Cabo Rojo (, ) is a
city and
municipality situated on the southwest coast of
Puerto Rico and forms part of the
San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area as well as the larger
Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area.
History
The area near
Las Salinas (salt flats) has been inhabited since 30 BC and AD 120 according to archaeological evidence.
Punta Ostiones
Punta is an Afro-indigenous dance and cultural music originating in the Caribbean Island of Saint Vincent And The Grenadines by the Garifuna people before being exiled from the island. Which is also known as Yurumei. It has African and Arawak ...
, listed in the
National Register of Historic Places as an archeological site, was home to a large group of
Archaic Indians.
Despite the threat of
pirates and natives, the Spanish settled the area of
Los Morrillos around 1511. By 1525,
salt mining
Salt mining extracts natural salt deposits from underground. The mined salt is usually in the form of halite (commonly known as rock salt), and extracted from evaporite formations.
History
Before the advent of the modern internal combustio ...
was an important industry in the area. In 1759 the first request to establish itself as a town was denied. Cabo Rojo was founded on December 17, 1771, by Nicolás Ramírez de Arellano,
a descendant of Spanish royalty and nobility, with the approval of Governor and Captain General Miguel de Muesas. According to
Fray Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra by the end of the 18th century, Cabo Rojo had a population of 1,215 people.
Cabo Rojo (''red cape'' in English) derives its name from both the reddish color of its salt-flats and the reddish tint that characterizes the seaside cliffs along its southern coast. According to legend, the name was given by
Christopher Columbus himself. The first church, founded in 1783, was called
San José. The present-day main Catholic church is called
San Miguel Arcángel Church located in the town's square.
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 an
unincorporated territory of the United States
Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions overseen by the federal government of the United States. The various American territories differ from the U.S. states and tribal reservations as they are not sover ...
. On October 18, 1898, formal possession of the island was assumed and the American flag raised over the fortifications from which the emblem of Spain had flown for nearly four centuries.
Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, causing large-scale damage and destruction to infrastructure.
In Cabo Rojo, around 400 homes lost their roof, and three thousand residents were left without drinking water as a result of Hurricane María. The coastal fishing village of
Joyuda was the most impacted area of Cabo Rojo.
Geography
The municipality of Cabo Rojo lies on the southern-west corner of the island of
Puerto Rico, on the Western Coastal Plains.
Sierra Bermeja, Puerto Rico's geologically oldest mountain range, crosses the municipality from west to east towards
Lajas. It is bordered by
Mayagüez and
Hormigueros to the north,
San Germán and
Lajas to the east, the
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...
to the south and the
Mona Passage to the west. Cabo Rojo has a surface area of 72 square miles (187 km
2).
Cabo Rojo's terrain is flat, however, some notable peaks are Mariquita, Buena Vista, Cerro Vargas, and Peñones de Melones.
Barrios
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Cabo Rojo is subdivided into
barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a small barrio referred to as , near the center of the municipality.
Cabo Rojo is a principal municipality of the
San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area as well as the larger
Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area.
#
Bajura
Bajura District ( ne, बाजुरा जिल्ला ), a part of Sudurpashchim Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Martadi (today part of Badimalika municipality) as its district headquarters, ...
#
Boquerón
#
Cabo Rojo barrio-pueblo
#
Guanajibo
#
Llanos Costa
#
Llanos Tuna
#
Miradero
#
Monte Grande
#
Pedernales
People from the
El Combate community in barrio
Boquerón are known as ''mata con hacha'' ("those who kill with axes") based on an old folk tale about a fight over the ''salinas'', where those from Cabo Rojo fought with axes against people from the adjacent town of
Lajas. The latter apparently fought back by throwing stones and are thus known as ''tira piedras'' ("those who throw stones").
Sectors
Barrios (which are like
minor civil divisions)
and subbarrios,
in turn, are further subdivided into smaller local populated place areas/units called sectores (''sectors'' in English). The types of ''sectores'' may vary, from normally ''sector'' to ''urbanización'' to ''reparto'' to ''barriada'' to ''residencial'', among others.
Special Communities
(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 Cabo Rojo: Ballajá, Colacho, El Fuego y Las Piedras (Guaniquilla), Hoyo Bravo, Las Quebradas en Monte Grande, Pedernales, Puerto Real, and Sector Corozo.
Climate
Demographics
In 1899, the
United States Department of War conducted a
census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Cabo Rojo was 16,154.
Tourism
There are 127 beaches in Cabo Rojo, including .
Its tourism industry has flourished with the development of hotels and marinas, but local and international environmentalists are concerned that this development will endanger Cabo Rojo's rich and beautiful beaches, sunsets and natural resources. Cabo Rojo is also well known for its fishing, particularly the ''Puerto Real'' fishing village, and its many seafood restaurants, most of which are found in the
fishing village of
Joyuda.
Landmarks and places of interest
The
San Miguel Arcángel Church, in the main town square, was built between 1773 and 1783. The famous Cabo Rojo lighthouse,
Los Morrillos Lighthouse, known by locals as ''El Faro'', was built in 1881 over limestone cliffs that rise 200 feet above sea level. This old lighthouse was automated and electrically charged in 1967 and is considered to have some, if not, the most spectacular ocean views on Puerto Rico's west coast. The lighthouse has undergone recent renovations which has created controversy because of the quality of the work. According to locals and scholars, the internal structure was gutted leaving nothing of historical significance behind.
The lighthouse is located near the ''Salinas'', or
salt mines. These salt mines are reported to be the oldest industry in the
New World. Salt has been mined in this site non-stop since the time of the
Taínos. Near the ''Salinas'', a local civic group ''
Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente
Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, Inc. (CPSA, Caborrojeños for Health and Environment) is a non-profit environmentalist organization based in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
The organization was founded in 1990 by a group of concerned residents who ...
'' run a visitor center known as the ''Centro Interpretativo Las Salinas De Cabo Rojo don
Efrén Pérez Rivera
Efrén Pérez Rivera (March 10, 1929 – May 15, 2011) was a Puerto Rican environmentalist leader and college professor. He got married at the age of 28 with Pezinka Berenguer, till the day he died. He had three children with her, Efrén Pér ...
''. They offer free guided tours of the local area, which is rich in flora and fauna.
*
Teatro Excelsior which was built in 1871
*
Boquerón Beach
* Cofresí Cave
*
El Combate Beach
*
Joyuda Beach
*
Joyuda Lagoon
*
Club Deportivo del Oeste
* Nautical Club
* Punta Arenas Beach
* Puerta Real Beach
*
Isla de Ratones
*
Buyé Beach
* The Lighthouse (El Faro) Beach
* La Playuela in Los Morrillos (El Faro)
*
Guaniquilla Lagoon
*
Quebrada Los Chorros
To stimulate local tourism during the
COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico
The COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is part of the ongoing COVID-19 pand ...
, the
Puerto Rico Tourism Company
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company ( es, Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico, or simply ''Turismo'') is the government-owned corporation in charge of tourism matters and regulations in Puerto Rico. The company was created during Governor Luis A. F ...
launched the ''Voy Turistiendo'' (I'm Touring) campaign in 2021. The campaign featured a passport book with a page for each municipality. The Cabo Rojo passport page lists , , , (for
agritourism
Agritourism or agrotourism involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.
Types
A 2018 article published in the ''Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development'' classified a ...
), and several beaches including Playuela, Buyé, El Combate, and
Boquerón, as places of interest.
National protected areas
* The
Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge
Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge (Spanish: ''Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre de Cabo Rojo'') is an 1,836-acre National Wildlife Refuge located in southwestern Puerto Rico, in the municipality of Cabo Rojo. The refuge is a habitat for number ...
is home for a number of native bird species including the endangered
yellow-shouldered blackbird
The yellow-shouldered blackbird (''Agelaius xanthomus''), known in Puerto Rican Spanish as ''mariquita de Puerto Rico'' or ''capitán'', is a species of blackbird endemic to Puerto Rico. It has black plumage with a prominent yellow patch on the ...
also known as ''la mariquita de Puerto Rico'' or ''capitán''.
* The
Boquerón State Forest is one of seven state forests managed by the
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.
Culture
Festivals and events
Cabo Rojo celebrates its
patron saint festival in September. The is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.
Other festivals and events celebrated in Cabo Rojo include:
* Pescao Festival – March
* Años Cuarenta Festival – April
* Chigüero Festival – April
* Betances Festival – April
* Oyster Festival – May
* Boquerón Bay Crossing – July
* Watermelon Festival – July
* Retorno a la Arena – July
* La Pileta Festival – December
* Le Lo Lai Festival – December
Sports
Cabo Rojo had a
BSN basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
team, ''Los Turistas de Cabo Rojo'' (the "Cabo Rojo Tourists") from 1989 to 1993.
Indias de Mayagüez, female
Volleyball team from
Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino
The Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino (LVSF) is a professional volleyball league in Puerto Rico. The competitions are organized by the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation (Federación Puertorriqueña de Voleibol, FPV).
Current teams
League c ...
played the 2009 season at the
Coliseo Rebekah Colberg Cabrera
The Rebekah Colberg Cabrera Coliseum (Spanish: ''Coliseo Rebekah Colberg Cabrera''), named in honor of Rebekah Colberg, is an indoor arena in Puerto Rico dedicated to entertainment and sports. It is located at Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
Among ma ...
, because their home ground, ''Palacios de los Deportes'', was under remodeling.
Government
All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Cabo Rojo is Jorge Morales Wiscovitch, who beat incumbent
Bobby Ramírez Kurtz at the
2020 general election.
The city belongs to the
Puerto Rico Senatorial district IV
Puerto Rico Senatorial District IV, also known as the Senatorial District of Mayagüez-Aguadilla, is one of the eight senatorial districts of Puerto Rico. It is currently represented by Evelyn Vázquez and Luis Daniel Muñiz (both from the New ...
, which is represented by two Senators, and the
Puerto Rico Representative District 20, which has one representative. In 2020, Ada García Montes and Migdalia González were elected as District Senators, while Kebin Andrés Maldonado Martiz was elected the District Representative.
Symbols
The has an official flag and coat of arms.
Flag
The flag contains elements of the coat of arms, excluding the sword, the anchors and the crown.
Coat of arms
The point or red triangle symbolizes the "Cabo
Bermejo" (Vermillion Cape) in Los Morillos. The blue and white, with the anchors, represent the sea that "bathes our coasts". The flaming sword, is an attribute to
Archangel Saint Michael, the town's patron saint. Finally, the crown, which heightens and distinguishes the shield, stands for the status of Cabo Rojo.
Anthem
The anthem of Cabo Rojo is a composition with music and lyrics by Carlos Weber Asencio.
Transportation
Although Cabo Rojo lacks an airport, it is approximately 11 miles from the
Eugenio María de Hostos Airport
Eugenio María de Hostos Airport is a public use airport north of Mayagüez, a coastal city in Puerto Rico. The airport is named after Mayagüez native Eugenio Maria de Hostos. It offers limited, domestic commercial service, subsidized by the ...
(MAZ) in
Mayagüez, a commercial airport that serves direct flights to and from
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to:
Places Argentina
* San Juan Province, Argentina
* San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province
* San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province
* San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...
. Cabo Rojo has grown tremendously in the last few years as evidenced by its accreditation as a city. Cabo Rojo's nearest airport servicing international destinations is forty-five minutes away in Aguadilla's
Rafael Hernández Airport
Rafael Hernández International Airport ( es, link=no, Aeropuerto Internacional Rafael Hernández) is a joint civil-military airport located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It is named after the Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernández Marín. It is ...
(BQN). This airport was part of the now deactivated
Ramey Air Force Base.
PR-100 is the main highway in the city, connecting northward to
PR-2
Puerto Rico Highway 2 (PR-2) is a road in Puerto Rico that connects the cities of San Juan and Ponce. At 156 miles (230 km) long, it is Puerto Rico's longest singled-signed highway.
The road runs counter-clockwise from San Juan to Ponce. ...
between
Hormigueros and
Mayagüez, and southward to the
Boquerón sector. Other mayor roads include
PR-101, which connects to Lajas,
PR-102, connecting to Mayagüez and
San Germán,
PR-103, an older road which parallels the newer
PR-100, and
PR-301, connecting to El Combate sector and the
Los Morrillos Lighthouse.
There are 20 bridges in Cabo Rojo.
Caborrojeños
The following is a list of notable Caborrojeños:
*
Antonio Fas Alzamora is the longest serving member of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly.
*
Ramón Emeterio Betances
Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán (April 8, 1827 – September 16, 1898) was a Puerto Rican independence advocate and medical doctor. He was the primary instigator of the Grito de Lares revolution and is considered to be the father of the Pu ...
y Alacán (1827–1898) was a nationalist and a medical doctor. He was the primary instigator of the
Grito de Lares
''El Grito de Lares'' (''The Cry of Lares''), also referred to as the Lares uprising, the Lares revolt, the Lares rebellion, or the Lares revolution, was the first major revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico. The revolt was planned by R ...
revolution and, as such, is considered to be the father of the
Puerto Rican independence movement
Throughout the history of Puerto Rico, its inhabitants have initiated several movements to obtain independence for the island, first from the Spanish Empire from 1493 to 1898 and since then from the United States.
A spectrum of pro-autonomy, p ...
and, as well, the Father of the Country.
* Dr.
Salvador Brau
Salvador Brau y Asencio (January 11, 1842 – November 5, 1912) was a Puerto Rican journalist, poet, dramatist, novelist, historian, and sociologist. He was designated the official historian of Puerto Rico by the first American-appointed governor ...
y Asencio (1842–1912) was a journalist, poet, writer and also a historian.
*
Roberto Cofresí
Roberto Cofresí y Ramírez de Arellano (June 17, 1791 – March 29, 1825), better known as El Pirata Cofresí, was a pirate from Puerto Rico. He was born into a noble family, but the political and economic difficulties faced by the island as a c ...
y Ramírez de Arellano (1791–1825), better known as "El Pirata Cofresí", was a pirate.
*
Elisa Colberg (1903–1988) was the founder of the Puerto Rican Girl Scouts, the first troop of which formed in 1926 in Cabo Rojo.
* Dra.
Rebekah Colberg (1918–1985), is known as "The Mother of Women's Sports in Puerto Rico".
*
Ramón López Irizarry (1897–1982) was an educator and scientist who invented an easier way to extract the cream from the coconut pulp and developed the original formula of "
Coco Lopez
Coco commonly refers to:
* Coco (folklore), a mythical bogeyman in many Hispano- and Lusophone nations
Coco may also refer to:
People
* Coco (given name), a first name, its shorthand, or unrelated nickname
* Coco (surname), a list of people w ...
"
*
Demensio Rivera (1932–1964) was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; and whose award was upgraded in 2014, decades after his death, to the Medal of Honor.
*
Efrén Pérez Rivera
Efrén Pérez Rivera (March 10, 1929 – May 15, 2011) was a Puerto Rican environmentalist leader and college professor. He got married at the age of 28 with Pezinka Berenguer, till the day he died. He had three children with her, Efrén Pér ...
is a former college professor and noted Puerto Rican environmentalist leader.
* Colonel
Carlos Betances Ramírez (1910–2001), was the only Puerto Rican to command a Battalion in the Korean War.
Gallery
SalvadorBrauMonument.jpg, Monument to Salvador Brau
Salvador Brau y Asencio (January 11, 1842 – November 5, 1912) was a Puerto Rican journalist, poet, dramatist, novelist, historian, and sociologist. He was designated the official historian of Puerto Rico by the first American-appointed governor ...
in front of the San Miguel Arcángel Roman Catholic church (1783), Cabo Rojo
Cabo Rojo limestone cliffs.jpg, Limestone cliffs near the Los Morrillos Lighthouse
Historic house in Cabo Rojo, PR.jpg, Historic buildings at Ruiz Belvis St.
ColiseoColberg.jpg, Coliseo Rebekah Colberg
See also
*
List of Puerto Ricans
*
History of Puerto Rico
The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the Ortoiroid people between 430 BC and AD 1000. At the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1493, the dominant indigenous culture was that of the Taínos. The Taín ...
*
References
External links
Cabo Rojo and its barrios, United States Census Bureau, 2000
{{Authority control
Municipalities of Puerto Rico
Populated coastal places in Puerto Rico
Populated places established in 1771
San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area