Toa Baja (, ) is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
and
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
of
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
located in the northern coast, north of
Toa Alta and
Bayamón; east of
Dorado
Dorado () is a constellation in the southern sky. It was named in the late 16th century and is now one of the 88 modern constellations. Its name refers to the dolphinfish (''Coryphaena hippurus''), which is known as ''dorado'' in Spanish, altho ...
; and west of
Cataño. Toa Baja is spread over five barrios, including
Toa Baja Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). Toa Baja is part of the
San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. Toa Baja is located fifteen minutes by car from
San Juan and two hours from
Ponce.
History
The region of what is now Toa Baja belonged to the
Taíno
The Taíno were a historic Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, indigenous people of the Caribbean whose culture has been continued today by Taíno descendant communities and Taíno revivalist communities. At the time of European contact in the ...
region of Toa and Bayamón, which was located on the north coast of Puerto Rico. The regions were led by cacique Aramana and Majagua respectively. During the
Spanish colonization
The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...
, a farm was settled in the region around 1511 where Spanish settlers tried to learn from the Taínos how to grow fruits and vegetables. Some of the families who settled in the region were Marrero, Salgado, and Martínez, from the
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
.
![Central Constancia, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Central_Constancia%2C_Toa_Baja%2C_Puerto_Rico.jpg)
In 1745, the town was officially organized, with the parish being built in 1749. It was dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception is the belief that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception.
It is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church, meaning that it is held to be a divinely revealed truth w ...
). It is said that in 1776 there were six cattle ranches and 12 sugar cane
estates in the region. However, rises in the flow of nearby rivers were problematic for the population. Because of this, in 1841 a group of residents requested the settlement to be transferred to what is now
Dorado
Dorado () is a constellation in the southern sky. It was named in the late 16th century and is now one of the 88 modern constellations. Its name refers to the dolphinfish (''Coryphaena hippurus''), which is known as ''dorado'' in Spanish, altho ...
. The municipality of Dorado was officially founded the next year.
Puerto Rico was ceded by
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
in the aftermath of the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (clock ...
under the terms of the
Treaty of Paris of 1898
The Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, commonly known as the Treaty of Paris of 1898 ( fil, Kasunduan sa Paris ng 1898; es, Tratado de París de 1898), was a treaty signed by Spain and the United Stat ...
and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States conducted its first
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of Puerto Rico, finding that the population of Toa Baja was 4,030.
In 1902, the
Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico ( es, Asamblea Legislativa de Puerto Rico) is the territorial legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, responsible for the legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico. The Assembly is a bic ...
approved the consolidation of several municipalities, which resulted in the annexation of Toa Baja to the municipality of
Bayamón. However, in 1905 the law was annulled, and Toa Baja regained its status as an independent town.
In 2010, Toa Baja was among the top ten municipalities in Puerto Rico, in terms of population, with 89,609 residents.
The
La Plata River rose more than 11 feet on September 20, 2017 as a result of
Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria was a deadly Saffir–Simpson scale#Category 5, Category 5 Tropical cyclone, hurricane that devastated the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly Dominica, Saint Croix, and Puerto Rico. It is regarded as the wo ...
and caused major infrastructure damage in Toa Baja.
![Toa Baja PR, Punta Salinas Radar Installation](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Toa_Baja_PR%2C_Punta_Salinas_Radar_Installation.jpg)
The four radar systems used by the
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
in Puerto Rico were broken and took almost two weeks to restore. One of the radar systems is located at
Punta Salinas
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 Arawa ...
in Toa Baja.
Flood control project
In mid 2018, the
announced it would be undertaking a major
flood control
Flood control methods are used to reduce or prevent the detrimental effects of flood waters."Flood Control", MSN Encarta, 2008 (see below: Further reading). Flood relief methods are used to reduce the effects of flood waters or high water level ...
project of the
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata (, "river of silver"), also called the River Plate or La Plata River in English, is the estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River at Punta Gorda. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean and fo ...
river, which often causes flooding in Toa Baja.
Geography
Toa Baja is located in the Northern Coastal Plains of the island, in the
Northern Karst zone. It has an area of 24.0 miles
2 (62.4 km
2). The terrain consists mostly of alluvial deposits and clay-like surface as a result of the surrounding waters.
The elevations range from 200 to 490 feet (60 to 150 meters) above sea level, with most of its highest parts located in the south. The rest of the area is mostly plain. The northern part of Toa Baja is characterized for its
mangrove
A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves are taxonomically diverse, as a result of convergent evoluti ...
s and
marsh
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found at ...
es, while the southern part is classified as typical
karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...
area.
Updated flood zone maps (as of 2019) show that Toa Baja is extremely vulnerable to flooding, along with
Humacao
Humacao () is a city and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 12 barrios and Humacao Pueblo (the ...
,
Rincón,
Barceloneta, and
Corozal. For its many rivers, almost the entire municipality of Toa Baja is in the flood zone area.
Homes in Toa Baja have historically been built a few feet above ground level to account for flooding. After
Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria was a deadly Saffir–Simpson scale#Category 5, Category 5 Tropical cyclone, hurricane that devastated the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly Dominica, Saint Croix, and Puerto Rico. It is regarded as the wo ...
, architects from the
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico ( es, Universidad de Puerto Rico, UPR) is the main public university system in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is a government-owned corporation with 11 campuses and approximately 58,000 students and 5,3 ...
and
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico provided residents of Toa Baja with ideas on how to mitigate flooding.
Water features
There are three main rivers in Toa Baja:
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata (, "river of silver"), also called the River Plate or La Plata River in English, is the estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River at Punta Gorda. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean and fo ...
,
Río Cocal, and
Río Hondo. La Plata is the longest river on the island and crosses Toa Baja in the east. Cocal is the natural boundary between Toa Baja and Dorado. Boca Vieja Bay ( es, Ensenada Boca Vieja) is a bay located in Toa Baja.
Barrios
![Toa Baja, Puerto Rico locator map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Toa_Baja%2C_Puerto_Rico_locator_map.png)
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Toa Baja is subdivided into
barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as .
#
Candelaria
#
Media Luna
The Media Luna () or Media Luna Ampliada () refers to a group of four departments – Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, and Tarija – in Bolivia which are home to a greater proportion of opponents to the national government led by Evo Morales ...
#
Palo Seco
#
Sabana Seca
#
Toa Baja barrio-pueblo
Toa Baja barrio-pueblo is a Barrios of Puerto Rico, barrio and the administrative center (Seat of government, seat) of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, Toa Baja, a municipality of Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 565.
As was customary in Spain, in ...
Although not a barrio,
Levittown
Levittown is the name of several large suburban housing developments created in the United States (including one in Puerto Rico) by William J. Levitt and his company Levitt & Sons. Built after World War II for returning white veterans and their ...
is the most populated community in the municipality of Toa Baja.
Sectors
Barrios (which are like
minor civil divisions
A minor civil division (MCD) is a term used by the United States Census Bureau for primary governmental and/or administrative divisions of a county or county-equivalent, typically a municipal government such as a city, town, or civil township. MCD ...
)
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
Social exclusion or social marginalisation is the social disadvantage and relegation to the fringe of society. It is a term that has been used widely in Europe and was first used in France in the late 20th century. It is used across discipline ...
. 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 Toa Baja: Sector Villa Hostos (Campanillas), San José, Sector El 26, Toa Ville, Villa Albizu in Candelaria, Villa Calma, Villa del Sol, Villa Esperanza, Villa Marisol, and Villa Quintero.
In 2009, an order was given by Governor Luis G. Fortuño to shut off essential services, such as water and electricity, to Villas del Sol, a "Special Community", which consisted of homes built illegally on flood-prone, state land. The Federal Emergency Management Agency bought these homes from the Puerto Rican government in order to keep the land from being used further. In January 2010, the Puerto Rican government began demolishing some of the homes. The village had a large population of Dominicans, including illegal aliens. In 2013, the mayor and the community continued to argue about how to construct in Villas del Sol. By 2016, six years after the community had been promised, by the government of Toa Baja, that it would receive permits for the building of critical infrastructure, it had not. Some families had dispersed, others had constructed humble homes on land obtained from a private donor.
Demographics
In 2020, Toa Baja had a population of 75,293. This represents a decrease of 16% since 2010, when the population was 89,609. In 2000, the population was 94,085. The population in Toa Baja had steadily increased from 1899, when it had 4,030.
Tourism
Landmarks and places of interest
![Hacienda Azurarera Santa Elena, Sugar Mill Ruins, 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Hacienda_Azurarera_Santa_Elena%2C_Sugar_Mill_Ruins%2C_1.44_miles_North_of_PR_Route_2_Bridge_%28Toa_Baja_County%2C_Puerto_Rico%29.jpg)
There are 22 beaches in Toa Baja.
Some main attractions of Toa Baja include:
*
Cañuelo Fortress
*
Central Constancia (sugar mill)
*
Isla de Cabras
Isla de Cabras (Spanish for ''goat island'') is an islet located at the entrance of the San Juan Bay in Puerto Rico. It is part of the Palo Seco barrio of the municipality of Toa Baja.
Isla de Cabras is the current location of:
* Fortín San Jua ...
* Hermana Island
* Nuestra Señora del Carmen Church
*
Palo Seco Thermoelectrical Power Station
*
Punta Salinas Beach
* San Pedro Apostle Church
* Santa Elena Hacienda
*
Coliseo Antonio R. Barceló
Culture
Festivals and events
Toa Baja celebrates its
patron saint
A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...
festival in June. The is a religious and cultural celebration in honor of
Saint Peter
Saint Peter; he, שמעון בר יונה, Šimʿōn bar Yōnāh; ar, سِمعَان بُطرُس, translit=Simʿa̅n Buṭrus; grc-gre, Πέτρος, Petros; cop, Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ, Petros; lat, Petrus; ar, شمعون الصفـا, Sham'un ...
and generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.
is celebrated in May with the participation of various churches and cultural groups. It is dedicated to the Holy Cross, and lasts nine nights.
In October, the town celebrates the with musical groups of
bomba and
plena
Plena is a genre of music and dance native to Puerto Rico.
Origins
The plena genre originated in Barrio San Antón, Ponce, Puerto Rico, around 1900. It was influenced by the bomba style of music. Originally, sung texts were not associated wit ...
.
Other festivals and events celebrated in Toa Baja include:
* Artisans Festival () – March
* Beach Festival – July
* Musical Bands Festival – August
*
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
Festival – December
Sports
Toa Baja doesn't have a team in the island's main male sports leagues. They do have a female
volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
team from the
Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino, the
Llaneras de Toa Baja
Llaneras de Toa Baja is the professional female volleyball team of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Toa Baja (, ) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast, north of Toa Alta and Bayamón; east of Dorado; and west of Cata ...
.
Each year, Toa Baja hosts both the
Pee Wee Reese World Series (for baseball players of ages 12 and under) and the
Willie Mays World Series The American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) is an amateur baseball organization in the United States for players from sub-teens through adults. (for baseball players of ages 10 and under). The town has a team, the
Llaneros de Levittown, in the PeeWee Reese Category
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
team from the Pro-Deportes/American Amateur Baseball Congress.
Economy
For many years, Toa Baja's economy relied in agriculture, particularly
sugar cane
Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks t ...
and
cattle
Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...
. Because of this, the municipality was the site of many important
hacienda
An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or ''finca''), similar to a Roman ''latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards), ...
s like
Santa Elena (founded in 1790),
Central Constancia (founded in 1867), and Media Luna. In the middle of the 18th century, fishing also became a primary source of Toa Baja's economy. Cattle ranches were also among the best in the island, processing large amounts of milk. The growth of small fruits also continues to be one of Toa Baja's main products.
After the
1950s
The 1950s (pronounced nineteen-fifties; commonly abbreviated as the "Fifties" or the " '50s") (among other variants) was a decade that began on January 1, 1950, and ended on December 31, 1959.
Throughout the decade, the world continued its re ...
, manufacturing started replacing agriculture as the main economic source. Currently, the industrial sector continues to be one of the most important factors of economic growth in the region. Some of the products manufactured in Toa Baja are metal, plastic, concrete, textile, electrical and electronic machinery, and rum.
Government
Anibal Vega Borges, a lawyer, was elected Mayor of the city in 2004 for the first time. He has been re-elected twice (2008 and 2012). Vega Borges' election wins have been for wide margins, which led a newspaper to label him as one of the "most powerful" mayors in the island.
The city belongs to the
Puerto Rico Senatorial district II
Puerto Rico Senatorial District II, also known as the Senatorial District of Bayamón, is one of the eight senatorial districts of Puerto Rico. It is currently represented by Migdalia Padilla and Carmelo Ríos Santiago (both from the New Progres ...
, which is represented by two Senators.
Migdalia Padilla
Migdalia Padilla Alvelo is a Puerto Rican politician and Senator. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2000.
Early years and studies
Migdalia Padilla was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. Her parents are Monserrate Alvelo ...
and
Carmelo Ríos Santiago
Carmelo Javier Ríos Santiago (born May 21, 1973 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician, lawyer and senator. He has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2005.
Early years and studies
Carmelo Ríos was born on May ...
have served as District Senators since 2005.
In 2016 Vega Borges was challenged to a primary by a former representative of Toa Baja,
Bernardo "Betito" Marquez Garcia. Marquez won the primary and subsequently won the general election. On January 15, 2017 Marquez Garcia was sworn in as mayor of Toa Baja.
Symbols
The has an official flag and coat of arms.
Flag
Toa Baja's official flag features two vertical bands: the left side is green and the right side is gold. The green band represents the plains of the Toa River (now known as
La Plata
La Plata () is the capital city of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. According to the , it has a population of 654,324 and its metropolitan area, the Greater La Plata, has 787,294 inhabitants. It is located 9 kilometers (6 miles) inland from th ...
), and the golden band represents the sun. The green band features two keys, one across the other. One is gold and the other silver, symbolizing the
Apostle Saint Peter, the patron saint of the city.
Coat of arms
![Escudo de Toa Baja, Puerto Rico](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Escudo_de_Toa_Baja%2C_Puerto_Rico.svg)
Toa Baja's coat of arms features a green waving stripe, representing the
Toa River, one of the first mentioned in the history of Puerto Rico. Like the flag, it features two keys, one across the other, symbolizing
Saint Peter
Saint Peter; he, שמעון בר יונה, Šimʿōn bar Yōnāh; ar, سِمعَان بُطرُس, translit=Simʿa̅n Buṭrus; grc-gre, Πέτρος, Petros; cop, Ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ, Petros; lat, Petrus; ar, شمعون الصفـا, Sham'un ...
,
patron saint
A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...
of the town. The coat has the letters "F" and "J" to each side of the keys, representing
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II ( an, Ferrando; ca, Ferran; eu, Errando; it, Ferdinando; la, Ferdinandus; es, Fernando; 10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516), also called Ferdinand the Catholic (Spanish: ''el Católico''), was King of Aragon and Sardinia from ...
and
V of Castile, and his daughter,
Joanna of Castile
Joanna (6 November 1479 – 12 April 1555), historically known as Joanna the Mad ( es, link=no, Juana la Loca), was the nominal Queen of Castile from 1504 and Queen of Aragon from 1516 to her death in 1555. She was married by arrangement to Phi ...
,
sovereign of Castile and León.
The gold fields above and below the green stripe represent the wealth of the city. It also feature handfuls of
yucca
''Yucca'' is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flo ...
, one of the main crops of this area. It constitutes a symbol of the
Taíno
The Taíno were a historic Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, indigenous people of the Caribbean whose culture has been continued today by Taíno descendant communities and Taíno revivalist communities. At the time of European contact in the ...
s who cultivated it, and whose main food was cassava or bread of yucca. Two sugar cane stems surround the shield, representing the cultivation and industry of
sugar cane
Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks t ...
, which was the main source of Toa Baja's economy.
Transportation
Toa Baja is approximately 25 minutes in non-rush hour from
San Juan by car, however, it may take up to 90 minutes in
rush hour
A rush hour (American English, British English) or peak hour (Australian English) is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice every weekday: on ...
. The main road to the city is the
PR-22
PR-22 (also part of unsigned Interstate PR2) is an long toll road in the north coast of Puerto Rico that connects the cities of San Juan and Hatillo. The road is also known as the ''José de Diego Expressway'' (Spanish: ''Expreso José de Diego ...
and
PR-165
Puerto Rico Highway 165 (PR-165) is the road that goes from Naranjito to Guaynabo. The highway passes by Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Dorado, Levittown, Cataño and Guaynabo.
Route description
This highway begins at its junction with PR-164 (road f ...
.
A new
bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
(BRT) system called
Metro Urbano operates in the center of
José de Diego Expressway (PR-22) in
high-occupancy vehicle lane
A high-occupancy vehicle lane (also known as an HOV lane, carpool lane, diamond lane, 2+ lane, and transit lane or T2 or T3 lanes) is a restricted traffic lane reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers, i ...
s (HOV) from
Candelaria in Toa Baja to the
Bayamón Station
Bayamón is a rapid transit station in the San Juan agglomeration, Puerto Rico. It is the western terminus of the Tren Urbano system, located after Deportivo station. The station is located in Bayamón, just outside of its downtown ( Bayamón P ...
of the
Tren Urbano
The ''Tren Urbano'' (English language, English: Urban Train) is a List of automated urban metro subway systems, fully-automated rapid transit system that serves the municipalities of San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Gua ...
metro system.
United States Department of Transportation / Federal Transit Administration
(Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportacion) - Río Hondo Connector BRT - Retrieved July 12, 2011
There are 29 bridges in Toa Baja.
Notable people
*Edwin Rosario
Edwin "Chapo" Rosario Rivera (; March 15, 1963 – December 1, 1997) was a Puerto Rican professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 1997. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC lightweight title from 1983 to 1984, ...
(1963-1997) - Puerto Rican Professional boxer. 4 time world champion. Inducted to IBHOF in 2006
*Madison Anderson
Madison Sara Anderson Berríos (born November 10, 1995) is a Puerto Rican-American model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019. She represented Puerto Rico in the Miss Universe 2019 competition, where s ...
- Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2019 and Miss Universe 2019
Miss Universe 2019 was the 68th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Stage 1 of the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on 8 December 2019.
At the end of the event, Catriona Gray of the Philippines crowned Zozibini Tunzi of So ...
1st Runner-Up
Gallery
Playa en Sabana Seca, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.jpg, Beach in Sabana Seca barrio
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 ...
* Did you know-Puerto Rico?
* 2009 Sabana Seca massacre, Sabana Seca area of Toa Baja
References
Further reading
* , Commissioned by the Department of Education in 1992.
* Padilla Melendez, Debra E.,
External links
Toa Baja and its barrios, United States Census Bureau
City of Toa Baja
Toa Baja Municipality on Facebook
{{Authority control
Municipalities of Puerto Rico
Populated places established in 1745
San Juan–Caguas–Guaynabo metropolitan area
1745 establishments in the Spanish Empire