Matrullas Lake Foundation: Before its foundation, Orocovis, with approximately 75 families (o-ro-KO-vis) was a ward (Barros) of Barranquitas. After the beginning of the last century the neighbors had made arrangements to found a town separate from the head of district. On May 25, 1825 the population empowered Don Juan de Rivera Santiago to request from the governing authorities approval to found a population center on the site of Barros. It is here where the pupulation of district bought fourteen acres of land from Doña Eulalia de Rivera, who then donated an additional acre, so that the inhabitants could erect the Mayorship and other municipal structures. But lamentably the location was not suitable for settlement because of the distance from the water sources that the settlers would need. For such reason the population asked the government for authorization to transfer the site to a place closer to water sources. The Governor, General Miguel de la Torre, granted the foundation of the new Barros municipality on November 10, 1825.     In 1838 the San Juan Bautista de Barros Parish was created, the same one was blessed and inaugurated October 29. In 1875 a great fire destroyed the church, the mayorship, the priest's house and large number of houses of the population. In 1928 the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico approved a Joint Resolution by which the name of Barros was changed to Orocovis, name of the Taíno Chief Orocobix who governed this territory. Location: Located in the area that is known as "The Heart of Puerto Rico", it is bordered by: Ciales, Morovis and Corozal to the north; Juana Diaz, Villalba and Coamo to the south; Ciales to the west; and Barranquitas to the east. Area: 163.8 sq km / 63.0 sq mi Population: 23,844 (census 2000) Population Density: 145.5 per sq km / 378.4 per sq mi People are known as: Orocoveños Orocovis is also known as: Corazón de Puerto Rico (Heart of Puerto Rico) El Centro Geográfico de Puerto Rico (The Geographic Center of Puerto Rico) Wards: Census 2000: Population by Wards - Orocovis Habitants Ala de la Piedra 418 Barros 1,862 Bauta Abajo 1,651 Bauta Arriba 908 Bermejales 570 Botijas 3,794 Cacaos 902 Collores 137 Damián Abajo 746 Damián Arriba 893 Gato 2,075 Mata de Cañas 487 Orocovis 3,373 Orocovis Town 851 Pellejas 436 Sabana 1,448 Saltos 3,293 Total 23,844 Source: Census 2000 Political Division - Administrative: Senatorial District # 5 Ponce represented by Hon. Modesto Agosto Alicea (PPD) y el Hon. Bruno A. Ramos Olivero (PPD). Representative District # 26 represented by Hon. José L. Jiménez Negrón (PNP). Patron: San Juan Bautista San Juan Bautista Parish PO Box 2114 Orocovis, Puerto Rico 00720-2114 (787) 867-2210 Founded: 1838 Patron's Day: June 24 Topography: Most of its terrain runs through the Central Mountain Range. The greater elevations are found in the south, between the limits of the municipality with Villalba and Coamo. Its highest elevation is the Mogote hill. Hydrography: It is bathed by the Toro Negro, Sana Muertos, Orocovis, Matrullas, Bauta rivers and the Doña Juana, Palmar y Cacaos gorges among others. Its hydrographic system is made up of two dams or lakes: El Guineo Lake, which is formed in the channel of the Toro Negro river and the Matrullas Lake which is formed in the channel of the river of the same name, in the Bauta ward. Economy: Agriculture: coffee, tobacco, fruits and cattle. It also has several small nutritional product industries and a electrical equipment factory. Average Salary: $243.11 weekly (1998) Flag: The flag of Orocovis is formed by five vertical stripes: Two green at the ends A blue one in the center divided by two narrower stripes The green stripes represent the territories of Aibonito and Barranquitas and the two small white stripes represent those portions of territory yielded by the municipalities of Barranquitas and Morovis for the formation of the Barros municipality, in 1825, that is the present municipality of Orocovis. The central blue strip represents the regional dominion Chief Orocobix, previous to the colonization. On this stripe appears an oval with seventeen rays that represent the territorial demarcations. The sun, like the central body of our planetary system, was chosen to symbolize the position of this municipality as the geographic center of Puerto Rico. Coat Of Arms: The oval is symbol of the letter "o", initial of the name of the town. In each quadrant appear representative elements of the town. In the left superior quadrant an Indian bust, symbol of the great "Chief Orocovix", in silhouetted in gold on a silver-plated background. The Indian bust faces towards the star or sun that appears in the superior right quadrant, which is in gold on a blue background and represents the territorial municipality with its seventeen rays or demarcations. In the inferior quadrant a plantain plant is observed, silhouetted in gold on a silver-plated background. A bridge also silhouetted in gold on a blue background, above the river appears in the left inferior quadrant. The Indian represents the Taíno roots and the noble courage of its people. The sun is symbol of the municipality as the geographic center of the island of Puerto Rico. The plantain plant represents the main source of subsistence, the fecundity of the soil, the love for the land and the nature and work. The bridge is symbol of the hospitality, communication and friendship with the neighboring towns. It is also a main physical characteristic that distinguishes the municipality. The three tower gold crown above the shield, is symbol of the category that corresponds to the town.     The colors of the shield also have their meaning. The green represents the physical color of nature in the fields, it is symbol of the hope of progress and abundance that emanates of its soil. The blue symbolizes spiritual sincerity and nobility. The silver-plated and the gold are indicative of precious metals. They are symbols of the security and spiritual wealth that characterize the people. "Orocovis", a town equipped with great human and spiritual values! Orocovis public schools. Name Level Telephone Address ÁNGEL G. RIVERA Elementary (787) 867-5488 PO Box 1842 DAMIÁN ABAJO Elementary (787) 867-5466 PO Box 1842 NELIDA MELÉNDEZ MELÉNDEZ Elementary (787) 867-2840 PO Box 1605 ROMÁN DÍAZ AVILES Elementary (787) 867-0011 PO Box 1842 VISITACIÓN PAGÁN Elementary (787) 867-5383 PO Box 1693 GATO I Intermediate (787) 867-2410 PO Box 1693 ALBERTO MELÉNDEZ Secondary (787) 867-3353 PO Box 644 ANA DALILA BURGOS ORTIZ Secondary (787) 867-0106 PO Box 1841 BONIFACIO ALVARADO Secondary (787) 867-4633 PO Box 1202 BOTIJAS I Secondary (787) 867-2260 PO Box 2115 BOTIJAS II Secondary (787) 867-0411 PO Box 136 MATRULLAS Secondary (787) 867-3966 PO Box 2115 SALTOS CABRAS Secondary (787) 867-4686 PO Box 1575 SANAMUERTOS Secondary (787) 867-1175 PO Box 2124 JOSÉ ROJAS CORTES High School (787) 867-2630 PO Box 2112 Source: Departamento De Educación Hymn: By Celestino Avilés, hijo Mi patria es una bella isla y Orocovis su corazón y a ese pueblo que me dio la vida hoy le canto con todo mi amor. Rodeado de verdes montañas vigilado por un árbol de mangó centinela y fiel testigo de su historia, de su gente, de su honra y su valor Fue en tu suelo que nació el gran Cacique Orocobix y muchos hombres que le han dado tanta gloria a mi país. Y es por eso que hoy doy gracias al Señor de nacer en este suelo... ¡Que orgulloso estoy! De poder levantar tu escudo y tu bandera y gritar a donde vaya... ¡Orocoveño soy! ¡Orocoveño soy! Events: Infant Theater Festival - April Patron Festivities - June Shrimp Festival - July Craft Fair - September Youth Festival - October Places To Visit: Indian Cave Matrullas Lake Orocovis Museum Taíno Refuge Distinguished Citizens: Father Efraín Rodríguez Otero Dr. Jenaro Collazo Collazo Prof. Antonio Ortiz Hernández Artesano Celestino Avilés Rafael Santo Domingo Pedro Orlando Torres Orocovis Mayors 1825 - Present Year Mayor Year Mayor 1825 Juan Rivera de Santiago 1891 Luis Blas 1834 Francisco de Sales Díaz 1893 Francisco Bou Arroyo 1836 Cecilio Aponte 1896 Joaquín de Rojas Martínez 1838 Lucas Colón 1897 Pedro Arroyo Santana 1840 Cecilio Aponte 1898 José de J. Rodríguez, Sabino Arroyo & Alicea Francisco Torres 1841 Blas de Rivera 1899 Severiano Arroyo Alicea 1843 Máximo Torres 1900 Gregorio Santo Domingo & Severiano Arroyo Alicea 1844 Cecilio Aponte 1901 Aniceto Berrios 1846 Blas de Rivera & Cecilio Aponte 1902 Francisco Torres & Aniceto Berrios 1847 Francisco Bou & Francisco Goyna 1904 Roberto Vivas Bou 1849 Mariano Alfaro 1908 Ceferino Arroyo y Torres 1850 Carlos José Gavarainoz 1914 Juan Bautista Latorre 1855 Luis R. Muñoz 1928 Manuel Cruz Díaz 1856 Tomás de Santiago & Antonio Torres 1932 Primitivo Cruz Báez & Rafael Morales Dávila 1857 Tomás de Santiago & Froilán Santana 1934 Bernardo Collazo 1860 Blas Colón 1936 Olimpo Santiago 1861 Diego Becerra 1940 Artemio Alvarado 1861 Manuel R. Paz 1942 Rafael Morales Guerrero 1864 Felipe Olaya & Eduardo Delgado 1944 Lucas Torres Santos 1866 González Giménez 1952 Manuel Torres Rodríguez 1871 Elías Bou & José Sabino Arroyo 1956 Ofelia Torres de Meléndez 1872 Francisco González 1968 Efrain Colón Melendez 1874 José Sabino Arroyo 1972 Ofelia Torres de Meléndez 1879 Elías Bou 1976-1980 Víctor Burgos Casiano 1881 José Apolinario 1980-2000 Jesús M. Colón Collazo 1883 Ramiro Matute 2000-Present Jesús E. Colón Berlingeri 1889 Inocencio Ortíz, Miguel Santiago & Francisco Bou     Source: Municipality of Orocovis Mayor: Hon. Jesús E. Colón Berlingeri (PNP) Luis Muñoz Rivera #10 Orocovis, P.R. 00720 (787) 867- 5060       2004 General Election Results Municipality of Orocovis Party Candidate Votes Percent   GARDY COLON 8,189 54.73% EDWIN 'CHINO' RIVERA 6,535 43.67% IRMA L. RODRIGUEZ MORALES 142 0.95% *OTHERS 97 0.65% Total 14,963   Breakdown of Others   Reported Voting Centers Participation Direct Nomination 3   Registered Voters 17,067 Blank 64   Votes 14,963 Null 30   Participation Percent 87.67% Reported Voting Centers: 58 out of 58 for 100.00%   Total Registered 17,067 Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico