Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Nickname: "Pueblo de los Ñangotaos", "Los Maceteros" | ||||||
| Gentilic: "Vegalteños" | ||||||
| Location | ||||||
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| Government | ||||||
| Founded | 1775 | |||||
| Mayor | Isabelo "Chabelo" Molina | |||||
| Political party | PNP | |||||
| Senatorial district | 3 - Arecibo | |||||
| Representative district | 11,12 | |||||
| Geographical characteristics | ||||||
| Area | ||||||
| Total | 71.87 km² km² | |||||
| Population | ||||||
| Total (2000) | 37,910 habitants | |||||
| Density | {{{population_density}}}/km² | |||||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | |||||
| Anthem – "En la costa norte de mi islita" | ||||||
Vega Alta (VAI-gah AHL-tah) is a municipality of Puerto Rico. Vega Alta is located in the northern coast of the island, north of Morovis and Corozal; east of Vega Baja; and west of Dorado with an area of 28 square miles. Vega Alta is spread over 7 wards and Vega Alta Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
Vega Alta is west of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. It is the home of the Hyatt Regency Cerromar, although many consider it part of the neighboring city of Dorado. Vega Alta is the home town of New York Yankees All Star Bernie Williams. Vega Alta is also known for its beautiful beach of Cerro Gordo, one of the most visited beaches in Puerto Rico. Another point of interest is the town's Catholic church, known as Inmaculada Concepcion. The church was founded in 1813. For naturalists and hikers, the Vega Alta Forest offers plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs. In fact, the Vega Alta Forest is the first forest reserve you will encounter as you travel west from San Juan.
During the first week of December, Vega Alta celebrates its patron, The Immaculate Conception
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[edit] History
Vega Alta was founded in 1775 by Francisco de los Olivos it was first named La Vega de Espinoza and known as el pueblo de los Nagotaos (the squaters, in reference to the "jibaros" country folk who would squat due to lack of benches in the plaza). Prior to this it was part of a group of towns known as "Las Vegas". It was then that one area was named Vega Baja and the other Vega Alta.
On October 12, 1898 the city's mayor Francisco Vega, received U.S. troops as part of the Spanish-American War. On that very same day, for the first time in Vega Alta's history, the U.S. flag was lifted on city hall. From 1902 to 1905, Vega Alta became once more part of the neighbor city of Vega Baja. In 1905, the government of Puerto Rico passed a law, allowing Vega Alta to become a municipality with its own limits.
Land Area: 71.87 km² (27.75 sq mi) Water Area: 25.28 km² (9.76 sq mi) Population: 37,910 as of 2000 U.S. Census Density: 527.5 per km² (1,366.1 per sq mi) Housing Units: 13,526 Housing Density: 188.2 per km² Per Capita Income: $7,356
[edit] Flag
It is divided vertically in seven (7) stripes in the order, colors and proportions as described: the first (the immediate one to the mast) white (5 modules); second: green (5 modules); third: white (9 modules); sixth: green, (5 modules); and seventh: white (5 modules).
[edit] Code of Arms
It consists of three bars, the center one formed by a silver amphora from which a branch of lilies excels; it symbolizes the Inmaculada Concepción de María. The crown, indicates category of town, because it has three towers. In the shield we see two sugar cane stems, because this was product cultivated in that region.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)
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[edit] Geo/Topography
Rivers; Cibuco, Mavilla and Unibón.
[edit] Anthem
By Domingo Figueroa Ramírez
En la costa norte de mi islita
hay un pueblo de la mano de Dios,
tierra hermosa Vega Alta de Espinosa
erigida con esfuerzo y con honor.
Simbolizan su escudo y su bandera,
nube y cielo Inmaculada Concepción,
caña esmeralda fuente de subsistencia,
ramos de olivos a nuestro fundador.
Tierra firme que ha sabido dar
pan de vida y de poder,
aprendimos a esperar con bondad,
la llegada de cada amanecer.
Chimenea de la Carmen, legendaria
Río Cibuco, Cerro Gordo y el verdor,
es un orgullo haber nacido en este lar
a Vega Alta por siempre yo amaré.
[edit] Economic
[edit] Past and present Mayors
- Tedoro Ramirez
- Antonio Nava Rumoros
- Emilio Escalera
- Arturo Rivera
- Ramon Cestero
- Emilio Davila Diaz
- Jose Vega Nevarez
- Francisco Chinea
- Carmelo Mercado/RIP
- Jose Rosado Negron/Mayor from 1977 to 1980 b. 1934 d. 1999 RIP
- Manuel (Manolin) Chinea/Mayor from 1980 to 1992
- Isabelo Molina/Mayor from 1993 to 2000
- Juan Cruzado(Mane)/Mayor from 2000 to 2002 Convicted to jail, replaced by Jose Colon.
- Isabelo (Chabelo) Molina/Mayor 2004 Present
[edit] Senators
- Hon. Jose E. Gonzalez/PPD
- Hon. Pedro Rossello/PNP
[edit] House Representatives
- Hon. Javier Garcia Pagan/PPD
- Hon. Hector Torres/PNP
[edit] Agriculture
- Banana, fruits, grains and sugar cane.
- Flowers and ornamental plants.
- Dairy and meat cattle, pigs and poultry.
[edit] Business
- [The Gallery at Gran Caribe]
- Cooperativa de Ahoro y Credito [Vega Coop]
- General Electric
- Margo Caribe, Inc
[edit] Industrial
- Maufacture of chemicals, electrical and electronic machinery, furniture, food, and plastics.
[edit] Tourism
- Cerro Gordo Beach
- Hyatt Regency Cerromar
[edit] Landmarks and places of interest
- Cerro Gordo Beach
- Vega Alta Forest
- The Gallery at Gran Caribe
- Bosque de Vega- Forest of Vega
- Hyatt Regency Cerromar
[edit] Festivals and events
- Three Kings Fiestas - January
- Sung Rosary - February
- Vegalteño Carnival - February
- Kite Festival - July
- Virgen del Carmen Walk - July
- Rooster Festival - October
- Matron Festivities - December
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Education
[edit] Public Schools
- Antonio Paoli/Elementary
- Elemental Urbana/Elementary
- Elisa Davila Vazquez/Elementary
- Ignacio Miranda/Elementary
- Jose D. Rosado/Elementary
- Jose M. Pagan/Elementary
- Rafael Hernadez/Elementary
- Apolo San Antonio/Middle School
- Nueva Escuela Brenas/Middle School, Second Unit
- Adelaida Vega/Middle School, Second Unit
- Ileana Garcia/High School
- Ladislao Martinez (Maestro Ladi)/High School
[edit] Private Schools
- Disipulos de Cristo(Disciples of Christ)/Elemenatry and Middle School
- Colegio de la Vega
[edit] Sports
Vega Alta Maceteros (Double AA Baseball Team) Vega Alta is known for having amateur ball players as well as professional. Basketball is play in local communities. Other sports practice include, Tennis, Volleyball, Handball, cock fight among others.
[edit] Notable "Vegalteños"
- Bernie Williams
- Molina Brothers; Yadier Molina, Bengie Molina, and Jose Molina (All three major league baseball catchers)
- Jorge Seijo/ Radio an T.V. Personality
- Juan Marín - NecroNinja leader and gunsmith.
- Gilberto Concepción de Gracia-Co Founder of the Puerto rican Independence Party/PIP
- Domingo Figueroa Ramírez
- Benjamin Negron/Teacher-Historian
- Julio Axel Landron/Actor, Afro-Caribbean poet
- Ender Vega/T.V. producer, artist manager. Producer of Objetivo Fama. Former manager of Fiel a la Vega
- Jonathan Collazo/Tennis Instructor. Has worked with Gigi Fernandez and runs a tennis acdemy in Tampa, Florida.
- Ramona Auger/Well respected teacher, known as the first in Vega Alta to become an American Citizen.
- Jedan Figueroa/Tae Kwon Do Master
- Milagros Rivera Grossman/Public Server who helped many Vegalteños while she worked for City Hall
- Nuris Vega/Business woman and widow of Mayor Jose Rosado Negron
- Tito Auger - Lead singer, guitarist of rock band Fiel A La Vega.
- Ricky Laureano - Lead guitarist Fiel A La Vega.
- Junito- Once a kid with learning disabilities and some impairment, Junito became a beloved citizen who became a street vendor.
- Wanda Rovira- Actress and model
- Rita Maldonado de Bear- Professor at the New York University's Sterm and Stanford University in California.
- Gilberto Ramírez- Elected to New York State Legislature, Supreme Court Judge, New York City
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] Books about Vega Alta
[edit] Additional Information
[edit] Photo gallery
[edit] External links
