Cidra
Municipio Autónomo de Cidra
Town and Municipality
Flag of Cidra
Flag
Coat of arms of Cidra
Coat of arms
Nicknames: 
"La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera" (City of Eternal Spring), "El Pueblo de la Paloma Sabanera"
Anthem: "Del corazón de Puerto Rico nació Cidra"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Cidra Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Cidra Municipality
Coordinates: 18°10′33″N 66°09′41″W / 18.17583°N 66.16139°W / 18.17583; -66.16139
Sovereign state United States
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
Founded1809
Barrios
14 barrios
Government
 • MayorÁngel David Concepción González
 • Senatorial dist.6 - Guayama
 • Representative dist.29 
Area
 • Total36.46 sq mi (94.42 km2)
 • Land36 sq mi (94 km2)
 • Water0.16 sq mi (.42 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total39,970
 • Rank22nd in Puerto Rico
 • Density1,100/sq mi (420/km2)
DemonymCidreños
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00739
Area code787/939
Major routes
GNIS feature ID1610092[2]

Cidra (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsiðɾa]) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region of the island, north of Cayey; south of Comerío and Aguas Buenas; east of Aibonito and Barranquitas; and west of Caguas. Cidra is spread over 12 barrios and Cidra Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Cidra is known as "El Pueblo de la Eterna Primavera" ("Town of the Eternal Spring") and "El Pueblo de la Paloma Sabanera" ("Town of the Plain Pigeon").

History

The region of what is now Cidra belonged to the Taíno region of Cubuy, which covered a portion of the center of Puerto Rico.[3] The region was led by cacique Caguax.

There are not many records that show that the region was populated after the Spanish colonization. However, it is believed that around 1795, a Catalan named Frujols built a hermitage or shrine around which a small village settled. The settlement became a ward of Cayey, until 1807 when the residents gave the power to Victoriano de Rivera to ask the Governor for permission to found an independent town. In 1809, a landowner known as Bibiana Vázquez donated the land needed for the foundation, and Governor Salvador Meléndez approved the petition. Victoriano de Rivera was appointed to lead the town, but he was quickly replaced by Wenceslao Vázquez due to illness.[4]

At the time of its foundation, Cidra had 26 houses and 11 huts. It is believed that its name is derived from the citron fruit which was widely cultivated in the region.[5][6] During the years following its foundation, a church and city hall were built. By 1822, there were already two public schools in town. Two years later, a road communicating the town with Caguas was opened. In 1868, the population of Cidra was more than 5,000 residents, which included European immigrants and slaves.

Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Cidra was 7,552.[7]

In 1902, the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico approved a law for the consolidation of certain municipalities. As a result, Cidra was again incorporated to the town of Cayey. However, in 1905 a new law revoked the previous one, turning Cidra into an independent municipality again.[8]

Hurricane Maria

Much of Cidra suffered landslides
Downed power line in Cidra after Hurricane Maria

A category 5, and high-end category 4 Hurricane Maria when it hit Puerto Rico, on September 20, 2017 triggered numerous landslides in Cidra. A week before Hurricane Irma, another category 5 had passed over Puerto Rico causing some damage. With Hurricane María, some areas of Cidra experienced more than 25 landslides per kilometer.[9][10] Citizens, with machetes in hand, worked to clear the roadways of debri after the hurricane hit, especially in Rabanal, Arena and Ceiba, barrios of Cidra located at high altitudes. 1500 homes were left without a roof and many would never receive funds for repairs. One local (analog) radio antenna survived the catastrophe allowing for some communication within the town to take place. Before the hurricane there had been plans to eliminate the radio tower, but when 92.7% of Puerto Rico's towers were destroyed by the hurricane, plans to eliminate the analog radio tower were scrapped. Puerto Rico Highway 172, the main highway into Cidra from the San Juan area had to remain closed for repairs for five months. It was not until six months after the hurricane struck that power was restored to Cidra.[11][12]

Geography

Cidra is located at the top of a hill in the eastern part of the Cordillera Central. It is bordered by the municipalities of Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cayey, Aibonito, and Comerío. Cidra is a small municipality, covering only 36.1 square miles (94 km2).[13][14]

Water features

Lago de Cidra

Cidra's hydrographic system consists mainly of Lago de Cidra reservoir, located in the municipality. The reservoir, which was built in 1946, provides water to several areas in the island.[15] There are also several rivers and creeks that cross the town like Arroyata, Bayamón, and Río de la Plata.

Fauna

The town is known for being the nesting place of the paloma sabanera (a subspecies of the plains pigeon). The bird, which is at risk of extinction, is currently found mostly in the municipality of Cidra and other nearby municipalities.[16] In addition, there is various species of fish residing in the Lago de Cidra, as well as iguanas which have been introduced into the surrounding the area and are now considered an invasive species.

Barrios

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Cidra is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a small barrio referred to as "el pueblo", near the center of the municipality.[17][18][19][20]

  1. Arenas
  2. Bayamón
  3. Beatriz
  4. Ceiba
  5. Certenejas
  6. Cidra barrio-pueblo
  7. Honduras
  8. Monte Llano
  9. Rabanal
  10. Rincón
  11. Río Abajo
  12. Salto
  13. Sud
  14. Toíta

Sectors

Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)[21] are further subdivided into smaller areas called sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.[22]

Special Communities

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 Cidra: Barriada Ferrer, Candela, Comunidad San José (Laberinto), La Línea, La Milagrosa, Río Abajo, and Santa Teresita.[23]

Places of interest

Although Cidra is not known as a tourist main stop, it has some attractions. The town center features historic places like the Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen church[24] and the Iberia Theater, both built during the first half of the 20th century.

On the outskirts of the town, there is Lake Cidra and Perico's Waterfalls. Frog's Rock and Hamacas Bridge are also landmarks visited by tourists.[5]

The renovation of el Parque del Niño (children's park), which includes water features and a skatepark was completed in 2019.[25]

To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Cidra page lists Destilería Club Caribe, Mirador del Lago de Cidra, and Parque del Niño, as places of interest.[26]

Economy

The economy of Cidra has relied mostly on agriculture, particularly coffee, tobacco, and minor fruits. Cattle ranching is also a source of economy in the town. In recent years, pharmaceutical and clothing industries have become participants of the economy of Cidra.[13][27]

Culture

Festivals and events

Cidra celebrates its patron saint festival in July. The Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Sra. del Carmen is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[14]

A number of cultural events take place during the year, most prominently:[28]

Religion

There are a number of churches and chapels from several denominations in Cidra. The main Catholic parish, Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen, was established in 1813.[32] The original structure was destroyed by earthquakes in the 1860s, but completely rebuilt by 1952.[5] Cidra's patron saint is the Virgin Mary. Its festivities are held each July.

Also in front of the town square is the First Baptist Church, which was established by missionary Edgar Humphrey in 1903. The original wood structure was destroyed in 1928 by San Felipe Hurricane, but rebuilt in concrete, wood, and zinc.[5]

Sports

Cidra doesn't have a professional sports team, however, they have a successful amateur team, Bravos de Cidra, that participate in the Puerto Rican Amateur Baseball Federation.[33][34] The Bravos team has won nine championships, and as of 2014, are en route to win their third consecutive one.[35] The main baseball facility is the Jesús María Freire Stadium, where the Bravos play.

Cidra is also the birthplace of several important figures in the Puerto Rican sports scene. Some of them are former MLB players Luis Rivera and Luis López, as well as former coach of the Puerto Rico men's national basketball team Flor Meléndez. Boxer José Pedraza was also born in Cidra.

Notable Cidreños

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19007,552—
191010,59540.3%
192014,78939.6%
193019,66233.0%
194020,3923.7%
195020,4910.5%
196021,8916.8%
197023,8929.1%
198028,36518.7%
199035,60125.5%
200042,75320.1%
201043,4801.7%
202039,970−8.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[41]
1899 (shown as 1900)[42] 1910-1930[43]
1930-1950[44] 1960-2000[45] 2010[19] 2020[46]

The population of Cidra increased steadily during the 20th Century. Since 1899, the population has risen more than 200%. According to the 2010 census, the municipality had 43,480 inhabitants.[47] The 2020 census shows a decline in population to 39,970.[48]

According to the 2010 Census, 77% of the population identifies themselves as White, and 8.3% as African-American. Also, 48.9% of the population identified themselves as males, and 51.1% as females. Finally, 25% of the population is under 18 years old. The next biggest percentage of population (20.7%) is between 35 and 49 years old.[49]

Government

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. In the November 2019 elections, Angel David Concepción González[50] succeeded over the incumbent, Javier Carrasquillo, of the New Progressive Party (PNP) as mayor. He succeeded Angel L. Malavé Zayas in 2012, after Malavé was accused of lewd conduct in 2011. Malavé had served as mayor since being elected at the 1988 general elections.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Miguel Pereira Castillo and Angel M. Rodríguez were elected as District Senators.[51]

Symbols

The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[52] The coat of arms, flag and seal of Cidra were designed by J.J. Santa Pinter and approved on September 25, 1975 by Cidra.[53]

Flag and coat of arms

Flag of Cidra

The flag of Cidra features one brown vertical stripe on the left side, with a width of about one-third the length of the flag. It also features two equal-sized horizontal stripes to the right side of the brown one. The above stripe is green, while the lower one is yellow, or golden. The golden color symbolizes the richness of the fruits and its hydrography, as well as the spiritual wealth of the region. The green symbolizes the green landscape that can be seen in Cidra throughout the year, which is also the reason why the town is called the "Town of the Eternal Spring". The brown symbolizes the Virgin, patron saint of the town, and also the Paloma sabanera that is widely seen in the area.[8]

Some versions of the flag also feature the coat of arms on the left hand side, over the intersection of the three stripes. The coat of arms was approved in the 1970s by the Municipal Assembly. It features a red band crossing the shield diagonally, from left to right. Over the red band lies a golden citrus, which is believed to be one of the reasons for the town's name, and a cornucopia of fruits, which alludes to Cidra's role as one of the major producers of fruits of the island. The upper field is either white or silver, and features two symbols: a black scapular representing the Virgin, and a black bishop hat referencing San Juan Nepomuceno, bishop and martyr. The lower field is mostly blue and features a brown pigeon flying over a mountain range, representing the location of the town in the Central Mountain Range, and a set of silver water waves. The whole seal is capped by a three-tower crown, which is usually seen in municipal seals in the island.[13][53]

Nicknames

Paloma sabanera

Cidra is known mostly by two names. It is known as the "Town of the Eternal Spring" for its cool temperatures. It is also known as the "Town of the Plain Pigeon" because of the abundance of that bird in the town.[13]

Education

There are around 15 public schools in Cidra. As with all other municipalities, education is handled by the Puerto Rico Department of Education.

Elementary school

  • Ceiba Nueva - Ceiba
  • Luis Muñoz Rivera - Cidra
  • Escuela Regino Vega Martínez - (Anterior: Escuela Nueva Santa Clara, Escuela Nueva de Arenas)
  • Violeta Reyes (PreK-8) - Río Abajo

Junior high school

  • Jesús T. Piñero (7-8) - Cidra

Mixed (elementary/junior high)

  • Clemencia Meléndez Santos - Rabanal
  • Certenejas (I & II) - Certenejas
  • Juan D. Stubbe - Bayamón

High school

  • Ana J. Candelas - Sud
  • Luis Muñoz Iglesias - Cidra
  • Vocacional Ruth Evelyn Cruz - Sud

Transportation

The main road to Cidra is Road 172, which branches out from the Puerto Rico Highway 52. Its distance from the capital is approximately 40 minutes.[13] Other roads that lead to the town are #787 and #173.

There are 19 bridges in Cidra.[54]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Guayanilla – Populated Place". Geographic Names Information System. USGS. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Gobierno Tribal del Pueblo Jatibonicu Taíno de Puerto Rico". Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Cidra: Fundación e historia". Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Municipio de Cidra" (PDF). University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Cidra: Origen e historia". Sn de aquí. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  7. ↑ Joseph Prentiss Sanger; Henry Gannett; Walter Francis Willcox (1900). Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office (in Spanish). Imprenta del gobierno. p. 163.
  8. 1 2 "Historia de Cidra". Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico". USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico" (PDF). USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Los vecinos de Cidra, la primera línea de respuesta ante la emergencia – El Nuevo Día". Los vecinos de Cidra, la primera línea de respuesta ante la emergencia – El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  12. ↑ "María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. Los vientos de María dejan en silencio a Cidra" [Maria, a name we will never forget. Marías' winds silence Cidra]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cidra... El Pueblo de la Eterna Primavera". SalonHogar. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Cidra Municipality". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  15. ↑ Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. "Lagos y Embalses de Puerto Rico". Proyecto Salón Hogar. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Paloma Sabanera" (PDF). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  17. ↑ Picó, Rafael; Buitrago de Santiago, Zayda; Berrios, Hector H. Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  18. ↑ Gwillim Law (May 20, 2015). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4766-0447-3. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  19. 1 2 Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Map of Cidra at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  21. ↑ "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  22. ↑ "DESGLOSE DE SECTORES Y CENTROS DE VOTACIÓN PRECINTO ELECTORAL - CIDRA 076" (PDF). Comisión Estatal de Elecciones Puerto Rico (in Spanish). July 20, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  23. ↑ Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (1st ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, p. 273, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  24. ↑ Mari Mut, José A. (August 28, 2013). Los Pueblos de Puerto Rico y Las Iglesias de Sus Plazas [The Pueblos of Puerto Rico, and the Churches of its Plazas] (PDF) (in Spanish).
  25. ↑ "Reanudará operaciones el Parque del Niño en Cidra". Primera Hora. October 10, 2019. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  26. ↑ Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando (in Spanish). Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico. 2021.
  27. ↑ "Cidra: Pueblo de la Eterna Primavera". Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Trujillo Alto: Events". Encyclopedia Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Cidra, the City of Eternal Spring". PuertoRico.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  30. ↑ Ramos, Oly (December 6, 2011). "Cidra: Exitoso el Festival de la Paloma Sabanera". La Cordillera. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Festival de la Paloma Sabanera en Cidra 2019". MiAgendaPR.com.
  32. ↑ "Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen: Nuestra Historia". Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Liga Beisbol Superior: Franquicias". Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  34. ↑ "El Béisbol Recuerda A Héctor Ferrer". Isla News PR (in Spanish). November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  35. ↑ Sara del Valle (February 12, 2014). "Los Bravos de Cidra buscan tercera corona". El Nuevo Día. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  36. ↑ Nuñez, Victoria (2009). "Remembering Pura Belpré's Early Career at the 135th Street New York Public Library: Interracial Cooperation and Puerto Rican Settlement During the Harlem Renaisance (sic)". Centro Journal. The City University of New York. XXI (1): 58. ISSN 1538-6279.
  37. ↑ "Felito Félix regresa al escenario". El Nuevo Día. October 22, 2014. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  38. ↑ Staff. "Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Post". www.linkedin.com. Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  39. ↑ Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer. "Honoring the Life of Lieutenant Vazquez". www.congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  40. ↑ "ALVA Commemorates Women Veterans Appreciation Day". www.alvavets.org. Herndon, Virginia: 2021 ALVA. All Rights Reserved. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  41. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899". War Department, Office Director Census of Porto Rico. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  43. ↑ "Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930, 1920, and 1910" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities, Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  46. ↑ Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  47. ↑ "Población total por municipios, Puerto Rico: 1899-2010" (PDF). University of Puerto Rico. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing, 2000 [United States]: Summary File 4, Puerto Rico". ICPSR Data Holdings. April 28, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  49. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: Cidra, Puerto Rico". US Census 2010. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  50. ↑ Caraballo, Harry Rodríguez (November 4, 2020). "Profesor universitario se perfila como el nuevo alcalde de Cidra". Metro (in Spanish). Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  51. ↑ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Archived December 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine on CEEPUR
  52. ↑ "Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios". LexJuris de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  53. 1 2 "CIDRA". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Cidra Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
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