Town and municipality in Puerto Rico
Town and Municipality in Puerto Rico, United States
Sabana Grande
(
Spanish pronunciation:
[sa?βana
???ande]
) is a
town
and
municipality
of
Puerto Rico
located north of
Lajas
and
Guanica
; south of
Maricao
; east of
San German
; and west of
Yauco
. Sabana Grande is spread over seven barrios and
Sabana Grande Pueblo
(the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the
San German-Cabo Rojo Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
History
[
edit
]
The municipality's name comes from the extensive plain that occupies the southern part of the municipality which extends towards the west to
San German
and
Hormigueros
, better known as the Sabana Grande Valley (
Spanish
for the
big savanna valley
; the word
sabana
and the English
savanna
both come from the
Taino
word for
plains
). According to historian Mario Villar Roces, before 1808 there was a community with its own church on the land today known as
Sabana Grande Arriba
(literally
upper great savanna
). Evidence of this is the oldest baptismal registry preserved from the area, as Sabana Grande was originally a sector of the municipality of San German.
Because the community was so far from the
center
of San German, residents felt a need to build a church, which was established as an auxiliary to the
San German parish
. The church was built and was devoted to
San Isidro Labrador
and
Santa Maria de la Cabeza
.
During
Spanish rule
, in order for a town to be established, the following had to take place: A group of
vecinos
("neighbors" or residents) that wanted to found a town had to grant a power of attorney to one or more other
vecinos
to represent them before the
governor
and
viceroy
. This person could authorize the founding of the town and the establishment of a parish. The grantors of the power of attorney had to be a majority in the given territory and more than ten in number. Once the case had been made, the governor appointed a "capitan poblador" or settlement official to represent the vecinos and one or more delegates, who usually lived in nearby aldeas, or hamlets. Proof was required that the settlement was so far from a church that it was very difficult for the settlers to partake of sacraments and municipal services. In general, proof was provided of the absence or bad condition of roads and bridges. If the petition was approved, it was required that the vecinos mark off the new municipality and build public works such as a church, a parish house, a government house (Casa del Rey), a slaughterhouse, and a cemetery, and to set aside land for the town square or plaza and the commons (ejidos). The vecinos were expected to cover the cost of building these works by levying special assessments. Usually one of the land owners donated some land for the founding. Once the requirements had been met, the governor authorized the founding of the town and the parish, and he appointed a Lieutenant at War who usually was the same capitan poblador.
There is some debate as to when Sabana Grande was founded. Some say that it was established in 1808, while others say it was established in 1813, a year after the town was politically established in 1812. Historian Villar Roces posits that although the exact date of the founding of the town is not found in any document in the municipal archives, 1813 should be considered the year it was legally founded because it coincides with the date of the first registry document. In entry number 23 in the third book of marriages, dated July 1, 1813, the priest is identified as "Priest Economo of the Sabana Grande Parish Church," while previous entries were called "Attending Priests" or "Coadjutants of the Villa of San German."
Sabana Grande became an independent parish, under its own jurisdiction, in June 1813, with the first parish priest of the San Isidro Labrador y Santa Maria de la Cabeza Church being Martin Antonio Borreli.
On December 21, 1814, the first captain general of Sabana Grande, Pedro de Acosta, took office. Some local historians assert that he donated seventy
cuerdas
of land where the Kings House, priests house, a plaza, a butcher shop and a cemetery were established. Others say that this land was donated by Joaquin P. Rodriguez de la Seda y Almodovar. Villar Roces adds that Juan Francisco de Acosta, brother of the mayor and parish priest of Sabana Grande, donated his house to the town so it could be used as the Kings House or council house.
The first families of Sabana Grande were the Velez Borrero, Garcia Almodovar, Nazario de Figueroa, Acosta, Sanabria, Lugo, Rivera, Sepulveda, del Toro, Montalvo, Irizarry, Borreli, Ramirez, Torres, Matos, Pabon-Davila, Quinones, Rodriguez de la Renta, Soltero, Segarra, Ortiz de la Renta, Ortiz de Pena, Saavedra and others. Also,
Catalan
families with the surnames of Busigo, Malaret and Serra, and a group of
Greek immigrants
with the surname Soto, all settled in the town from the time of its founding.
[2]
[3]
Hurricane Maria
on September 20, 2017 triggered numerous landslides in Sabana Grande with the significant amount of rainfall.
[4]
[5]
Geography
[
edit
]
Sabana Grande is on the south west side of Puerto Rico, in the
Lajas Valley
. There are a number of rivers there:
Rio Guanajibo
and its tributaries,
Coco River
,
Flores River
, and
Rio Grande
.
[6]
Barrios
[
edit
]
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Sabana Grande is subdivided into
barrios
. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as
"el pueblo"
.
[7]
[8]
[9]
Sectors
[
edit
]
Barrios (which are like
minor civil divisions
)
[10]
and subbarrios,
[11]
are further subdivided into smaller areas called
sectores
(
sectors
in English). The types of
sectores
may vary, from normally
sector
to
urbanizacion
to
reparto
to
barriada
to
residencial
, among others.
[12]
[13]
[14]
Special Communities
[
edit
]
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 Sabana Grande: Santana, Cerro Gordo, El Buren, Molinas and Susua.
[15]
Economy
[
edit
]
Agriculture
[
edit
]
Fruits, sugar and cattle on a small scale.
Demographics
[
edit
]
Historical population
Census
| Pop.
| Note
| %±
|
1900
| 10,560
| | ?
|
---|
1910
| 11,523
| | 9.1%
|
---|
1920
| 12,305
| | 6.8%
|
---|
1930
| 11,881
| | ?3.4%
|
---|
1940
| 14,146
| | 19.1%
|
---|
1950
| 16,097
| | 13.8%
|
---|
1960
| 15,910
| | ?1.2%
|
---|
1970
| 16,343
| | 2.7%
|
---|
1980
| 20,207
| | 23.6%
|
---|
1990
| 22,843
| | 13.0%
|
---|
2000
| 25,935
| | 13.5%
|
---|
2010
| 25,265
| | ?2.6%
|
---|
2020
| 22,729
| | ?10.0%
|
---|
Tourism
[
edit
]
Landmarks and places of interest
[
edit
]
The following are some of the well-known places of interest in Sabana Grande:
[23]
- San Francisco Estate, in
Spanish
:
Hacienda San Francisco
, also known as
Hacienda Quilinchini
, is a historic sugar mill complex with an
hacienda
house, which is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
.
- Museum of Art, within City Hall
- The Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Rosary of the Well,
El Pozo de la Virgen
, a Catholic mission with millions of members in twenty countries
[24]
- Susua State Forest
- Barco House
Casa Barco
- Orlando Lopez Recreational Center
- Igualdad
Lodge
#23
- Masonic Cemetery
,
Cementerio Masonico de Ia Resp. Logia Igualdad Num. 23 de Sabana Grande
, is of countrywide significance under Criterion A in the area of Social History as the property is associated with a very important pattern of social and political events that took place during the nineteenth century in Puerto Rico. The construction of the cemetery came out as a result of the struggles among the Spanish political establishment and its ideological partner, the Roman Catholic Church, against the presence of the philosophical brotherhood commonly known as the Freemasons.
[25]
- Placita de la Recordacion
Culture
[
edit
]
Festivals and events
[
edit
]
Sabana Grande celebrates its
patron saint
festival in May. The
Fiestas Patronales de San Isidro Labrador
is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.
[6]
[26]
Other festivals and events celebrated in Sabana Grande include:
- Virgen del Pozo Marathon ? May
- Inter-organizational Carnival ? April
- Soberao
Jazz
Festival ? April
- Petate Festival ? December
- Buren Corn Fritter Festival ? December
- Troubadour Festival ? December
- Three Kings
Festival ? January
- Grand Petate Festival ? February
Government
[
edit
]
Like all municipalities in
Puerto Rico
, Sabana Grande is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is
Marcos Gilberto Valentin
, from the
Popular Democratic Party
(PPD). He was elected at the
2020 general election
.
The city belongs to the
Puerto Rico Senatorial district V
, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012,
Ramon Ruiz
and
Martin Vargas Morales
, from the
Popular Democratic Party
, were elected as District Senators.
[27]
Transportation
[
edit
]
There are 27 bridges in Sabana Grande.
[28]
The main highways in Sabana Grande are
PR-2
,
PR-120
,
PR-121
,
PR-102
and
PR-117
. In 2020, a section of
PR-368
, from downtown Sabana Grande to Yauco, was named Fidel Velez Velez.
[29]
Symbols
[
edit
]
The
municipio
has an official flag and coat of arms.
[30]
Flag
[
edit
]
The flag of Sabana Grande has four squares, two green and two yellow, alternating. In the center is the municipal coat of arms. The meaning of the flag comes from the coat of arms.
[31]
Coat of arms
[
edit
]
The municipality's coat of arms contains the elements that represent the town's patron saints. The shovel and rake allude to San Isidro Labrador. It is believed this representation arose from the faith of the workers in the Sabana Grande countryside. When a bad drought came, they made promises in the hopes that their patron saint would save their crops. The urn represents the domestic tasks of
Santa Maria de la Cabeza
, the wife of San Isidro.
[31]
In the center is the leaf of the petate palm as an icon of a traditional industry of Sabana Grande. Above is the crown wall which, as a symbol of solidarity, civic unity and common defense, is a heraldic tribute that is part of the coat of arms of towns. The motto on the coat of arms is "Town of the Prodigies."
[2]
[31]
Education
[
edit
]
Sabana Grande boasts several public and private schools within its territory. Public education is handled by the
Puerto Rico Department of Education
.
Some of the local schools are:
- Jose A. Castillo Elementary
- Jose Celso Barbosa Elementary
- Rosendo Matienzo Cintron Elementary
- Francisco Vazquez Puello Elementary
- David Antorgiorgi Cordova Elementary and Middle School
- Juan I. Vega Elementary and Middle School
- Blanca Malaret Middle School
- Luis Negron Lopez High School
- Jose R Gaztambide elementary
Private:
- The Academy of Saint Agustin and the Holy Spirit
- Santa Ana Bilingual School
- Christian Academy
- Baptist Academy
- Seventh-Day Adventist Academy
Notable
Sabanenos
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Bureau, US Census.
"PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census"
.
The United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
August 25,
2021
.
- ^
a
b
"Municipalities: Sabana Grande"
. Archived from
the original
on March 4, 2016
. Retrieved
March 14,
2014
.
- ^
"Sabana Grande Municipality - Foundation and History"
.
Fundacion Nacional para la Cultura Popular -San Juan, Puerto Rico
(in Spanish).
Archived
from the original on July 7, 2017
. Retrieved
July 31,
2020
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
a
b
"Sabana Grande Municipality"
.
enciclopediapr.org
. Fundacion Puertorriquena de las Humanidades (FPH).
Archived
from the original on October 24, 2017
. Retrieved
March 20,
2019
.
- ^
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
.
- ^
a
b
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
December 26,
2018
.
- ^
"Map of Sabana Grande"
(PDF)
.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on June 8, 2011
. Retrieved
December 18,
2007
.
- ^
a
b
"US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition"
.
factfinder.com
. US Census. Archived from
the original
on May 13, 2017
. Retrieved
January 5,
2019
.
- ^
"P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Sabana Grande Municipio, PR"
(PDF)
.
www2.census.gov
. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on August 22, 2020
. Retrieved
August 22,
2020
.
- ^
"Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconomico y la Autogestion (Proposed 2016 Budget)"
.
Puerto Rico Budgets
(in Spanish).
Archived
from the original on June 28, 2019
. Retrieved
June 28,
2019
.
- ^
Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014),
El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004
(first ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundacion Sila M. Calderon,
ISBN
978-0-9820806-1-0
- ^
"Leyes del 2001"
.
Lex Juris Puerto Rico
(in Spanish).
Archived
from the original on September 14, 2018
. Retrieved
June 24,
2020
.
- ^
Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014),
El vuelo de la esperanza:Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004
(Primera edicion ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundacion Sila M. Calderon, p. 273,
ISBN
978-0-9820806-1-0
- ^
"U.S. Decennial Census"
. United States Census Bureau. Archived from
the original
on February 13, 2020
. Retrieved
September 21,
2017
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
"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
.
- ^
Bureau, US Census.
"PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census"
.
The United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
August 25,
2021
.
- ^
"Population and Housing Unit Estimates"
. United States Census Bureau.
Archived
from the original on December 27, 1996
. Retrieved
September 21,
2017
.
- ^
"Sabana Grande Municipality - Municipalities - EnciclopediaPR"
.
Archived
from the original on October 24, 2017
. Retrieved
June 25,
2019
.
- ^
"Resurge el lio con la Mision Nuestra Senora del Pozo"
.
Primera Hora
. May 7, 2014.
Archived
from the original on September 21, 2018
. Retrieved
June 25,
2019
.
- ^
"Archived copy"
(PDF)
.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on March 20, 2014
. Retrieved
March 20,
2014
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link
)
- ^
J.D. (May 2, 2006).
"Sabana Grande"
.
Link To Puerto Rico.com
(in Spanish).
Archived
from the original on August 20, 2009
. Retrieved
July 18,
2020
.
- ^
Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General
Archived
2013-01-15 at the
Wayback Machine
on CEEPUR
- ^
"Sabana Grande Bridges"
.
National Bridge Inventory Data
. US Dept. of Transportation.
Archived
from the original on February 20, 2019
. Retrieved
February 19,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
"Planificacion y Fomento Publico :: Parte I - Planificacion Publica :: Capitulo 18 - Zonas, Edificios y Monumentos Historicos. :: § 229x. Tramo de Fidel Velez Velez"
.
Justia Law
. Retrieved
March 7,
2023
.
- ^
"Ley Num. 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
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.
- ^
a
b
c
"SABANA GRANDE"
.
LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico
(in Spanish). February 19, 2020.
Archived
from the original on February 19, 2020
. Retrieved
September 17,
2020
.
External links
[
edit
]
Places adjacent to Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico
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