Isabela () is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

and

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

located in the north-western region of the island, north of

San Sebastián San Sebastián, officially known by the bilingual name Donostia / San Sebastián (, ), is a city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. It lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, from the France–Spain border ...

; west of Quebradillas; and east of

Aguadilla Aguadilla (, ), founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city and municipality located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is s ...

and Moca. It is named in honor of Queen

Isabella I of Castile Isabella I (; 22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504), also called Isabella the Catholic (Spanish: ''Isabel la Católica''), was Queen of Castile and List of Leonese monarchs, León from 1474 until her death in 1504. She was also Queen of Aragon ...

. Isabela is spread over 13 barrios and Isabela Pueblo, which is the downtown area and administrative center. It is a principal part of the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Nicknames

The town is known as the ''Jardín del Noroeste'' ("Garden of the Northwest"), because of the many wildflowers in its landscape. It is also known as ''El Pueblo de los Quesitos de Hoja'' ("Town of Leaf Cheeses") for its production of a typical fresh white cheese wrapped in banana plant leaves, reputed to be the best. It is also known as la ''Ciudad de los Gallitos'' or the "City of the Fighting Cocks." Since the 18th century,

cock fighting Cockfighting is a blood sport involving domesticated roosters as the combatants. The first documented use of the word gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a "game", a sport, pastime or entertainment, was recorded in 1634, after the term " ...

was very common throughout the island, and the town became well known for the quality of its fighting cocks and special breeding and training techniques used by its people.

History

The chief Mabodamaca, one of the most important chieftains of the island of Borinquen (

Taíno The Taíno are the Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, Indigenous peoples of the Greater Antilles and surrounding islands. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the principal inhabitants of most of what is now The ...

for

) during the first decades of the 16th century, ruled the region of the 'Guajataca' (Taíno name for the northwestern region of Puerto Rico) where Isabela was founded. Although the actual date of the origins of the first

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

settlement is not precisely known, a small settlement/hermitage is known to have existed by the end of the 17th century or beginning of the 18th century in a great extension of land into what encompass today the municipalities of Isabela, Camuy and Quebradillas. The settlement was bordered to the east with the shoreline of the Guajataca River and was located on the grounds of an earlier Taíno settlement. Around 1725, José Antonio de Mendizábal y Azares, Governor of the Island of Puerto Rico granted authorization to base a population on the existing hermitage village. Its given name, San Antonio de La Tuna, derives from the

avocation An avocation is an activity that someone engages in as a hobby outside their main occupation. There are many examples of people whose professions were the ways that they made their livings, but for whom their activities outside their workplaces w ...

of the Spanish settlers to the saint

Anthony of Padua Anthony of Padua, Order of Friars Minor, OFM, (; ; ) or Anthony of Lisbon (; ; ; born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor. ...

and in honor of a wild

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

growing in the region (Tuna is the Spanish term for

). At the end of the 18th century ''San Antonio de la Tuna'' had a church, more than sixty houses, and almost 1,200 inhabitants, which was a considerable population for those times. Prompted by economic and health factors, the decision to relocate the hermitage to a more favorable location was pursued. Around 1818, the village obtained authorization from then Governor Salvador Meléndez to transfer the population to a new location closer to the coast. Meléndez approved the transfer request and a new town was founded the following year on May 21, 1819. In the same year the construction of the church began, and was finished in 1824. In 1918 the church was damaged during a strong earthquake that affected the western region of the island, it was rebuilt soon after. Puerto Rico was ceded by

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

in the aftermath of the

Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...

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, was signed by Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States on December 10, 1898, and marked the end of the ...

and became a territory of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. In 1899, the

United States Department of War The United States Department of War, also called the War Department (and occasionally War Office in the early years), was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army, als ...

conducted a

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Isabela was 14,888. On September 20, 2017,

Hurricane Maria Hurricane Maria was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that affected the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which accounted for 2,975 of the 3,059 deaths. It is the ...

struck Puerto Rico. In Isabela, the hurricane caused destruction of homes and infrastructure. Maria caused structural damage to the nearby Guajataca Reservoir and thousands of people were evacuated from their homes.

Demographics

In the 2010 census, there were 45,631 people in the city. This represents an increase of more than 1,000 from the 2000 census. The population density was . The 2020 census indicated the municipality had 42,943 residents, a decline of over 3,000.

Geography

Isabela is a hybrid town of sorts, with the rarity of being a coastline city that has beaches but is also known for its mountains (with peaks of over above sea level), rivers (surface and submarine), lakes, caves (surface and submarine), cliffs, coastal flats and forests (including

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen a ...

s). Geographically, the municipality of Isabela belongs to the Northern Coastal Plains and the Northern Karst region. Running through the south, the Aymamón Mountains, a prolongation of the Jaicoa Mountain Range that begins in the neighboring town of

, boasts peaks of over above sea level. The most prominent hills that are part of these mountains are La Bandera ( Galateo Alto ward) at ; La Silla ( Arenales Alto ward) at ; El Sombrero (in Galateo Alto) at ; Indio ( Planas ward) at ; and Monte Encantado (in Arenales Altos) at of elevation above sea level. The central part of the territory consists mostly of flatlands, the mountains do not surpass in height and the coastline flats ( Bajuras) are slightly above sea level.

Barrios

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Isabela is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as . # Arenales Altos # Arenales Bajos #

Bajura Bajura District ( ), 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, covers an area of and had a population o ...

# Bejucos # Coto # Galateo Alto # Galateo Bajo # Guayabos #

Guerrero Guerrero, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guerrero, is one of the 32 states that compose the administrative divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Guerrero, 85 municipalities. The stat ...

# Isabela barrio-pueblo # Jobos # Llanadas # Mora # Planas

Sectors

Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions) and subbarrios, are further subdivided into smaller areas called (''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. In the EU context, the Euro ...

. 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 Isabela: Cerro del Sombrero in Arenales Alto, Pueblo Nuevo in Arenales Bajos, Barriada Corchado, Comunidad Poncito in Llanadas, Sector Las Parcelas and Sector Pastillo and Sector San Antonio de la Tuna in Coto, Sector Capiro and Sector Corea in Galateo Alto, Sector El Ramal in Guerrero, Parcelas Nuevas and Parcelas Viejas in Mora Guerrero, Comunidad Cristal, Sector Planas, Media Cuerda, Parcelas Jobos, Santa Bárbara, Sector El Cañón, Sector El Verdum, Sector La Mantilla, Sector La Marina, Sector La Mina, Sector La Sierra, Tocones, and Villa Pesquera.

Climate

Tourism

To stimulate local tourism, the

Puerto Rico Tourism Company The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (, 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. Ferré's administration (1969-1973) to coo ...

launched the ''Voy Turistiendo'' ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Isabela page lists , , and , as places of interest.

Landmarks and places of interest

According to a news article by Primera Hora, there are 12 beaches in Isabela including . The main attractions of Isabela include: * El Pozo Brujo (The Bewitched Well) * Jobos Beach * Pozo de Jacinto * Montones Beach * San Antonio de la Tuna Ruins * Punta Sardina * La Poza de Punta Sandina * La Princesa Beach & Blow Hole * Villa Pesquera * Río Guajataca * Guajataca Tunnel * La Cara del Indio (The Indian's Face) * La Posita de Teodoro * Middles Beach * La Posita de Montones * Casa Parroquial * Parroquia San Antonio de la Tuna * La Posita de la Princesa * Shore Island Beach * Paseo Lineal * San Antonio de la Tuna Museum * La Pocita de Isabela (Poza de Teodoro) * La Cueva de las Golondrinas * Cueva los Vientos (Bosque Guajataca) * Photo Museum of Isabela * Alcaldia de Isabela * The Pink House (Casa Rosada), (Demolished in 2014 by the Municipality to be transformed into a museum
Lewiz Menz
*Bajura Beach also known as Shacks Beach

Economy

Agriculture

The early economy of the hermitage had been based mainly on cattle anching its derivative products and hogs products, but trading was limited due to many factors: its inland location and topography. The settlement was posted above a hill overlooking the river (now River ''Guajataca'') which made it difficult to use the river as a trading route, as did the location's propensity to disease and outbreaks. After the transfer to the present Isabela location the economic realities that resulted from the new land and property opportunities that were readily available, the healthier environment formed due to the wide open plains and prevalent northern winds, and the proximity to the coast and the natural sea port at the bay of Punta Sardina prompted for the diversification of the agricultural products and an increase in trade. The cultivation of

sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fib ...

, coffee, tobacco, cotton, Cassava/yuca, coconut and other fruits was stimulated further. Isabela continued to flourish until recent years due to the island's economic crisis, the closing of important factories and the rising crime rate.

Industry

Isabela also has a hi-tech plant, a higher education institution, a world-renowned agricultural research center and a major shopping center, Plaza Isabela.

Culture

Festivals and events

Isabela celebrates its

patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, fa ...

festival in June. 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 Isabela include: * Three Kings day – January – organized by La Casa de la Cultura Isabelina Inc (non profit cultural organization) honoring the wiseman (Reyes Magos) tradition represented by the "Reyes Cantores Isabelinos". * Isabela Cock Fight Festival – February * Textile Festival – May * Puerto Rock Steady Music Festival – May * Weave Festival – May * Kite Festival – May * Isabela Muscle Cars Auto Show – August * Isabela International Tango Festival – August * Las Noches de la Puertorriqueñidad del colegio San Antonio – November * – November * Isabela Has Flavor – November * Holy Innocents' Day – December * Caroling "Escuadrón" (Marina) – December * Caroling "Siempreviva" (Marina) – January

Sports

Isabela is also well known for its world-class

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suita ...

spots, and hosted two World Cup Surfing Championships, as well as some of the

Rip Curl Pro The Rip Curl Pro, formerly the Bells Beach Surf Classic, is a WSL (formerly ASP) World Tour surfing competition held in and around Torquay, Victoria and sponsored by surf company Rip Curl. The event is based at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australi ...

competitions. Isabela had a

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 (appro ...

team that played at the Jose "Buga" Abreu Coliseum, the Isabela Roosters ("Gallitos de Isabela") Between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s, the Bantams were serious championship contenders. In the late 1970s their star player, Mickey Coll, died in a motorcycle accident. The team's first home court was named after him. The Bantams were Isabela's home team until October 2005 when they moved the franchise to Guaynabo. The Playeras, a female volleyball team, played in Isabela for 2 seasons until they also moved to Aguadilla becoming Las Divas. The Isabela Muscle Cars Club, celebrating annual events since 2002, is a popular event in Isabela. On August 28, 2016, the club celebrated their 15th Anniversary at the ''Coliseum Jose "Buga" Abreu''. The town also has its own classic car club, called ''"Club de Autos Clasicos y Antiguos del Noroeste"'' (Classic and Old Car Club from Northwest). They also celebrate their own Exhibition of Classic Cars at the coliseum in November. The local basketball team was called the ''"Gallitos"'' ("Little Cocks," in reference to the slim, lightweight body of the fighting variety) due to the town's fame for quality fighting cocks. The name was translated literally into English as "Bantams", a variety of dwarf cocks. The town has a cockfighting arena, traditionally called a ''gallera''. Fights were customarily held on Sunday mornings, and the bets and stakes were controlled by the government of Puerto Rico. Prizes were paid based on the fighting record of the cocks. A law prohibiting cockfighting in the U.S. and its territories went into effect in early 2019. Isabela has amateur baseball teams. Also, Isabela is well known for its Fine Step Horses ("Caballos de

Paso Fino The Paso Fino is a naturally gaited light horse breed dating back to horses imported to the Caribbean from Spain. ''Pasos'' are prized for their smooth, natural, four-beat, lateral ambling gait; they are used in many disciplines, but are especi ...

") and its world class board, wind and kite surfing spots.

Government

Like all municipalities in

, Isabela is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Miguel "Ricky" Méndez Pérez, from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Méndez was elected in the 2020 general election. The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district IV, which is represented by two senators. In 2012, María Teresa González and Gilberto Rodríguez were elected as District Senators.

Transportation

There are 5 bridges in Isabela.

Symbols

The has an official flag and coat of arms.

Flag

Isabela's flag derives its design, colors and symbolism from its coat of arms. It consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width. The top and bottom stripe are yellow and the center one green. The coat of arms may be superposed on the green stripe in the center.

Coat of arms

The town's

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

, dated 1819, is divided an

olive tree The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'' ("European olive"), is a species of Subtropics, subtropical evergreen tree in the Family (biology), family Oleaceae. Originating in Anatolia, Asia Minor, it is abundant throughout the Mediterranean ...

in its center, symbolizes the first inhabitants of Isabela and of the island of Puerto Rico, the

Igneris The Igneri were an Indigenous Arawak people of the southern Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. Historically, it was believed that the Igneri were conquered and displaced by the Island Caribs or Kalinago in an invasion some time before European co ...

Indians. The gold represents the

Indians (they made extensive use of gold), who lived in this area about two hundred years before the discovery of the island. The gold bell represented in the center stripe between two cactus is a symbol of the town of San Antonio de la Tuna. The two cocks represent the bravery of the inhabitants and Isabela's famous fighting cocks. The horse represents the cattle wealth of the region and honors the fine step horses (

) for which Isabela is known. The coat of arms is embellished with a

mural crown A mural crown () is a Crown (headgear), crown or headpiece representing city walls, fortified tower, towers, or fortresses. In classical antiquity, it was an emblem of tutelary deities who watched over a city, and among the ancient Rome, Romans ...

having three towers, the standard emblem at the time for formally established 'pueblos' (townships) under Spanish rule. The revised mural crown with five towers represents a city, but historically, only 11 communities in Puerto Rico were conferred this title when under Spanish rule. On the occasion of the celebration of 186 years of Isabela it was necessary to adopt an ordinance to establish properly the historical veracity and heraldic elements of the emblazoned shield and official seal of the City of Isabela. The following information was drafted pursuant to Ordinance Number 3, series 2005–2006 and approved by the Municipal Legislature on August 5, 2005: "The Mural Crown: Current mural crown that has the coat of Isabela has three towers. Due to population increase of over 50,000 inhabitants who had Isabela in this last decade, the HUD office in Washington DC, conferred status as a "city" to Isabela last year. Given this demographic reality and focused on the mural crown that represents the spirit of unity and growth of the inhabitants of our city of Isabela, we understand appropriate that the crown mural consists of "five" distinct towers that symbolize the passage from town to city."

Gallery

Playa de Isabela, Puerto Rico - panoramio.jpg, Beach in Isabela Villa Montaña Beach Resort - Isabela, Puerto Rico - panoramio (9).jpg, Villa Montaña Beach Resort Bosque Estatal de Guajataca, Puerto Rico.jpg, Guajataca State Forest Isabela, Puerto Rico - panoramio (1).jpg,

Notable people

* Félix Mantilla (baseball), former All-Star and World Series champion baseball player for the

Milwaukee Braves The Milwaukee Braves were a Major League Baseball club that played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1953 to 1965, having previously played in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves. After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966 they were rename ...

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

Víctor Manuelle Víctor Manuel Ruiz Velázquez (born September 27, 1968), known professionally as Víctor Manuelle, is a Puerto Rican salsa singer, known to his fans as ''El Sonero de la Juventud'' ("The Singer Of Youths"). He is identified primarily with ' ...

, a world-renowned salsa singer. His parents are from Isabela, and he has featured his hometown in several music videos. * Manuel Corchado y Juarbe,(September 12, 1840 – November 30, 1884) was a poet, journalist and politician who defended the abolition of slavery and the establishment of a university in Puerto Rico. * Noel Epinanio Estrada Suárez (June 4, 1918 – December 1, 1979) was a

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

. He was the author of " En mi Viejo San Juan", a song "widely known around the world". * Vicente Geigel Polanco (May 1, 1904 – April 30, 1979) was a lawyer, writer and a former Attorney General of Puerto Rico.

References

Books

* Isabela Economy (18th Century)
Bibliography
Colección de Tesis: Tesis de maestros presentadas en el Departamento de Historia Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Rio Piedras: ''Colón, Maria Judith, Historia de Isabela vista a traves de su desarrollo urbano'', 1750–1850. (1985), pp. 288

External links

Isabela and its barrios, United States Census Bureau

Puerto Rico Government Directory – Isabela
* {{Authority control Municipalities of Puerto Rico Aguadilla–Isabela–San Sebastián metropolitan area Populated coastal places in Puerto Rico Populated places established in 1818 1818 establishments in Puerto Rico