Cabachuelas Caverns Foundation: Its Taíno name is derived from the river that flows through its northern wards. In 1815 a group of residents, under the leadership of Juan José de la Torre began the process to separate Morovis (mo-RO-vis) from Manatí with the purpose of establishing it as a town. They based the request on the distance they lived from the head of the municipality and the bad conditions of the roads that prevented them from attending mass and receiving aid from the authorities. In 1817, the government of Puerto Rico approved the separation, but it wasn't until the 1818 when the requirements of a population of one thousand residents and the firm commitment to construct a church and other public buildings was fulfilled, that the town of Morovis was officially founded.     Morovis' first mayor was the founding captain, Juan José de la Torre. In 1822 the mayorship was constructed. In 1823 the new church of the town was constructed dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Carmen on lands donated by Juan Evangelista.     Morovis has a very peculiar nickname. It is known as "The Island Except Morovis". This became an alternate name because in the year 1853 a cholera epidemic affected all the island. According to the records that were filed, Morovis was the only municipality that did not report cases of the epidemic. The expression became popular because whenever the subject of the cholera epidemic was mentioned... the phrase "The Island Except Morovis" was included. Location: It is bordered by: Manatí, Vega Baja and Vega Alta to the north; Orocovis to the south ; Corozal to the east; and Ciales to the west. Area: 100.3 sq km / 38.6 sq mi Population: 29,965 (census 2000) Population Density: 298.7 per sq km / 776.2 per sq mi People are known as: Moroveños Morovis is also known as: La Isla Menos Morovis (The Island Except Morovis) Wards: Census 2000: Population by Wards - Morovis Habitants Barahona 4,410 Cuchillas 2,211 Fránquez 4,205 Monte Llano 2,781 Morovis Town 1,004 Morovis North 3,257 Morovis South 3,595 Pasto 777 Perchas 1,354 Río Grande 645 San Lorenzo 844 Torrecillas 739 Unibón 3,495 Vaga 648 Total 29,965 Source: Census 2000 Political Division - Administrative: Senatorial District # 5 Ponce represented by Hon. Modesto Agosto Alicea (PPD) and Hon. Bruno A. Ramos Olivero (PPD). Representative District # 28 represented by Hon. Felito Marrero Vázquez (PPD) . Patron: Nuestra Señora del Carmen Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish PO Box 428 Morovis, P.R. 00687-0428 (787) 862-2620 Founded: 1823 Matron festivities: July 16 Topography: It belongs to the northern region of humid hills; in addition, the northern part of its territory is part of the karst zone, which is distinguished by the presence of caverns, wooded hills and drains. Hydrography: It is bathed by the Grande de Manatí river and its affluents: the rivers Bauta, Culebra, and Sana Muertor; and the gorges La Animas, La Mina, Perchas, Del Muerto, Los Cabros, Minas, Riachuelo, Grande de San Lorenzo, Suro, Riego, Quintero, Pozo de Magala and Del Guano. The remaining bodies of water in this municipality belong to the Cibuco river basin. These are the Unibón and Morovis rivers, all affluents of the Indio river. The Carreras river and the Monte Llano gorge belong to the Unibón river. The Morovis is born in the Morovis ward. Its affluents are the Honda, La Casimba, Grande de Morovis and Fránquez gorges. Economy: Mainly agriculture; coffee and cattle, complemented with light industry. Average Salary: $235.36 weekly (1998) Flag: The flag of Morovis is divided vertically in two equal parts. The immediate one to the mast is yellow and has the eagle of the Coat of Arms, in this case with the head facing right toward the pole. The other half is divided in seven vertical stripes of equal width, four red ones alternated with three yellow ones. Coat Of Arms: The Coat of Arms of the Municipality of Morovis is formed by an eagle in the left partition, which symbolizes San Juan Evangelista and sings in honor of the founder of the town, Don Juan Evangelista Rivera. The five "cuatros" (Puerto Rican instruments) observable in the right partition symbolize the fact that the town of Morovis is the main center of production of such typical Puerto Rican instruments. The shield in the center represents the Order of the Carmelite Nuns, and symbolizes as well the Virgen Carmen, matron of the town.     The left half is a field of yellow color (yellow for gold) in which resides a saber (black) eagle, beak and claws in red, its head enclosed with a halo. The right half division is in red with five cuatros (Puerto Rican instruments) in yellow (for gold); and in the small center shield, the Coat of Arms of the Order of the Carmelite Nuns. At the top is located a three tower crown of yellow, lined in saber (black) with red doors and windows. Morovis Public Schools Name Level Telephone Address BARAHONA ELEMENTARY (787) 862-2010 PO BOX 568 DR. PEDRO N. ORTIZ ELEMENTARY (787) 862-3382 PO BOX 387 ELEMENTARY URBANA ELEMENTARY (787) 862-2570 PO BOX 687 ESPERANZA GONZÁLEZ ELEMENTARY (787) 862-2792 HC 1 BOX 2386 FRANQUEZ ELEMENTARY (787) 862-2440 PO BOX 479 JOBOS ELEMENTARY (787) 862-3469 PO BOX 387 MANUEL ALONSO DÍAZ TORRES ELEMENTARY (787) 862-4910 136 CALLE ELÍAS RUSSE PERCHAS DÍAZ ELEMENTARY (787) 862-3442 PO BOX 459 VAGA I ELEMENTARY (787) 862-4713 PO BOX 2157 ÁNGEL G. QUINTERO INTERMEDIATE (787) 862-1716 PO BOX 1571 FRANCISCO RIVERA CLAUDIO INTERMEDIATE (787) 862-4985 PO BOX 388 RAMÓN TORRES RIVERA SECONDARY (787) 862-3406 PO BOX 1772 DAVID COLON VEGA SECONDARY (787) 862-2835 PO BOX 1584 JOSÉ R. BARRERAS SECONDARY (787) 862-2814 PO BOX 400 JAIME A. COLLAZO DEL RIÓ HIGH SCHOOL (787) 862-2300 PO BOX 370 Source: Departamento De Educación Hymn: ¡Oh Morovis, tu vives latente, en los pechos de todos tus hijos aunque diga el refrán "La Isla menos" aunque el mapa te muestre algo chico! Son tus lomas de varios verdores amplias vías ya son tus caminos pero aún cuentan historias muy viejas con sus linfas cantoras tus ríos. ¡ Oh, recuerdos de ayer que dormitan en las calles de nuestro pueblito! ¡ Oh, la Iglesia que eterna en el centro es vigencia de fe en Jesucristo! Aquí está la heredad moroveña es acervo de todos tus hijos, que haya fiesta y que el verbo acompasen tus guitarras... y cuatros... y güiros. Y marchemos con Fe hacia el futuro a forjarlo con mil sacrificios sin jamás olvidar el pasado ¡Por siempre Morovis, unidos! Events: Tribute to Don Felo - May Matron Celebrations - July Cuatro Festival - July The Island Except Morovis - December Innocents' Day - December Places To Visit: Cabachuelas Caverns Blue Star Stable Agricultural Toasting Distinguished Citizens: Angel G. Quintero Alfaro - Dean and Secretary of Education Baltasar Corrada - Resident Commissioner, Mayor of San Juan, and Supreme Court Judge (biography) Zaida R. Hernández Torres - President of the House of Representatives, judge of the Apelative Court José del Río de León - Mayor, legislator to the Camera and Senate José Rivera Barreras - Fiscal and judge of the Superior Court Heraclio Rivera Colón - Teacher and senator Manuel Joglar Cacho - Poet Graciani Miranda Archilla - Poet and writter (biography) Morovis Mayors 1822 - Present Year Mayor Year Mayor 1822 Juan José de Torres 1884 Antonio Rojas Martínez 1823 Juan Evangelista de Rivera 1885 Buenaventura Barber & Francisco Miranda 1824-1825 José Archilla 1886 Heracleo Esparolini & Alonso del Rió 1826-1829 José María Archilla 1887 Alonso del Rió & Carlos de Ereno 1830 José Archidonilla 1890 José A. Pavía 1832 José Huertas 1891 Eugenio Lucio 1833 Santiago Steffen 1893 José A. Pavía 1836 Juan José de Torres 1894 Cándido Corrada & Eduardo Quintana 1837 Clemente González 1895 Eduardo Quintana 1838-1839 Santiago Steffen 1896 Heracleo Rivera, Manuel del Rió & Cruz Alegría 1840-1841 Clemente González 1898 Heracleo Rivera & Pedro J. Rivera 1842 José María Archilla 1899 Pedro J. Rivera 1843 José María Archilla & Casimiro Suárez 1901 Félix R. Muñiz 1844 José María Archilla, José Archidonilla Clemente González & Manuel Quintero 1901-1908 Heracleo Rivera 1845 Clemente González 1909-1912 José Fontan Lafontain 1846 Salvio Lalande 1913-1920 José del Rió de León 1847 José María de Rivera 1920-1924 Rafael Arroyo Declet 1849 Francisco Sicardó 1924-1928 Baltasar Corrada del Río 1851 Francisco Sicardó 1928-1932 Balbino Balbín Sandoval 1852-1854 Joaquín Inchauzpe & Francisco Sicardó 1932-1936 Arturo Guerrero Otero 1856 José Ramón Aguirre & Joaquín Ynchauzpe 1936-1940 Armando Mejía Casals 1858 Santiago García 1940-1944 Francisco del Rió Guerrero 1859 Lucas Vega de Alicea 1944 Teodulo Miranda Rivera (Interino) 1861 Joaquín A. Brenes 1944-1948 José Vallines Collazo 1863 Francisco Ramos 1948-1950 Luis Martínez Lago 1864 Francisco Campos 1950-1952 Porfirio Miranda Rivera 1867-1868 Ezequiel Mediavilla 1952-1953 Eduardo Laureano Rosa 1870-1871 Francisco Jiménez Conde 1953-1954 Félix Epifanio Rodríguez (Interino) 1872 Felipe Sánchez & Francisco Jiménez Conde 1954-1958 Antonio Colón Fontan 1873 Blas Esparolini 1958-1972 Eduardo Laureano Rosa 1874 Julián Suro 1972-1978 Bruno Calderón Colón 1875 Sabino Casellas 1978-1979 Jaime E. González Rivera 1876 Sabino Casellas & Evaristo Izcoa 1979-1980 Antonio Torres Rivera 1877 Manuel Balbín & Evaristo Izcoa 1980-1992 Ángel M. Rosario Rosado 1878 Evaristo Izcoa & Jorge Cebollero 1993-2000 Ramón Russe González 1879-1880 Modesto Torrens 2001-Present Francisco "Paquito" Rodríguez 1883 Antonio Rojas Martínez & Modesto Torrens     Source: Municipality of Morovis Mayor: Hon. Francisco "Paquito" Rodríguez (PPD) P.O. Box 655 Morovis, P.R. 00687 (787) 862-3133       General Elections 2000: Mayor of Morovis Revised 9 August 2001   Party Candidate Votes %   1   PPD   FRANCISCO L. (PAQUITO) RODRIGUEZ    8,644    50.7          PNP   JUNIOR RUSSE    8,099    47.5          PIP   DANDY RAMOS MELENDEZ    184    1.1          N/A   *OTHERS    111    0.7         TOTAL    17,038         *   Others   1    *   Blank   72    *   Null   38       Referred to Special Table  0     Reported Voting Centers: 64 out of 64 for 100.0%        Registered   19,514    Votes   17,118    Participation   87.3%