:Fajardo, Puerto Rico
{{short description|Town and municipality in Puerto Rico}}
{{Redirect|Fajardo}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Fajardo
| official_name =
| native_name = {{lang|es|Municipio Autónomo de Fajardo}}
| native_name_lang = es
| settlement_type = Town and Municipality
| image_skyline = Fajardo_basin.jpg
| image_alt = Ocean view in Fajardo
| image_caption = Aerial view of Fajardo's basin
| image_flag = Flag of Fajardo.svg
| flag_alt =
| image_shield = Escudo de Fajardo (Puerto Rico).svg
| shield_alt =
| nicknames = "Los Cariduros", "La Metrópolis del Sol Naciente"
| anthem = "Fajardo que aquí en el oriente"
| image_map = Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Fajardo.svg
| mapsize = 300px
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Fajardo Municipality
| coordinates = {{coord|18|19|33|N|65|39|09|W|type:city_region:US-PR|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Sovereign state
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = Commonwealth
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Puerto Rico}}
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = early 16th century
| established_title1 = Founded
| established_date1 = October 26, 1772
| parts_type = Barrios
| parts = 9 barrios
| p1 = Cabezas
| p2 = Demajagua
| p3 = Fajardo barrio-pueblo
| p4 = Florencio
| p5 = Naranjo
| p6 = Quebrada Fajardo
| p7 = Quebrada Vueltas
| p8 = Río Arriba
| p9 = Sardinera
| founder = Santiago de Mexía
| seat_type =
| seat =
| government_footnotes =
| leader_party = PNP
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = José Aníbal “Joey” Meléndez Méndez
| leader_title1 = Senatorial dist.
| leader_name1 = 8 - Carolina
| leader_title2 = Representative dist.
| leader_name2 = 36
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 156.45
| area_land_km2 = 81
| area_water_km2 = 75.45
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 32,124
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Fajardeños
| population_note =
| timezone1 = AST
| utc_offset1 = −4
| postal_code_type = ZIP Codes
| postal_code = 00738, 00740
| area_code = 787/939
| blank_name_sec1 = Major routes
| blank_info_sec1 = File:PR primary 3.svg File:PR secondary 194.svg File:PR secondary 195.svg
File:Toll plate yellow.svg
File:PR primary 53.svg
| website = {{URL|fajardopr.org}}
| footnotes =
| population_rank = 38th in Puerto Rico
}}
Fajardo ({{IPA|es|faˈxaɾðo}}) is a town and a municipality part of the San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo Combined Statistical Area in Puerto Rico.
Fajardo is the hub of much of the recreational boating in Puerto Rico and a popular launching port to Culebra, Vieques, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. It is also home to the largest marina in the Caribbean, called Puerto del Rey. The town contains various hotels and inns.
Offshore, near Fajardo, a few islets can be found. These are Icacos, Isla Palomino, Palominito, and Diablo, among other uninhabited coral islands and barrier reefs.
History
Fajardo was founded in 1760, 1773 or 1774 (depending on the authority) as Santiago de Fajardo. It was one of the locations used by the American troops to invade Puerto Rico. On August 1, 1898 the USS Puritan under the command of Captain Frederic W. Rodgers, sailed the coastline near the city of Fajardo when he spotted the Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan (Cape San Juan lighthouse), which was supposed to be the landing site for the US Army in Puerto Rico. Rodgers ordered some of his men ashore, including Puerto Rican volunteers, with the mission to post the American flag atop the lighthouse.
On November 14, 1824, in what was dubbed the "Foxhardo" Affair, US Naval Officer David Porter landed at Fajardo with 200 seamen and marines, threatening to destroy Fajardo because one of his men had been arrested in Puerto Rico. For taking this action without US approval, Porter was later court-martialed.{{cite book | first=Jack|last=Sweetman|title=American naval history: an illustrated chronology of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-present | via=Internet Archive | date=March 25, 2023 | url=https://archive.org/details/americannavalhis0003swee_l7e0}}
After the Spanish–American War, Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico and determined that the population of Fajardo was 16,782.{{cite book|author1=Joseph Prentiss Sanger|author2=Henry Gannett|author3=Walter Francis Willcox|title=Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office|url=https://archive.org/details/informesobreelc00joangoog|year=1900|publisher=Imprenta del gobierno|page=[https://archive.org/details/informesobreelc00joangoog/page/n254 163]|language=es|access-date=2020-02-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115044918/http://archive.org/details/informesobreelc00joangoog|archive-date=2012-11-15|url-status=live}}
On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Fajardo, the hurricane triggered numerous landslides with its strong winds and significant amount of rainfall.{{cite web |title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico |url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/ |website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program |publisher=USGS |access-date=2019-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/ |archive-date=2019-03-03 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico |url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf |website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program |publisher=USGS |access-date=2019-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf |archive-date=2019-03-03 |url-status=live }}{{cite news| title=María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. Los sectores montañosos de Fajardo fueron los más vulnerables| trans-title=Maria, a name we will never forget. The mountainous regions of Fajardo were most vulnerable| newspaper=El Nuevo Día| date=2019-06-13| url=https://huracanmaria.elnuevodia.com/2017/municipio/fajardo/| language=es| access-date=2022-09-11| archive-date=September 11, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911185602/https://huracanmaria.elnuevodia.com/2017/municipio/fajardo/| url-status=live}}
Geography
Fajardo is a coastal municipality with a number of islets.{{cite web|url=https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/fajardo-municipality/|title=Fajardo Municipality|publisher=Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH)|website=enciclopediapr.org|access-date=2019-03-20|archive-date=2020-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823023027/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/fajardo-municipality/|url-status=live}}
- Fajardo River
- Aguas Buenas Gorge, Fajardo Gorge, Juan Diego Gorge and the Mata Redonda Gorge
- Aguas Prietas and Grande lagoons
=Barrios=
File:Fajardo, Puerto Rico locator map.png
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Fajardo is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as {{lang|es|"el pueblo"}}.{{cite book |last1=Picó |first1=Rafael |last2=Buitrago de Santiago |first2=Zayda |last3=Berrios |first3=Hector H. |title=Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. |year=1969 |url=https://archive.org/details/nuevageografad00pic/page/247 |publisher=San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969 |access-date=2018-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226171916/https://archive.org/details/nuevageografad00pic/page/247 |archive-date=2018-12-26 |url-status=live }}{{cite book|author=Gwillim Law|title=Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=nXCeCQAAQBAJ|access-date=25 December 2018|date=20 May 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0447-3|page=300}}{{cite web | url=http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/fajardo.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324204920/http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/fajardo.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=2018-03-24 |title=Map of Fajardo at the Wayback Machine|access-date=2018-12-29 }}
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
- Cabezas (Las Croabas)
- Demajagua
- Fajardo barrio-pueblo{{cite web |title=US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |website=factfinder.com |publisher=US Census |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513190743/https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |archive-date=13 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}
- Florencio
- Naranjo
- Quebrada Fajardo
- Quebrada Vueltas
- Río Arriba
- Sardinera
{{div col end}}
=Sectors=
Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions) and subbarrios,{{cite web |title=P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 000 (2010 Census): Fajardo Municipio, PR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_000.pdf |website=www2.census.gov |publisher=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823023046/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_000.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 001 (2010 Census): Fajardo Municipio, PR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_001.pdf |website=www2.census.gov |publisher=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823023026/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_001.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map 002 (2010 Census): Fajardo Municipio, PR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_002.pdf |website=www2.census.gov |publisher=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823023117/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72053_fajardo/PL10VTD_C72053_002.pdf |url-status=live }} are further subdivided into smaller areas called {{lang|es|sectores}} (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.{{cite web|url=http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm|title=Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)|website=Puerto Rico Budgets|language=es|access-date=28 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628234856/http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm|archive-date=28 June 2019|url-status=live}}{{Citation | author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia | title=El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 | year=2014 | publication-date=2014 | publisher=San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón | edition=first | isbn=978-0-9820806-1-0 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm|title=Leyes del 2001|website=Lex Juris Puerto Rico|language=es|access-date=24 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914224408/http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm|archive-date=14 September 2018|url-status=live}}
=Special Communities=
{{see also|Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development}}
{{lang|es|Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico}} (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Fajardo: Obrera neighborhood, Roosevelt neighborhood, Mansión del Sapo, Maternillo, Media Luna, Sector Camacho, Vevé Calzada, and Vieques en el Aire.{{Citation|author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia|title=El vuelo de la esperanza:Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004|year=2014|publication-date=2014| publisher=San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón| edition=Primera edición|page=273|isbn=978-0-9820806-1-0}}
Tourism
Fajardo is a tourist destination, especially among local tourists, because of its seafood, hotels, closeness to the small islands of Palomino, Icacos and Palominito, and the many daily trips that are available to Vieques and Culebra, both by boat and by the four airlines that served Fajardo Airport (now closed): Air Culebra, Air St. Thomas, Isla Nena Air and Vieques Air Link.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Fajardo has 46 beaches.{{cite web|url=https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/las1200playasdepuertorico-1216285/|title=Las 1,200 playas de Puerto Rico [The 1200 beaches of Puerto Rico]|date=April 14, 2017|website=Primera Hora|language=es|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212200804/https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/las1200playasdepuertorico-1216285/|archive-date=December 12, 2019|url-status=live}} Fajardo's beaches are bounded by calm, clear water ideal for snorkeling. Seven Seas Beach offers plentiful water sports facilities, offshore points for sailing, snorkeling and plenty of scuba diving.
Fajardo is also home to one of the few Bioluminescent Lagoons in the world. Nightly trips are offered by kayak by local companies who give educational tours.
=Landmarks and places of interest=
To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Fajardo page lists {{lang|es|Reserva Natural de Las Cabezas de San Juan}}, {{lang|es|Cayo Icacos}}, and {{lang|es|Hacienda Chocolat}}, as places of interest.{{cite book | title= Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando |publisher=Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico | year=2021| language=es}}
File:Reserva Natural Cabezas de San Juan en Puerto Rico.jpg
- Las Cabezas de San Juan Light House - One of the oldest lighthouses in Puerto Rico. Only one used for nautical reasons in the entire island.
- Laguna Grande - One of the few Bioluminescent bays in the world that glow and offers night kayaking tours all year round.{{cite web |last1=Soler-López |first1=Luis R. |title=Laguna Grande Limnology |url=https://pr.water.usgs.gov/projects/laguna-grande-limnology/ |website=USGS Caribbean Water Projects |access-date=23 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223184744/https://pr.water.usgs.gov/projects/laguna-grande-limnology/ |archive-date=23 February 2019 |url-status=live }}
- Puerto del Rey Marina - Biggest marina in the Caribbean.
- U.S. Customs House - Constructed in 1930 still in use by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection.
- Santiago Apostol Cathedral
- El Conquistador Resort - An historic 700+ room resort and convention center with its own private island (Palomino Island), water park (El Coqui Water Park), and {{RailGauge|3ft10in}} narrow-gauge{{cite web|title=Trams of the World 2017|url=http://blickpunktstrab.net/wordpress2/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/tramsderwelt2017.pdf|publisher=Blickpunkt Straßenbahn|date=January 24, 2017|access-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216202427/http://blickpunktstrab.net/wordpress2/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/tramsderwelt2017.pdf|archive-date=February 16, 2017}} funicular railway connecting its main hotel building with its marina. It was closed in 2017 after Hurricane Maria, and was reopened in 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.panoramio.com/photo/51884353 |title=Image of the El Conquistador Resort funicular |access-date=2017-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217062716/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/51884353 |archive-date=2017-02-17 |url-status=dead }}
- Seven Seas Beach - Classified Blue Flag for its sanitary health guarantees.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
- Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve - Home to mangroves and to the lighthouse.
- Fajardo Port - Used by locals and tourists to visit the island municipalities of Vieques and Culebra.
- The main town square - A colonial-style town square in the downtown.
- Old Fajardo Sugar Cane Refinery
- Isleta Marina
- Las Croabas Nature Reserve
- Bioluminescent Bay Fajardo{{cite web |url=http://www.biobayfajardo.com/ |title=Bioluminescent Bay Fajardo, Puerto Rico |publisher=Biobayfajardo.com |date= |accessdate=2022-04-03 |archive-date=March 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307123626/http://www.biobayfajardo.com/ |url-status=live }}
- Las Croabas Recreational Park
- Hipolito Robles Sports Complex
- Icacos, Palomino and Palominito Cays (islets)
Economy
=Industry=
Electrical components, metal work, furniture manufacturing. Fajardo is also home to pharmaceutical and bio-sciences companies.
Due to its rich ports and closeness to smaller islands, Fajardo is also known for its fishing industries.
Culture
=Festivals and events=
File:Fountain in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.jpg
Fajardo celebrates its patron saint festival in July. The {{lang|es|Fiestas Patronales de Santiago Apostol}} is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.{{cite web | title=Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico | website=Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores | url=https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades | language=es | access-date=2020-07-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226163727/https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades | archive-date=2020-02-26 | url-status=live }} The festival has featured live performances by well-known artists such as Tito Nieves, Johnny Ventura and Sonora Ponceña.{{cite web |title=Fiestas Patronales y Carnaval Fajardeño 2014 |url=https://sondeaquiprnet.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/10527617_329184540572827_618748219_n.jpg |website=sondeaquiprnet |publisher=El Gobierno Municipal de Fajardo |access-date=14 August 2023 |archive-date=October 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010091921/https://sondeaquiprnet.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/10527617_329184540572827_618748219_n.jpg |url-status=live }}
Other festivals and events celebrated in Fajardo include:
- Bicycletada Fajardeña - April
- Kite Festival - April
- Kelly Cup Sailboat Regata - April
- Bomba & Plena Festival - May
- Paradise Fiesta - August
- Cocolía Festival - November
=Sports=
Fajardo Soccer Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Fajardo, Puerto Rico
The 3,800 capacity stadium was developed at a cost of $3.9M,{{cite web|url=http://www.presenciapr.com/millonaria-inversion-en-fajardo-se-abre-paso-el-soccer-en-la-metropolis-del-este/|title=Millonaria inversión en Fajardo: Se abre paso el soccer en la Metrópolis del Este {{!}} Periódico Presencia|website=www.presenciapr.com|date=16 December 2015|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315010941/http://www.presenciapr.com/millonaria-inversion-en-fajardo-se-abre-paso-el-soccer-en-la-metropolis-del-este/|archive-date=2018-03-15|url-status=live}} and opened December 12, 2015 and is home venue of Puerto Rico Sol.
Fajardo in the past was home to a National Superior Basketball; Baloncesto Superior Nacional BSN basketball team, the Fajardo Cariduros or as they are known in the Island Cariduros de Fajardo. George Torres, Mario Morales and Mario Butler were three of the most famous players to play for that franchise.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
In 2007, the team returned once again to the BSN. The team known as the "Titanes de Morovis" was moved to Fajardo, and was renamed "Cariduros de Fajardo". Unlike the NBA and other sports leagues in the United States, Puerto Rican franchises rarely leave the original name of the franchise when they move to a different city.
Once, there was a basketball team for the Puerto Rican Basketball League known as the "Conquistadores de Fajardo".
Fajardo also has a AA Amateur Baseball Team Los Cariduros de Fajardo and have won over 10 sectional championships, 3 time national runners-up in 1974, 2003 and 2005, and 3 times national champions in 1954, 2004 and 2010.
Demographics
{{US Census population
| 1900= 16782
| 1910= 21135
| 1920= 14302
| 1930= 16321
| 1940= 20405
| 1950= 22116
| 1960= 18321
| 1970= 23032
| 1980= 32087
| 1990= 36882
| 2000= 40712
| 2010= 36993
|estyear=
|estimate=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2016/PEPANNRES/0500000US72005|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}
1899 (shown as 1900){{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/reportoncensusof00unitiala#page/n245/mode/2up|title=Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899|publisher=War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716033905/https://archive.org/stream/reportoncensusof00unitiala#page/n245/mode/2up|archive-date=July 16, 2017|url-status=live}} 1910-1930{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00476569ch4.pdf|title=Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817181600/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00476569ch4.pdf|archive-date=August 17, 2017|url-status=live}}
1930-1950{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch12.pdf|title=Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830033735/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch12.pdf|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live}} 1960-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-3-53-eng.pdf|title=Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724061852/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-3-53-eng.pdf|archive-date=July 24, 2017|url-status=live}} 2010{{cite book|title=Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf|url=https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf|year=2010|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2018-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220183043/https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf|archive-date=2017-02-20|url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;" | ||
| colspan=3|Ethnicity - Fajardo, Puerto Rico - 2010 Census{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP3&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212211647/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP3&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |title=Ethnicity 2010 census |access-date=2011-11-10 }} | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity
! Population ! % of Total | ||
| European | 23,964 | 64.8% |
| African | 6,864 | 18.6% |
| Native American and Alaska Native | 258 | 0.7% |
| Asian | 73 | 0.3% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.0% |
| Some other ethnicity | 3,822 | 10.3% |
| Two or more ethnicities | 1,986 | 5.4% |
As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 13.76% of the population. [https://apps.mla.org/cgi-shl/docstudio/docs.pl?map_data_results MLA Data Center Results for Fajardo, Puerto Rico] Modern Language Association. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
Government
{{main|Mayoralty in Puerto Rico}}
All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Fajardo is José Aníbal "Joey" Meléndez Méndez, of the New Progressive Party (PNP). On February 19, 2020, he took over for his father Aníbal Meléndez Rivera, who resigned after 31 years as mayor, citing health concerns. Meéndez Méndez was first elected in his own right at the 2020 general elections.
The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VIII, which is represented by two Senators. In 2024, Marissa Jiménez and Héctor Joaquín Sánchez Álvarez were elected as District Senators.[https://elecciones2024.ceepur.org/Escrutinio_General_121/index.html#es/default/SENADORES_POR_DISTRITO_Carolina_VIII.xml Elecciones Generales 2024: Escrutinio General] {{webarchive|url=https://elecciones2024.ceepur.org/Escrutinio_General_121/index.html#es/default/SENADORES_POR_DISTRITO_Carolina_VIII.xml |date=2024-12-30 }} on CEEPUR
Transportation
File:PR-971 Puente entre Fajardo y Ceiba en Puerto Rico.jpg]]
Diego Jiménez Torres Airport was Fajardo's airport and handled commercial airline flights to the city, but it was permanently closed in 2015.
Symbols
The {{lang|es|municipio}} has an official flag and coat of arms.{{cite web | title=Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios. | website=LexJuris de Puerto Rico | url=https://www.lexjuris.com/LEXLEX/Leyes2006/lexl2006070.htm | language=es | access-date=2021-06-15 | archive-date=January 20, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120152958/http://www.lexjuris.com/LEXLEX/Leyes2006/lexl2006070.htm | url-status=live }}
=Flag=
Fajardo's flag is a tricolor triband. The upper band is gules (red), symbolizing the color of the shield's border. Silver (white), the center band, stands for the color of the main pieces that appear in the shield and the crown. Azure (blue), the lower band, represents the color of the sky and the sea of Fajardo. Centered is the coat of arms of the village (villa) in natural colors.{{cite web | title=FAJARDO | website=LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico | date=19 February 2020 | url=http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/FAJARDO.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219000430/http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/FAJARDO.html | archive-date=19 February 2020 | url-status=live | language=es | access-date=17 September 2020}}
=Coat of arms=
Notable Fajardeños
{{See also|Category:People from Fajardo, Puerto Rico}}
- Félix "Tito" Trinidad - Boxer
- File:Calle Hermanos Avila Fajardo, Puerto Rico.jpgHermanos Ávila Esperanza - Military (Andrés; Pedro; Norberto; Justino; Guillermo y Tomás) - A street in Fajardo (Parcelas Beltrán) and Culebra (PR-251) is named after the Ávila Brothers. These six soldiers were honored for their exceptional work in the Korean and Vietnam wars and for returning home to Puerto Rico alive.
- Roberto Angleró - Music composer and singer
- Carlos Arroyo - Basketball Player
- Antonio R. Barceló - Politician & The First President of the Puerto Rico Senate.
- Eugenio S. Belaval - Legislator
- General Antonio Valero de Bernabé - Fought with Simón Bolívar.
- Norma Candal - Comedian
- Ivonne Coll - Actress
- Héctor Cotto - Athlete
- Emilio Belaval Maldonado - Served as Associate Justice for the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.
- John John Molina - Boxer
- Pedro Rosa Nales - TV reporter
- Dr. Antonia Coello de Novelo - Former Surgeon General of the United States.
- Josefina Barceló Bird de Romero - Politician
- Marquita Rivera - first actress from Puerto Rico to appear in a major Hollywood motion picture.
- Peter John Ramos - Basketball Player
- Carlos Rivera - Professional Baseball Player
- José Pérez - Actor
- Ashley Cariño - Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2022
Gallery
Condos on Isleta Marina, a private island of Fajardo, Puerto Rico.jpg|Condos on Isleta Marina, a private island of Fajardo
Paved walkway and building in Puerto Rico.jpg|Paved walkway and building in Fajardo
Beach in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.jpg|Beach in Fajardo
Funicular at El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.jpg|Funicular at El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo
Pier at Cabezas, Fajardo, Puerto Rico.jpg|Pier at Cabezas
Fajardo Las Croabas 2.jpg|Las Croabas
See also
{{Portal|Puerto Rico|Geography}}
References
{{reflist|}}
External links
- [http://www.biobayfajardo.com Biobay Fajardo]
- [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/prvi/ Historic Places in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary]
{{Adjacent communities
|Centre = Fajardo
|North = Atlantic Ocean
|Northeast =
|East = Vieques Passage
|Southeast =
|South = Ceiba
|Southwest =
|West = Luquillo
|Northwest =
}}
{{Porta Antillas}}
{{Puerto Rico subdivisions}}
{{Subject bar|auto=y|s=1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Fajardo|d=y}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Municipalities of Puerto Rico