Hacienda Juanita
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Foundation:
Maricao (mah-ree-KOU) was founded April 10, 1874 by Bernardo Collado, Julián Ayala, Francisco M. Sojo, Napoleón Pietri and Leoncio S. Martínez who requested authorization from the Provincial Delegation to found a town at the site of Maricao for these reasons: the almost impassable long roads to San Germán, and the vain hope of improvement by the nature of the distance that separated them from the Villa of San Germán, which was the head of the district. The request made reference to the fact that the districts of Bucarabones, Indiera Fría, Indiera Alta, Río Prieto, Indiera Baja and Montoso already had a parish and a Mayorship. The parish had been created in 1866.
The name has two versions of its origin: one says that it derives from a tree of beautiful yellow flowers called the Maricao tree (Byrsonima spicata), which is plentiful in this area. The second version is the legend that in the days of the conquest a Indian called María fell in love with a Spanish military man. She betrayed her people in relation to an attack that the Indians had prepared against the Spaniards. The conquerors went ahead and launched an attack, but María was taken prisoner by the Indians and judged immediately for treason. She was tied to a tree and sacrificed. It is said that from this act the name Maricao originates. The first four letters of "mari" were united, replacing the "a" with "cao" which means martyrdom or sacrifice of Maria, "Maricao".
As the names of three of its districts indicate, Maricao had numerous indigenous people, many of which were fugitives of ranches of other regions. The first settlers were Europeans from neighboring San Germán.
Location:
Located in the central region of the Island, towards the west. It is bordered by: Las Mariías and Lares on the north, Sabana Grande and San Germán on the south, Mayagüez on the west, and Yauco on the east.
Area:
96.2 sq km / 37.0 sq mi
Population:
6,449 (census 2000)
Population Density:
67.0 per sq km / 174.2 per sq mi
People are known as:
Maricaeños
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Maricao is also known as:
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Pueblo de las Indieras (Town of Indian Settlements)
Ciudad del Monte del Estado (Mountain of the State City)
Ciudad de Leyenda y Romance (City of Legend and Romance)
Tierra del Café (Land of Coffee)
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Wards:
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Census 2000:
Population by Wards - Maricao
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Habitants
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Indiera Alta
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1,379
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Indiera Baja
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783
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Indiera Fría
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450
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Maricao Town
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891
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Maricao Afuera
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1,740
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Montoso
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1,156
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Total
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6,449
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Source:
Census 2000
Political Division - Administrative:
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Patron:
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San Juan Bautista
San Juan Bautista Parish
Apartado 453
Maricao, PR 00606
(787) 838-2014
Mass Schedule
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 7:30pm
Saturday: 7:30pm
Sunday: 9:30am
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Topography:
The terrain is moderately mountainous. It belongs to the region of Western Rainy Mountains of the Central Mountain Range.
Hydrography:
It is washed by the Rosario, Maricao, Prieto, Guanajibo, Guaba, Bonelli and Lajas rivers, and contains the Prieto and Toro lakes.
Economy:
Agriculture (coffee, vegetables, fruits) and manufacturing (surgical equipment) and tourism.
Average Salary:
$271.49 weekly (1998)
Flag:
The flag of derives its colors, design and symbolism from the municipal shield. It consists of a green cloth, with the three usual dimensions of the municipal flags of Puerto Rico, crossing from an end to another one a yellow band with three points. The color green symbolizes the vegetation of the municipality and the yellow band symbolizes the mountains of the region.
Coat Of Arms:
In a silver field, resides an inverted "V"-shaped green band. Contained in the band are five gold huts. To either side and below the band are a total of three Maricao (Byrsonima spicata) tree branches with flowers. Surrounding the shield below and to either side are two coffee tree branches. Above it is placed a gold mural crown with three towers outlined in black with green doors and windows.
The Indian settlements are represented by their characteristic houses, huts that until just a few years ago also constituted the homes of many Puerto Rican farmers.
The outer ornaments of the shield are neither specific nor exclusive of Maricao. The coffee tree branches refer to the coffee zone of the area, where the municipality is located. The crown is a heraldic emblem standard for cities, villas and towns that are used as an emblem for to distinguish municipal coat of arms from royal, state, Episcopal and family shields.
Public Schools Sorted by Educational Level
Updated: 08/07/2003
San Germán Region
Maricao 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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INDIERA FRÍA
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K-6
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(787) 838-2534
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PO Box 6393, P.R. 00606-0000
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LA CARMEN
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K-6
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(787) 838-2425
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PO Box 18350, P.R. 00606-0000
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MARIANA BRACETTI
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K-6
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(787) 838-2245
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Calle José de Diego, P.R. 00606-0000
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Intermediate
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RAÚL YBARRA
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7-9
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(787) 838-2680
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Carr. 120 Ave Luchetti # 8, P.R. 00606-0000
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Secondary
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SU FRANCISCO VINCENTY
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K-9
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(787) 838-3011
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Bo. Bucarabones Carr. 105 km 39 hm 6, P.R. 00606-0000
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High School
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SUPERIOR NUEVA
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10-12
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(787) 838-3025
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HC 1 Box 8112, P.R. 00606-0000
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Hymn:
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Sobre las verdes alturas
de mi borinqueña tierra,
se levanta Maricao,
en medio de sus haciendas.
Coro:
La sombra del indio
vaga en la floresta
porque Maricao,
se viste de fiesta.
Un sol benigno le alumbra
suave brisa le refresca;
y el alegre caserío,
viste sus galas de fiesta.
Entre tocatas y juegos,
asiste el culto a la iglesia
y van y vienen la gente
olvidando sus tristezas.
Pero al volver a la casa
cuando el hombre a solas piensa
del antiguo Maricao,
se oye un suspiro en la sierra.
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Maricao Tree Flower (Byrsonima spicata)
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Events:
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End of the Coffee Harvest Festival - February
Patron Celebration - June
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Places To Visit:
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La Bambua Recreational Center
Hacienda Delicias
Hacienda Juanita
Prieto Lake
Monte del Estado (forest reserve)
Salto de Curet (water fall)
Torre de la Piedra (tower)
Maricao Fish Nursery
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Distinguished Citizens:
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Virgilio Brunet Maldonado - Orator, educator & lawyer.
Judith Seda Matos - First lady to ocupy the position of justice of peace.
Luis Paret
Luis Felipe Ramos
Andrés Segarra
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Maricao Mayors 1874 - 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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1874-1876
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Juan Ferrer y Arnijas
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1915-1920
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Américo Oms y Sulsona
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1876-1877
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Osvaldo Guasp
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1933- 1933
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Francisco Martínez
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1877-1878
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Ricardo García
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1933-1937
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Daniel Coronado
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1878-1880
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Juan Billoch
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1937-1938
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Joaquín Oms y Sulsona
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1880-1886
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Quintín Santana
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1938-1941
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Rosa Campos de Quiñónes
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1886-1888
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Jose Andrew Ferrer
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1941-1947
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Raul Ybarra
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1888-1891
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Mariano A. Domínguez
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1947-1953
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Daniel Coronado
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1891-1892
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Ramón Frontera Pons
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1953-1957
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Rosendo Cintrón
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1892-1894
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Lorenzo Carbo
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1957-1961
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Enrique González
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1894-1895
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Luis María Marín
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1961-1981
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Vicente Bayron Vélez
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1895-1898
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Luis Zuzuarregui Aguirre
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1981-1992
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Luis Oramas Ruíz
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1898-1899
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Victoriano Liquet
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1992-1993
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Jesús A. Rodríguez Rodríguez
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1899- !999
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Rafael Vera Ithier
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1993- Present
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Gilberto Pérez Valentín
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1899-1901
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Luis Zuzuarregui
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Source: Municipality of Maricao
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Mayor:
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Hon. Gilberto Pérez Valentín (PNP)
P.O. Box 837
Maricao, P.R. 00606
(787) 838-2290
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2004 General Election Results
Municipality of Maricao
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Party
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Candidate
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Votes
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Percent
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GILBERTO PEREZ VALENTIN
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2,229
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56.15%
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DAVID VAZQUEZ
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1,676
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42.22%
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MAXIMINO RIVERA LOPEZ
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27
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0.68%
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*OTHERS
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38
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0.96%
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Total
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3,970
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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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5
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Registered Voters
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4,450
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Blank
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18
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Votes
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3,970
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Null
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15
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Participation Percent
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89.21%
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Reported Voting Centers: 22 out of 22 for 100.00%
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Total Registered
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4,450
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Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico
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