Toa Vaca Lake Courtesy Pedro Díaz - USGS Foundation: Before the official foundation of Villalba (vee-YAHL-bah), it was a ward of the town of Juana Díaz, as well, it had been a ward of Coamo until 1798. In 1846, the geographic jurisdiction of Juana Diaz constituted the districts: Río Cañas Arriba, Río Cañas Abajo, Guayabal, Lomas, Sabana Llana, Capitanejo, Jacaguas, Cayabo, Collores, Tijeras, Hato Puerco Arriba, Hato Puerco Abajo, Caonillas Arriba, Caonillas Abajo, Villalba Arriba and Villalba Abajo. In 1917 the last six wards were separated from Juana Diaz and forming an independent community with the official name of Villalba. On the origin of the name of Villalba there are several theories, but it is necessary to emphasize the possible relation with the town of Villalba of the province of Lugo in Galicia, Spain, by virtue of the entailment of the Figueroa family with this Spanish town and also the entailment of the visit of the Duke de Alba to this town.     The official process for the segregation of Villalba as independent territorial unit from Juana Diaz, began in 1916 by don José Víctor Figueroa, delegate of the camera for the District of Ponce from 1914 to 1917; representative from 1917 to 1924 and senator from 1924 to1928.     The founders of Villalba were José Ramón Figueroa and Walter McJones. The idea of the separatist conscience of the community of Villalba goes back to the year 1875, when Pope León XIII (by managements of don José Ramón Figueroa and his emissary before the Pope, don Ramón Soldevilla), granted permission for the construction of the parish that later would be named Virgen del Carmen, in honor to doña Carmen Reyes de Figueroa, her godmother and founder. Villalba became an independent community by virtue of the project of the Camera number 71, represented by the Camera delegate, don José Víctor Figueroa Reyes, the 23rd of March of 1917, which became Law 42 of the 12th of April of 1917 and began to be in force the 1st of July of 1917.     Villalba is known as "Cuidad de los Avancinos" (City of the Advancers) because in 1929 the first hydroelectric plant of all Puerto Rico was establised. Making it the first town with electrical energy the island, from this event it was given the name "City of Advance" (Ciudad Avanzada) or as it is known today "City of the Advancers". Today the hydroelectric plant is called "Toro Negro" and generates energy for all the island. Source: Villalba's Official Website Location: Located in the central region, closer to the southern coast, its border are: Orocovis to the north; Juana Diaz to the south; Coamo to the east and Juana Díaz to the west. Area: 96.2 sq km / 37.0 sq mi Population: 27,913 (census 2000) Population Density: 290.1 per sq km / 754.4 per sq mi People are known as: Villalbeños Villalba is also known as: Cuidad de los Avancinos (City of the Advancers) Ciudad del Gandul (Pigeon Pea City) Ciudad de los Lagos (City Of Lakes) Cuidad del Cooperativismo (City of Cooperativism) Wards: Census 2000: Population by Wards - Villalba Habitants Caonillas Abajo 1,427 Caonillas Arriba 1,811 Hato Puerco Abajo 1,911 Hato Puerco Arriba 8,922 Vacas 3,196 Villalba Town 1,040 Villalba Abajo 3,054 Villalba Arriba 6,552 Total 27,913 Source: Census 2000 Political Division - Administrative: Senatorial District # 6 Guayama represented by Hon. Cirilo Tirado, Hijo (PPD) and Hon. Ángel Rodríguez Otero (PPD). Representative District # 26 represented by Hon. José Luis Jiménez Negrón (PNP). Matron: Nuestra Señora del Carmen Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish Apartado 432 Villalba, P.R. 00766 (787) 847-0695 Courtesy: Nuestra Sra. Del Carmen Parish Topography: Located to the south of the Central Mountain Range, in the rainy area of semi-arid hills of the south Hydrography: It is watered by the Jacaguas river and its affluents the Achiote, Cuesta Pasto, Meolaya, de los Güiros y Jagüeyes gorges, and the Toa Vaca river, that receive waters from the La Cotorra, Limón and Grande gorges. The hydrographic system is completed by the Toa Vaca and Guayabal dams. Economy: Agriculture; sowing and harvesting of pigeon peas, coffee and fruits, also the manufacture of nutritional products, aluminum packaging and electrical & electronic machineries. Average Salary: $276.08 weekly (1998) Flag: The design and colors derive from the Municipal Coat of Arms, with the difference that the metalic gold and silver are replaced by the colors yellow and white, respectively. Its organization consists of four horizontal, unequal stripes in width, that from top to bottom have the following order: green, white, green and yellow. In the immediate side to the flagstaff, in the superior stripe, appears, in white color, the star of the shield. Coat Of Arms: In a green field, in bridge, a Puerto Rican villa of the XIX century, with six houses and one church, in silvera nd red: the church is adorned with the Coat of Arms of the order of "del Carmelo"; and in the upper right hand, a silver star. Gold border with five calabash (higüera, Crescentia cujete L.) leaves. To the top; a three tower gold crown.     The town this represented by the buildings and the star of the dawn. The shield of the order del Carmelo refers to our Señora del Carmen, matron of the population. The other symbols refer to the last name 'Figueroa" , the border recalls the founder, don José Ramón Figueroa. The crown is a standard of the municipal shelds and stands for the union and solidarity in the defense of its traditions, liberties and comun good. Villalba Public Schools. Name Level Telephone Address AUREA GINESTRE Elementary (787) 847-1334 MSC 243 PO Box 6004 CERRO GORDO Elementary (787) 847-5669 PO Box 1504 EL LIMÓN Elementary (787) 847-6419 PO Box 1504 ELADIO ROSA ROMERO Elementary (787) 847-5005 HC 1 Box 4069 EMILIA BONILLA Elementary (787) 847-6729 PO Box 1504 JOHNNY E. LABOY TORRES Elementary (787) 847-5417 MSC 244 PO Box 6004 WALTER McJONES Elementary (787) 847-2275 PO Box 1504 NORMA I. TORRES COLÓN Intermediate (787) 847-9090 PO Box 1515 ALFREDO BOCACHICA LEÓN Second Unit (787) 847-2452 PO Box 3948 HATILLO Second Unit (787) 847-3774 PO Box 5690 JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ GINORIO Second Unit (787) 847-8437 PO Box 1512 JULIO OLIVIERI Second Unit (787) 847-1606 PO Box 1509 FRANCISCO ZAYAS SANTANA High School (787) 847-2110 PO Box 1549 Source: Departamento De Educación Hymn: By Pablo Collazo Pérez A las orillas del Río Jacaguas yace mi pueblo bello y gentil. Por sus encantos y buenas aguas es de la isla grato pénsil. Tiene mi pueblo muy pocas calles, muchas colinas de gran verdor; la dulce cana crece en sus valles. Plátanos, chinas de lo mejor. Y si la suerte me lanza lejos de los reflejos de mi ideal. Sepa mi pueblo idolatrado que será amado por siempre igual. Aunque pequeño yo no lo olvido y a los lugares voy a pasear. Sitio tan bello y tan querido un villalbeño no olvidará. Events: Matron Celebrations - July Puerto Rico Marathon - July Areyto Festival - November Carlos Báez Marathon - December Places To Visit: La Corona Hill Maravilla Hill Doña Juana Water Fall Guayabal Lake Toa Vaca Lake Toro Negro Forest Reserve Distinguished Citizens: Doel López- Professor Carlos Mercado - Poet Virgilio Negrón - Poet Daniel Serrano - Poet Moisés Aponte - Painter Maximino Miranda - Senator Villalba Mayors 1917 - Present Year Mayor Year Mayor 1917 Guillermo Quesada (interino) 1932-1936 Ramón V. Colón 1917-1920 Walter McJones 1936-1940 Manuel Negrón 1920-1924 Guillermo Quesada 1940-1946 Luis Zayas Pérez 1924-1925 Florencio Figueroa 1946-1956 Efraín Suárez 1925 Ismael Rivera Julio Olivieri 1956-1968 Félix Luis Hernández 1925-1926 Cristino Torres (interino) 1968-1972 Ramón Negrón 1926-1928 Bernardo Negrón 1972-1976 Adrián Rosado 1928 Luis Zayas 1976-1983 Wilfredo Negrón 1928-1932 Guillermo Quesada 1983-2000 Bernardo Negrón Montalvo     2000-Present Orlando Torres Source: Municipality of Villalba Mayor: Hon. Orlando Torres (PPD) P.O. Box 1506 Villalba, P.R. 00766 (787) 847-2240       General Elections 2000: Mayor of Villalba Revised 9 August 2001   Party Candidate Votes %   1   PPD   ORLANDO TORRES    6,835    45.9          IND   BERNARDO NEGRON MONTALVO    6,617    44.5          PNP   LUIS A. COLON NAZARIO    1,093    7.3          PIP   ELIEZER (ELI) DAVILA RODRIGUEZ    187    1.3          N/A   *OTHERS    144    1.0         TOTAL    14,876         *   Others   4    *   Blank   71    *   Null   69       Referred To Special Table  3     Reported Voting Centers: 62 out of 62 for 100.0%        Registered   17,935    Votes   14,989    Participation   82.9%