Luquillo, Puerto Rico
{{short description|Town and municipality in Puerto Rico}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Luquillo
| official_name =
| native_name = {{lang|es|Municipio de Luquillo}}
| native_name_lang = es
| settlement_type = Town and Municipality
| image_skyline = Puerto Rico north shore.jpg
| image_alt = High rise buildings in Luquillo.
| image_caption = High rise buildings in Luquillo.
| image_flag = Bandera de Luquillo.svg
| flag_alt =
| image_shield = Escudo de Luquillo.svg
| shield_alt =
| nicknames = "Capital del Sol", "La Riviera de Puerto Rico", "Los Come Cocos"
| anthem = "Junto a las costas del mar Atlántico"
| image_map = Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Luquillo.svg
| mapsize = 300px
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Luquillo Municipality
| coordinates = {{coord|18|22|21|N|65|43|00|W|type:city_region:US-PR_source:GNIS-enwiki|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 = 1719
| established_title1 = Founded
| established_date1 = October 26, 1797
| founder =
| parts_type = Barrios
| parts = 6 barrios
| p1 = Juan Martín
| p2 = Luquillo barrio-pueblo
| p3 = Mameyes I
| p4 = Mata de Plátano
| p5 = Pitahaya
| p6 = Sabana
| seat_type =
| seat =
| government_footnotes =
| leader_party = PPD
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Jesús Márquez Rodríguez
| leader_title1 = Senatorial dist.
| leader_name1 = 8 - Carolina
| leader_title2 = Representative dist.
| leader_name2 = 36
| area_footnotes =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 88.73
| area_land_km2 = 68
| area_water_km2 = 20.73
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 17,781
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Luquillenses or Luquillanos
| population_note =
| timezone1 = AST
| utc_offset1 = −4
| postal_code_type = ZIP Code
| postal_code = 00773
| area_code = 787/939
| blank_name_sec1 = Major routes
| blank_info_sec1 = File:PR primary 3.svg File:Ellipse sign 193.svg
| website =
| population_rank = 64th in Puerto Rico
}}
Luquillo ({{IPA|es|luˈkiʎo}}) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northeast coast, northwest of Fajardo; and east of Rio Grande. Luquillo is spread over 5 barrios and Luquillo Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It lends its name to the Sierra de Luquillo, where El Yunque National Forest is located. It is part of the Fajardo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The city of Luquillo is 26 square miles and it sits on 12 miles of Atlantic coastline. It is nestled between the blue waters of the Atlantic and the El Yunque National Forest, a rainforest, giving it a diverse and unique ecology. Luquillo marks the beginning of the Northeast Ecological Corridor Nature Reserve which runs down the coast from downtown Luquillo all the way down to the Seven Seas Beach in Fajardo. During certain times of the year, it is not unusual to encounter rare or endangered species of fauna (like the leatherback turtle) while visiting in Luquillo.{{Cite web |url=http://www.luquillopr.com/ |title=Luquillo PR 2015: Everything You Need To Know About Luquillo |access-date=2018-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019121823/http://luquillopr.com/ |archive-date=2018-10-19 |url-status=live }}
History
Luquillo was founded in 1797 and is known as "La Capital del Sol" (Capital of the Sun), "La Riviera de Puerto Rico" (the Puerto Rican Riviera), and "Los Come Cocos" (the coconut eaters). Legend says that the town was named after the Indian cacique Loquillo, who died a few years after the last Indian rebellion in 1513. However, the word Luquillo most likely originates from Yukiyu, the Taino name for El Yunque, most likely meaning "white mountain" (i.e. foggy mountain).In 1989, Hurricane Hugo damaged the town.
On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Luquillo, rivers were breached, there were landslides, the electrical power collapsed, and 1100 homes were destroyed or damaged. Incidents of looting and assaults were reported in the aftermath of the storm.{{cite news | title=María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. En penumbra la "Capital del Sol"| trans-title=Maria, a name we will never forget. In darkness the "Capital of the Sun"|newspaper=El Nuevo Día| date=2019-06-13 | url=https://huracanmaria.elnuevodia.com/2017/municipio/luquillo/| language=es | access-date=2022-09-11}}{{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 }}
Geography
Luquillo is located on the northeast coast.{{cite web|url=https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/luquillo-municipality/|title=Luquillo Municipality|publisher=Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH)|website=enciclopediapr.org|access-date=2019-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502054715/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/luquillo-municipality/|archive-date=2019-05-02|url-status=live}}
=Barrios=
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Luquillo 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. |url=https://archive.org/details/nuevageografad00pic/page/247 |publisher=San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969 |access-date=2018-12-31 |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/luquillo.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324204920/http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/luquillo.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-03-24 |title=Map of Luquillo at the Wayback Machine|access-date=2018-12-29 }}
{{div col}}
- Juan Martín
- Luquillo 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 }}
- Mameyes I has a Playa Fortuna Community
- Mata de Plátano has a Playa Fortuna Community
- Pitahaya
- Sabana
{{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 (2010 Census): Luquillo Municipio, PR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72089_luquillo/PL10VTD_C72089_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/20200823014208/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72089_luquillo/PL10VTD_C72089_001.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-date=28 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628234856/http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm|url-status=live}}{{Citation | author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia | title=El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 | 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-date=14 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914224408/http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm|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 Luquillo: Barrio Pitahaya, Sector Santo Domingo, Mata de Plátano, Río Chiquito, and Sector Fortuna Playa.{{Citation|author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia|title=El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004|publication-date=2014| publisher=San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón| edition=1st|page=273|isbn=978-0-9820806-1-0}}{{cite web|url=https://cpprbib.wordpress.com/biblioteca-virtual/guias-tematicas/comunidades-especiales/comunidades-especiales-de-puerto-rico/|title=Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico|date=8 August 2011|language=es|access-date=24 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624004414/https://cpprbib.wordpress.com/biblioteca-virtual/guias-tematicas/comunidades-especiales/comunidades-especiales-de-puerto-rico/|archive-date=24 June 2019|url-status=live}}
Tourism
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2025}}
File:Beach in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.jpg
There are 14 beaches in Luquillo including {{lang|es|La Pared}}.{{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}} {{lang|es|La Pared}}, which translates to "The Wall", is considered a dangerous beach.{{cite web | title=Conoce las 11 playas más peligrosas de Puerto Rico [Know the 11 most dangerous beaches in Puerto Rico]| website=El Nuevo Día | date=2018-07-04 | url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/fotogalerias/conoce-las-11-playas-mas-peligrosas-de-puerto-rico/ | language=es | access-date=2021-05-13}} The coastal highway going east from San Juan, leads to Luquillo Beach, officially known as La Monserrate Beach (Balneario de la Monserrate). It spans a mile and contains a large plantation of coconut palms. It is equipped with various facilities, including a cafeteria and showers.
=Landmarks and places of interest=
File:Buildings on the coast of Luquillo, Puerto Rico.jpg
- Chief Loquillo Monument
- La Fortuna Hacienda
- La Bandera Beach
- La Monserrate Beach, also known as Luquillo Beach
- La Pared Beach
- Las Pailas Beach
- Mameyes Beach
- Ocean View Boulevard
- Fortuna Beach
- The Recreational Park
- The Kiosks at Luquillo Beach
- La Selva Reef Break
Culture
=Festivals and events=
Luquillo celebrates its patron saint festival in March. The {{lang|es|Fiestas Patronales de San Jose}} is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.{{cite web | author=J.D. | title=Luquillo | website=Link To Puerto Rico.com | date=2006-05-02 | url=http://www.proyectosalonhogar.com/link%20p.r/www.linktopr.com/Luquillo.html# | language=es | access-date=2020-07-18 | archive-date=2010-05-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504142207/http://www.proyectosalonhogar.com/Link%20P.R/www.linktopr.com/luquillo.html | url-status=live }}
Other festivals and events celebrated in Luquillo include:
- Leatherback Turtle Festival - April{{cite web | author=Admin | title=Festival del Tinglar en Luquillo 2019 | website=MiAgendaPR.com | date=2019-04-06 | url=http://www.miagendapr.com/event/festival-del-tinglar-en-luquillo-2019/ | language=es | access-date=2020-07-18 | archive-date=2020-07-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718193158/http://www.miagendapr.com/event/festival-del-tinglar-en-luquillo-2019/ | url-status=live }}
- {{lang|es|Festival de Zangueros}} - June{{cite web | title=Festival De Zanqueros De Puerto Rico 2019: Luquillo, Puerto Rico | website=Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores | date=22 June 2019 | url=https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/en/luquillo/festival-de-zanqueros-de-puerto-rico-2019 | language=es | access-date=13 June 2020 | archive-date=13 June 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613144231/https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/en/luquillo/festival-de-zanqueros-de-puerto-rico-2019 | url-status=live }}
- Coconut Festival - September
- Traditional Cooking Festival - December
Demographics
{{US Census population
| 1920= 6251
| 1930= 7799
| 1940= 8851
| 1950= 9967
| 1960= 8582
| 1970= 10390
| 1980= 14895
| 1990= 18100
| 2000= 19817
| 2010= 20068
|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://archive.today/20200213114938/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2016/PEPANNRES/0500000US72005|archive-date=February 13, 2020}}
1920-1930{{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=2018-12-31|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" | ||
colspan=3|Ethnicity - Luquillo, Puerto Rico - 2005 {{Cite web |url=http://www.topuertorico.org/pdf/2kh72.pdf |title=Ethnicity 2005 |access-date=2008-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216013103/http://www.topuertorico.org/pdf/2kh72.pdf |archive-date=2008-02-16 |url-status=live }} | ||
---|---|---|
----
! Race ! Population ! % of Total | ||
----
| White | 10,112 | 57.4% |
----
| Black/African American | 4,345 | 23.7% |
----
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 120 | 0.6% |
----
| Asian | 62 | 0.3% |
---- | 3 | 0.0% |
----
| Some other race | 2,933 | 14.8% |
----
| Two or more races | 610 | 3.1% |
Government
{{main|Mayoralty in Puerto Rico}}
Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Luquillo is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Jesús Márquez Rodríguez, who was first elected at the 2012 general election.
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:Entrada a Barrio Sabana, Luquillo, Puerto Rico.jpg
There is no public transportation in Luquillo, and residents and visitors rely on Uber or Luquillo Taxi & Tours Puerto Rico LLC Luquillo Taxi for service.
PR-3 is the main road through Luquillo. Other municipality roads include PR-983, PR-988, PR-991 and PR-940.
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}}
=Flag=
It consists of three horizontal stripes, the blue top and green bottom are double of width of the yellow central stripe. Blue makes reference to the sky and the sea; yellow represents the sand of its beaches and green represents the vegetation of the mountains. In the center stripe resides the coat of arms of the municipality superimposed and surrounded by two palm tree leaves crossed at the bottom.{{cite web | title=LUQUILLO | website=LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico | date=19 February 2020 | url=http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/LUQUILLO.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219000410/http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/LUQUILLO.html | archive-date=19 February 2020 | url-status=live | language=es | access-date=17 September 2020}}
=Coat of arms=
In a gold background a centered mountain range with three green mountains is accompanied at the bottom by a bay with blue and silver waves; the top portion of the shield in blue, has three iris branches. Above the shield resides a three tower gold crown. Surrounding the shield by its flanks are two palms trees leaves crossed at the bottom.
Gallery
Luquillo Beach in Puerto Rico.jpg|Luquillo Beach
Mountain in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.jpg|Mountain in Luquillo
Gente Disfrutando 7mo Festival Tinglar 2012.jpg|Festival in Luquillo
Luquillo Beach, Luquillo, Puerto Rico.jpg|Luquillo Beach, Luquillo
Luquillo, Puerto Rico.JPG|Aerial view of Luquillo
See also
{{Portal|Puerto Rico|Geography}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://pr.gov/Directorios//Pages/InfoMunicipio.aspx?PRIFA=M089 Puerto Rico Government Directory - Luquillo]
{{Adjacent communities
|Centre = Luquillo
|North = Atlantic Ocean
|Northeast =
|East = Fajardo
|Southeast =
|South = Ceiba
|Southwest =
|West = Río Grande
|Northwest =
}}
{{Porta Antillas}}
{{Puerto Rico subdivisions}}
{{Subject bar|auto=y|d=y}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Municipalities of Puerto Rico
Category:Populated coastal places in Puerto Rico