundance of manatees in its waters. Others assure that the name has indigenous origin, derivative of the name of the river that the first inhabitants called Manatuabón River. As a result of its great cultural development during the first decades of the XX century it was baptized as "La Atenas De Puerto Rico" (Puerto Rico's Athens). It is a fertile area bathed by springs, lagoons, beaches and the impressive and mighty Grande de Manatí River.
       Manatí became a city July, 1994 due to its economic and industrial development. Because of this fact the Coat Of Arms used by Manatí has a five-tower crown instead of three, characteristic of cities. Now Manatí is known as "Metropolitan City".
        Manatí has been a city focused in acquiring the latest in technology for the benefit of its citizens. Manatí maked history during March 5, 1998, when the Athens Internet began operations; the first internet supplier at a global level administered by a municipality.
        On November 4, 2002 public order codes were implemented for the Manatí urban area. This initiative's intention is to establish essential norms to improve the quality of life of the citizens.

Manatí's Location

Location: It's located in the northern coast, it borders north with the Atlantic Ocean, south with Morovis and Ciales, west with Florida and Barceloneta and east with Vega Baja.

Area: 120.0 sq km / 46.0 sq mi

Population: 45,409 (census 2000)

Population Density: 378.4 per sq km / 987.1 per sq mi

People are known as: Manatieños / Atenienses

Manatí is also known as: Ciudad Metropolitana (Metropolitan City)
La Atenas de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico's Athens)

Wards: Wards


Census 2000:
Population by Wards - Manatí
Habitants
Bajura Adentro 2,382
Bajura Afuera 737
Coto Norte 11,311
Coto Sur 9,045
Manatí Town 7,162
Río Arriba Poniente 1,769
Río Arriba Saliente 3,119
Tierras Nuevas Poniente 4,098
Tierras Nuevas Saliente 5,786
Total 45,409

Source: Census 2000


Political Division - Administrative:


Patron: Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Parish
Calle Betances-Padial
Manatí, Puerto Rico 00674
(787) 854-2013
Foundation:1738
Mass Schedule
Dairy: 6:30am & 7:00pm
Saturdays: 6:30am & 7:00pm
Sundays: 7:00am, 9:00am, 10:30am & 7:00pm
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Parish Photo: www.rootsweb.com

Topography: Manatí is in the Northern Coastal Valley region and in the karst zone in which we find several caves, wooded hills and water holes.

Hydrography: It counts with the Grande de Manatí river that ends at the Atlantic Ocean with a length of 73 kilometers (45 miles) and the Tortuguero Lagoon.

Climate: Its annual precipitation is around 61.81 inches and its average temperature is 77.8°F.

Economy: Manufacture (pharmaceutics) and agriculture (pineapple).

Average Salary:   weekly (1998)

Flag: The flag has the following description: a wide white stripe, a wide blue united by a smaller red one in the center. These colors are representative of Don Pedro Meléndez Valdés, founder of the municipality.
Manatí's Flag


Manatí's Coat of Arms
Coat Of Arms: Shield divided in quarters: in the blue fields, a silver Greek temple, in the silver fields a black curved manatee and covering the four quarters in the center a small red shield with five flames in gold, forming a vane. To the top, a three tower silver crown and below the shield a white banner with the inscription "Puerto Rico's Athens" in black letters. The Greek temple represents the city of Athens, whose characteristic building, the Parthenon was one of the main temples dedicated to goddess of wisdom Athens, to which, according to the legend, her name was given to the city.









Public Schools sorted by educational levels.
Updated: 08/07/2003
Arecibo Region
Manatí District


Name Level Telephone Address
Elementary
ANTONIO VÉLEZ ALVARADO K-6 (787) 854-4160 PO Box 30160 Suite 282, P.R. 00674-0000
AUGUSTO COHEN K-5 (787) 884-6519 PO Box 1014, P.R. 00674-0000
CLEMENTE RAMÍREZ DE ARELLANO K-6 (787) 884-3031 Suite 339, P.R. 00674-0000
CRUZ ROSA RIVAS K-6 (787) 854-4900 PO Box 506, P.R. 00674-0000
EVARISTO CAMACHO K-6 (787) 854-6315 PO Box 30160, P.R. 00674-0000
FÉLIX CÓRDOVA DÁVILA K-6 (787) 854-4255 PO Box 30160 Suite 173, P.R. 00674-0000
FRANCISCO MENÉNDEZ BALBAÑE K-6 (787) 854-3063 PMB 106, P.R. 00674-0000
JOSÉ DE DIEGO PK-6 (787) 854-2272 PO Box 174, P.R. 00674-0000
JOSÉ MELÉNDEZ AYALA I K-6 (787) 854-6788 PO Box 506, P.R. 00674-0000
JOSEFA RIVERA MIRANDA K-6 (787) 854-7227 PO Box 506, P.R. 00674-0000
JUAN A. SÁNCHEZ DÁVILA K-6 (787) 854-7747 PO Box 1397, P.R. 00674-0000
MICAELA ESCUDERO K-6 (787) 889-3106 PO Box 3081, P.R. 00674-0000
TEODOMIRO TABOAS K-6 (787) 854-2255 PO Box 506, P.R. 00674-0000
Intermediate
JESÚS T PIÑERO 7-9 (787) 854-2259 PO Box 3158, P.R. 00674-0000
NUEVA JUAN S. MARCHAND 7-9 (787) 854-4541 PO Box 506, P.R. 00674-0506
Institutional
INSTITUTO TECN. RECINTO DE MANATÍ 13-14 (787) 854-2050 715 PO Box 506, P.R. 00674-0000
Secondary
SU FEDERICO FREYTES RODRÍGUEZ K-9 (787) 854-9672 PO Box 1844, P.R. 00674-0000
High School
FERNANDO CALLEJO 10-12 (787) 854-2629 PO Box 3355, P.R. 00674-3355
JOSÉ A. MONTAÑEZ GENARO (VOC. AREA) 10-12 (787) 854-2250 PO Box 1091, P.R. 00674-0000
PETRA CORRETJER DE O'NEILL 10-12 (787) 854-6601 PO Box 30160 Suite 335, P.R. 00674-0000





Hymn: Atenas de Borinquen
By Wilfredo Pagán

Que bonito ver la grandezas
de la tierra en que nací.
Ver su florrecer y sus playas
como brillan al dormir.

Orgulloso estoy de mi pueblo
y precioso Manati.
Que grtandioso es conocer
cómos se ha llamdo así.

En la Atena de Borinquen
en su cuna meció
todos esos próceres que allí cultivaron
todos los talentos que un pueblo nació,
y a su nombre proclamó.

Es la Atenas de Borinquen
de gracias y esplendor
de hermosas paisajes que serán recordados
si en tus bellas tierras no llegase a morir
te prometo que nunca serán olvidados.

En mi corazón llevar grabado
el nombre de Manati:
y será mi honor
porque ha sido la razón de mi existir.

Manatees and dugongs ( trichechus manatus manatus ) are marine mammals of the order Sirenia. They originated in the middle Eocene period around 45 to 50 million years ago. They are gentle, plant-eating herbivores sometimes nicknamed "sea cows". The name manatee comes from the Haitian word manati. Today, their closest living relatives are elephants [Proboscideans], hyraxes [Hyracoidea] and aardvarks [Tubulidentata]. Manatees are classified as [sub-]ungulates, even though they live in the water. Their thick-skinned, streamlined, almost hairless bodies have forelimbs modified into flippers. The tail is enlarged and horizontally-flattened.

Trichechus manatus manatus
Manatees are now quite rare. In ancient times, sailors mistook them for mermaids or sirens on account of their long tails. Today, they often bear scars on account of their collisions with boats, a major hazard. Their only natural enemy is "man".

Events: Patron Fetivities - February
Cross Festivities - May
Beach Festival - July
Manatee Festival - July
Halloween Festival - October
Chirstmas Festival - December

Places To Visit: Municipal Library -  Web Site
Monserrate Sugar Cane Refinery Ruins
The Acropolis
Mar Chiquita Beach
Tortuguero Beach
Los Tubos Beach
Old Cementery Ruins
Marqués de la Esperanza Hacienda Ruins
Taboas Teather
Historic Zone

Distinguished Citizens: Clemente Ramírez de Arellano
Juan R. Ramos Vélez
Néstor Rodríguez Escudero

Manatí Mayors 1734 - Present

Year Mayor Year Mayor
1734 - 1738 Pedro Menéndez Valdés 1868 - 1869 No Data
1750 - 1751 Manuel Menéndez 1870 Ricardo Orta
1752 Joaquín de Navedo Vega 1871 Francisco Brunet
1765 Eusebio Menéndez 1871 Federico Calaf
1766 Manuel de Santana 1871 Bonocio Casellas
1799 - 1801 Antonio de Escobar 1872 Bonocio Casellas
Alfredo C. Alonso
Eduardo Alonso
1802 No Datos 1873 Juan Ramón Ramos
1803 - 1804 Antonio de Escobar 1874 Francisco Sicardó
Bonocio Casellas
1805 - 1806 José Martínez 1875 Wenceslao Sifre
1807 - 1809 Martin Menendez 1876 - 1879 José Demetrio Muñoz Barrios
1810 José Martínez 1880 - 1884 Bonocio Casellas
1811 Martin Menendez 1885 José A. Pavia
1812 Juan Laureano Menéndez 1886 Fidel Benero
1813 Juan Pablo González 1886 - Mar 2 José A. Pastor
1814 - 1815 Joseph Guma 1886 Florentino Lopez
1816 - 1817 Laureano de la Vega 1887 José M. Vega
1818 Carlos Berrios
José Guma
1887 Francisco Romera
José Berreteaga
Francisco López
1819 Pablo Aguilar Baldes 1888 Fidel Hernández
1820 Juan Laureano Menéndez 1888 José Berreteaga
1821 Francisco de Aldao 1889 No Data
1822 Pedro Vélez
Francisco Martínez
1890 J. M. Loira
1823 Juan Antonio Martínez 1890 Agustín Laugier
1824 - 1825 Ramón Anes 1891 Agustín Laugier
José Mediavilla
1826 Felipe Valencia 1892 Agustín Laugier
1827 Florencio de Areyzaga 1892 José Mediavilla
1828 Nicolás Nogues 1893 José Mediavilla
1829 Nicolás Nogues 1893 Ignacio Franco
1829 Carlos Infante 1893 José A. Tirado
1830 Francisco Capo 1894 Ignacio Franco
1831 Francisco Capo 1894 José A. Tirado
1832, Rodulfo Gautier 1895 Ignacio Franco
José A. Tirado
1832 Manuel Nieves Caballero 1895 Fidel Benero
1834 Rodulfo Gautier 1896 Fidel Benero
1835 Maximo Benitez 1896 Juan Simo
1836 Vicente Balseiro 1896 José A. Tirado
1837 Vicente Balseiro 1897 Juan M. Muñiz
1827 - 1838 Juan Francisco Collazo 1897 Gregorio Kuinlan
1838 Miguel Francisco Larregui 1897 Juan Simo Marrero
1841 Francisco Santana Navedo
Rodulfo Gautier
1898 José Monserrat
1842 José Eugenio de Córdova 1898 Arturo Quintero
1843 Hilarión Pérez Guerra 1899 Arturo Quintero
Virgilio Ramos Vélez
1844 Bonocio Casellas
Pedro Valdés
1901-1904 Virgilio Ramos
1846 Bonocio Casellas 1905-1906 Francisco Vázquez Colón
1847 Agustín Collazo 1907-1910 Clemente Ramírez de Arellano
1848 Antonio Amezaga 1911-1912 Francisco Vázquez Colón
1849 Antonio Amezaga 1913-1914 Ramón Pares
1849 Antonio Benito Padilla 1915-1920 Delfin Suro
1849 Pedro Valdés 1919 Virgilio Ramos Casellas
1850 No Data 1921-1924 Virgilio Ramos
1851 Carlos T. Gavarain 1925-1928 Jaime Calaf Collazo
1852 - 1855 - Hilarión Pérez Guerra 1925-1928 Clemente Ramírez
1856 - 1858 Francisco Carreras 1929-1932 Justino Crespo
1858 - 1859 Manuel Otero 1933-1936 José R. Davila
1860 Manuel Otero 1937-1940 Virgilio Ramos Muñiz
Ángel Muñoz Igartua (sustituye)
1860 Joaquín Martorell 1941-1944 Ángel Muñoz Igartua
1861 - 1862 No Data 1949-1952 Joaquín Rosa Gómez
1863 Juan A. Díaz 1953-1956 Orlando Rivero
1864 Francisco Sicardó 1957-1960 Pedro Acevedo
1864 Bonocio Casellas 1961-1968 Joaquín Rosa Gómez
1865 No Data 1969-1972 Juan Ramón Colón
1866 Francisco Julia 1973-1976 José Antonio Aulet Meléndez
1867 Ricardo Orta 1977-Presente Juan Aubín Cruz Manzano

Source: Manatí Quinientos Años de Historia (1508-1998)





Mayor: Hon. Juan "Bin" Cruz Manzano (PNP)
Casa Alcaldía
Manatí, P.R. 00674
(787) 854-2024
      Manatí's Mayor



2004 General Election Results
Municipality of Manatí


Party Candidate Votes Percent  
PNP JUAN AUBIN 'BIN' CRUZ MANZANO 16,260 66.98%
PPD CHAPO 6,950 28.63%
PIP JAIME B. GONZALEZ MALDONADO 778 3.20%
Otros *OTROS 287 1.18%
Total 24,275  
Breakdown of Others   Reported Voting Centers Participation
Direct Nomination 30   Registered Voters 29,909
Blank 150   Votes 24,275
Null 107   Participation Percent 81.16%
Reported Voting Centers: 107 out of 107 for 100.00%   Total Registered 29,909


Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico




How to get to Manatí from San Juan.

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Manatí



My most sincere thanks to my brother-in-law
George LaMontagne for his valuable aid in
the translation of these pages.


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