El Yunque (yunque translated means "anvil") Foundation: Río Grande (REE-o GRAHN-de) was founded by don Desiderio Escobar y Quilimaco Escobar, who were empowered by most of the neighbors of this region so that in their names they would ask authorization to populate. The governor Miguel López de Baños acceded and it was founded July 26, 1840. At the time the municipality was made up of the following wards: Ciénaga Alta, Ciénaga Baja, Jiménez, Guzmán Abajo, Guzmán Arriba, Herrera, Río Grande Pueblo and Zarzal. The name derives from the Grande river, affluent of the Espíritu Santo that flows near the population. During the years of the conquest and the first years of the colonization, it was within reach of the Caribe and Taíno Indians from the Lesser Antilles, thus the development of the area, like the one of all those of the coastal plain of the northeast, was delayed by their attacks, in which many settlers and animal stock died. Once the Indians of Vieques, Santa Cruz and other islands disappeared, the region's development continued with the first cattle ranches, sugar cane and fruit farms.     In 1897 the Mameyes II ward of the municipality of Luquillo was annexed to Río Grande. This municipality (Luquillo) was dissolved in 1899 and its wards were distributed between Fajardo and Río Grande. The Mata de Plátano, Mameyes I, Hato Viejo and parts of Sabana wards were also added to Río Grande. Towards 1910 the Hato Viejo ward disappeared. In 1914, the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, restituted the municipality of Luquillo and all the wards that integrated it before it was dissolved were given back, except for Mameyes II. In its early years the municipal economy was based on the cattle ranching and sugar cane. Location: Río Grande is located in what is known as the Northern Coastal Valley. It is bordered north by the Atlantic Ocean and Loíza, to the south by Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba, to the west Canóvanas and Loíza and east with Luquillo and Fajardo. Area: 158.6 sq km / 61.0 sq mi Population: 52,362 (census 2000) Population Density: 330.1 per sq km / 858.3 per sq mi People are known as: Riograndeños Río Grande is also known as: Ciudad del Yunque (Yunque City or Anvil City) Wards: Census 2000: Population by Wards - Río Grande Habitants Ciénaga Alta 4,606 Ciénaga Baja 18,220 Guzmán Abajo 6,614 Guzmán Arriba 928 Herreras 839 Jiménez 2,903 Mameyes II 2,919 Río Grande (town) 1,948 Zarzal 13,385 Total 52,362 Source: Census 2000 Political Division - Administrative: Senatorial District # 8 Carolina represented by Hon. Lornna Soto (PNP) and Hon. Héctor Martínez (PNP). Representative District # 36 and # 37 represented by Hon. Johnny Méndez # 36 (PNP) . and Hon. Ángel Bulerín Ramos # 37 (PNP) . Patron: Nuestra Señora del Carmen Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish Calle Carmen # 9 Río Grande, P.R. 00745 (787) 887-2365 Topography: It belongs to the region of the Northern Coastal Plains. To the south and the southeast are the highest elevations of the Luquillo Sierra; El Toro and El Yunque. Hydrography: It is bathed by the Herrera, Espíritu Santo, Mameyes, Sonador, Grande, La Mina rivers and the Juan Diego, La Máquina, Lingueta, La Toma, Tabonuco and Anón gorges. The terrain close to the coast is level and marshy. Economy: Agriculture (sugar cane, fruits, ornamentales plants, vegetables and cattle) and manufacture of textiles. Average Salary: $306.99 weekly (1998) Flag: The Río Grande flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal size united by a white triangle placed on the side of the mast. The superior stripe is green and represents the mountains of that zone. The blue stripe represents the Espíritu Santo river and refers to the name of the town. On the white triangle a Puerto Rican parrot since it is within the Río Grande territory, and specifically in the Luquillo Sierra where some of these endemic species in danger of extinction survive. Coat Of Arms: In a silver field, two Puerto Rican parrots(Amazon vitatta vitatta) , accompanied by a waving blue stripe, a green mountain with three peaks. The top portion of the shield is blue, with an opened silver book, accompanied on each side by five gold coins. Topped by a three tower gold crown outlined in black with green openings.     Our shield reunites the native, historical and geographic elements of Río Grande. The center has the three peaks of El Yunque and, two Puerto Rican parrots; native birds that live in this region. The waving blue stripe represents the Espíritu Santo river, navigable route very useful for the tourist and commercial development.     The open book represents the Pimentel and Castro School, the first school built in Puerto Rico by means of matched contributions by a municipality (Río Grande) and by the Insular Government of the Island. One of the five groups of coins, represents the five thousand dollars contributed by the town and the other group, the five thousand provided by the Insular Government of Puerto Rico for the construction of the school. The book also symbolizes the important participation the teachers and students of Río Grande in taking the necessary steps to equip the municipality with a coat of arms, due to the initiative of the teacher and local historian Don Edmundo Del Valle, who gave to the project, which he never saw fulfilled during his life, all his dedication and enthusiasm. The crown is standard of municipal shields. Río Grande public schools. Name Level Telephone Address ROSADO FUENTES Elementary (787) 887-2051 PO Box 1481 CAROLA Elementary (787) 887-5150 PO Box 1679 EDMUNDO DEL VALLE CRUZ Elementary (787) 887-8950 PO Box 848 JULIO MILLÁN CEPEDA Elementary (787) 888-2476 PO Box 43002 Suite 389 LA PONDEROSA Elementary (787) 887-8630 PO Box 43002 Suite 381 RAFAEL DE JESÚS Elementary (787) 887-2785 PO Box 1806 RIÓ GRANDE ESTATES Elementary (787) 888-7699 PO Box 575 ROSA BERNARD Elementary (787) 887-6680 PO Box 2270 VEGA ALEGRE Elementary (787) 887-3290 PO Box 2330 VICENTE ESCOBAR Elementary (787) 887-4810 PO Box 2300 CASIANO CEPEDA Intermediate (787) 887-4410 PO Box 3002 Suite 484 URBANA NUEVA Intermediate (787) 888-3534 PO Box 4002 Suite 491 LOLA MILLÁN ORELLANO Intermediate (787) 887-4574 PO Box 848 PRE-VOCACIONAL CASIANO CEPEDA Intermediate (787) 887-5200 PO Box 2312 RAFAEL REXACH DUEÑO Secondary (787) 887-2720 PO Box 472 CASIANO CEPEDA High School (787) 887-5295 PO Box 3001 PEDRO FALÚ ORELLANO High School (787) 887-2778 PO Box 940 Source: Departamento De Educación Hymn: Entre las ondas que juguetean del Mar Caribe cerca del fin; brotó una Islita bella y fecunda exuberante como un jardín. Aquí en Río Grande de mis amores sus bellas damas son todo amor, y son sus niños tiernos capullos que dan al libro su corazón. En esa Islita que Puerto Rico al descubrirla llamó Colón; existe un pueblo siempre florido cual es nido de mi ilusión. En las alturas la suave brisa llena los aires de grato olor; y en la sabana la dulce caña crece y se esparce con gran primor. Llaman Río Grande al pueblecito de una belleza pura y sin par; y suaves trinos en sus follajes a voz pregonan su bienestar. Si la desgracia fatal me hiciera irme muy lejos alguna vez, desde otros lares a todas horas, siempre a Río Grande recordaré. Events: Cross Festival - May Patron Celebrations - July Places To Visit: Indio Cave El Yunque Coco Beach Las Picúas Beach Distinguished Citizens: Anibal Díaz Montero - Story Teller Pedro Carlos Timothe Morales - Lawyer, educator Río Grande Mayors 1976 - Present Año Alcalde 1976-1984 Wilfredo Mercado Ortíz 1984-1992 Ángel L. Bulerín Ramos 1992-1996 Wilfredo Mercado Ortíz 1996-2000 Cesar Méndez Otero 2000-2004 Emilio Rosa Pacheco 2004-Present Eduard Rivera Correa Source: CEE Mayor: Hon. Eduard Rivera Correa (PPD) PO Box 847 Río Grande, P.R. 00745 ( 787 ) 887-8519       2004 General Election Results Municipality of Río Grande Party Candidate Votes Percent   EDUARD RIVERA CORREA 12,011 49.45% CARLOS MERCADO 11,600 47.76% PEPE ALVAREZ 450 1.85% *OTHERS 229 0.94% Total 24,290   Breakdown of Others   Reported Voting Centers Participation Direct Nomination 51   Registered Voters 31,413 Blank 111   Votes 24,290 Null 67   Participation Percent 77.32% Reported Voting Centers: 106 out of 106 for 100.00%   Total Registered 31,413 Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico