Loíza, Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Loíza is a small town and municipality (municipio
) in the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico
, north of Canóvanas
; east of Carolina
; and west of Río Grande
. Loíza is spread over 5 wards and Loíza Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
There are several legends surrounding Loíza's origin. Some say that its name comes from that of a female cacique
, called Loaíza or Yuíza, that governed the region formerly called Jaymanío, in the shores of the Río Grande de Loíza. It is said that this cacique might have married a mulatto
conquistador
called Pedro Mejías, but there is no evidence of this. Other sources point to a Spanish
landlord called Iñigo López de Cervantes y Loayza, who owned a lot of the territory, and was renowned among governors and colonists from the time.
It is said that a crown decree from Spain
in the 1600s, instructed slaves to be sent to the region of Loíza. Many people believe this might account for the high ratio of black people
in Loíza.
In 1962, Loíza was officially declared an urban area due to its population (100 houses and 1,146 residents), but it was in 1719 that the Spanish government
declared it as an official town. It was founded by Gaspar de Arredondo. After being demoted, it was again established as a municipality in August 16, 1970.
In the 1970s, an Aero Virgin Islands
DC-3 plane crashed in a Loíza beach, with no fatalities.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 65.71 square miles (170.2 km²); of which 19.44 square miles (50.3 km²) of it is land and 46.27 square miles (119.8 km²) of it is water.
along with Ponce.
Each year there is a celebration in Loíza where people parade around wearing Máscaras de Vejigante. Máscaras de Vejigante are a type of mask made in Loíza. They are made of coconut
, and painted in multiple colors.
Loíza is known as "La Capital de la Tradicion"- "The Capital of Traditions"- for its "bomba" music, traditional Taíno and African dishes, artisanry, and distinct culture.
The population of the municipality was 39,565 at the 2006 census.
As of the census of 2006, there were 32,537 people, 10,927 households, and 6,140 families residing in the municipality. The population density
was 1,673.4 inhabitants per square mile (646.1/km²). There were 10,927 housing units at an average density of 562 per square mile (217/km²).
There were 10,927 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples
living together, 29.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.39 and the average family size was 3.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 39.3% under the age of 19, 7.8% from 20 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years.
The median income for a household in the town was $8,962, and the median income for a family was $9,911. Males had a median income of $14,076 versus $12,903 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $4,707. 67% of the population and 64.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 62.3% of those under the age of 18 and 59.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Municipio
Municipio and Município are terms used for country subdivisions. They are often translated as municipality.-Overview:...
) in the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, north of Canóvanas
Canóvanas, Puerto Rico
Canóvanas is a municipality in Puerto Rico, located in the northeastern region, north of Juncos and Las Piedras; south of Loíza; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Canóvanas is spread over 7 wards and Canóvanas Pueblo...
; east of Carolina
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
; and west of Río Grande
Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Río Grande is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Northern Coastal Valley, North of Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba; east of Loíza and Canóvanas and west of Luquillo. Río Grande is spread over eight wards and Río Grande Pueblo...
. Loíza is spread over 5 wards and Loíza Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Cacique
Cacique is a title derived from the Taíno word for the pre-Columbian chiefs or leaders of tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles...
, called Loaíza or Yuíza, that governed the region formerly called Jaymanío, in the shores of the Río Grande de Loíza. It is said that this cacique might have married a mulatto
Mulatto
Mulatto denotes a person with one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry. Contemporary usage of the term varies greatly, and the broader sense of the term makes its application rather subjective, as not all people of mixed white and black...
conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
called Pedro Mejías, but there is no evidence of this. Other sources point to a Spanish
Spanish
Spanish may refer to:* Of or related to Spain* Spanish language, the official language of Spain and most of Latin America* Spanish people * The Spanish Empire, the empire administrated by Spain from the 15th century* Spanish cuisine...
landlord called Iñigo López de Cervantes y Loayza, who owned a lot of the territory, and was renowned among governors and colonists from the time.
It is said that a crown decree from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the 1600s, instructed slaves to be sent to the region of Loíza. Many people believe this might account for the high ratio of black people
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
in Loíza.
In 1962, Loíza was officially declared an urban area due to its population (100 houses and 1,146 residents), but it was in 1719 that the Spanish government
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
declared it as an official town. It was founded by Gaspar de Arredondo. After being demoted, it was again established as a municipality in August 16, 1970.
In the 1970s, an Aero Virgin Islands
Aero Virgin Islands
Aero Virgin Islands was an airline based in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.-History:Aero Virgin Islands Corp. began operating in the Caribbean during the late 1970s...
DC-3 plane crashed in a Loíza beach, with no fatalities.
Geography
Loíza belongs to the geographical region called the Coastal Plains of the North. Its terrain is uniformally plain, since it doesn't exceed 100 meters above water level.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 65.71 square miles (170.2 km²); of which 19.44 square miles (50.3 km²) of it is land and 46.27 square miles (119.8 km²) of it is water.
Barrios
Loíza is divided into six main "barrios":- Canóvanas
- Loíza Pueblo
- Medianía Alta
- Medianía Baja
- Torrecilla Alta
- Torrecilla Baja
Landmarks and places of interest
- Aviones Beach
- Ayala Family Artesan Centre
- Julia de Burgos Walk
- María de la Cruz Cavern
- Piñones Lagoon
- San Patricio ParishParroquia del Espiritu Santo y San PatricioParroquia del Espíritu Santo y San Patricio, constructed in 1645, is one of Puerto Rico's oldest Catholic parish churches. It is located in the main plaza of the municipality of Loiza, Puerto Rico. The church represents an ethically distinct community characterized by a rich Afro-Hispanic cultural...
- Vacía Talega Beach
Culture
One of Loíza's barrios, Loíza aldea, is famous across Puerto Rico because it has been a talent pool for dancers and artisans. Formerly a center for black Puerto Rican music, it is said to be the traditional birthplace of the musical form known as plenaPlena
Plena is a folkloric genre native to Puerto Rico. Its creation was influenced by African and Spanish music.-History:The music is generally folkloric. The music's beat and rhythm are usually played using hand drums called panderetas, but also known as panderos or pleneras. The music is accompanied...
along with Ponce.
Each year there is a celebration in Loíza where people parade around wearing Máscaras de Vejigante. Máscaras de Vejigante are a type of mask made in Loíza. They are made of coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
, and painted in multiple colors.
Loíza is known as "La Capital de la Tradicion"- "The Capital of Traditions"- for its "bomba" music, traditional Taíno and African dishes, artisanry, and distinct culture.
Festivals and events
- Mayombe Carnival - February
- San Patricio Patron Festivities - March
- Santiago Apóstol Festivities - July
Demographics
| Race - Loíza, Puerto Rico - 2010 Census | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Population | % of Total |
| White White people White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin... |
7,974 | 26.5% |
| Black/Afro-Puerto Rican African immigration to Puerto Rico The history of African people in Puerto Rico begins with the immigration of African free men who accompanied the invading Spanish Conquistadors. The Spaniards enslaved the Taínos , and many of them died as a result of Spaniards' oppressive colonization efforts... |
19,314 | 64.3% |
| American Indian Native Americans in the United States Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as... and Alaska Native Alaska Natives Alaska Natives are the indigenous peoples of Alaska. They include: Aleut, Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Eyak, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.-History:In 1912 the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded... |
144 | 0.5% |
| Asian Asian people Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :... |
36 | 0.1% |
| Native Hawaiian Native Hawaiians Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S... /Pacific Islander Pacific Islander Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:... |
2 | 0.0% |
| Some other race | 1,825 | 6.1% |
| Two or more races | 765 | 2.5% |
The population of the municipality was 39,565 at the 2006 census.
As of the census of 2006, there were 32,537 people, 10,927 households, and 6,140 families residing in the municipality. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,673.4 inhabitants per square mile (646.1/km²). There were 10,927 housing units at an average density of 562 per square mile (217/km²).
There were 10,927 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 29.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.39 and the average family size was 3.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 39.3% under the age of 19, 7.8% from 20 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years.
The median income for a household in the town was $8,962, and the median income for a family was $9,911. Males had a median income of $14,076 versus $12,903 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $4,707. 67% of the population and 64.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 62.3% of those under the age of 18 and 59.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.