Naranjito is a municipality

Municipality

A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...

 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...

 located in the central region of the island, south of Toa Alta

Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

Toa Alta is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast of the island, north of Naranjito; south of Dorado and Toa Baja; east of Vega Alta and Corozal; and west of Bayamón. Toa Alta is spread over eight wards and Toa Alta Pueblo...

; north of Barranquitas

Barranquitas, Puerto Rico

Barranquitas is a small mountain town located in the central region of Puerto Rico, south of Corozal and Naranjito; north of Coamo and Aibonito; west of Comerío and Cidra; and east of Orocovis. Barranquitas is spread over 6 wards and Barranquitas Pueblo...

 and Comerío

Comerío, Puerto Rico

Comerío is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the center-eastern region of island, north of Aibonito; south of Naranjito and Bayamón; east of Barranquitas; and west of Cidra and Aguas Buenas. Comerío is spread over 7 wards and Comerío Pueblo...

; east of Corozal

Corozal, Puerto Rico

Corozal is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-eastern region, north of Orocovis and Barranquitas; south Vega Alta; southwest of Toa Alta; east of Morovis and Orocovis; and west of Naranjito. Corozal is spread over 12 wards and Corozal Pueblo...

; and west of Bayamón

Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...

. Naranjito is spread over 15 wards and Naranjito Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

From 1810 the battle for the founding of the town began, after major incidents with powerful interests of the time, on December 3, 1824, Don Braulio Morales successfully founded the town of Naranjito. The town was founded in the neighborhood of the same name, on a land donated by Doña Manuela Rivera and Don Braulio Morales. Morales was named "Captain Settler" at the same time was appointed mayor of the town in development. The name "Naranjito" is derived from a small orange tree that served as a reference point for travelers looking for in the shortest way to the town of Toa Alta

Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

Toa Alta is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northern coast of the island, north of Naranjito; south of Dorado and Toa Baja; east of Vega Alta and Corozal; and west of Bayamón. Toa Alta is spread over eight wards and Toa Alta Pueblo...

. At its foundation, Naranjito was formed five wards/districts, "Lomas", "Guadiana", "Achiote", "Nuevo" and "Cedro". "Cedro" was divided in 1853 in "Cedro Arriba" and "Cedro Abajo", also having the urban zone composed by "San Miguel", "San Antonio" and "San Cristobal" districts.

Flag

Naranjito's flag consists of an orange flag crossed by two narrow green stripes close to the superior and inferior edges. The orange color in the flag symbolizes the town of Naranjito (little orange tree), while the green symbolizes its green mountains.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

 is a red cross, the symbol of San Miguel de Arcángel, Patron of Naranjito. The globe with the cross symbolizes the power and sovereignty of God. The gold and red stripes that appear in the second and third quarters, constitute the primitive baton of the Guafiana lineage. The lily twigs are a tribute of San Antonio de Padua, confessor and doctor of the Church. The orange tree represents the small tree that gave the town's name, Naranjito. The crown is symbol of moral unit of the town.

Anthem

Author: José Archilla Cabrera

Music composer: Paquito López Cruz



Naranjito es mi hogar predilecto

de Borinquen un plácido Edén,

Mis cariños por ti son eternos,

porque tú eres el alma del bien.



En un valle profundo reposa el Guadiana

el eterno rumor te circundan preciosas colinas

y te mira del cielo el Señor.

¿Qué me importan las grandes ciudades?

si allí imperan el vicio y la maldad

en ti luce la sana costumbre

en ti brilla la Santa hermandad.



Eres culto la Diosa Minerva

da su ciencia profusa por ti,

por la Esteves también

Teresita que se yerguen triunfantes aquí.



Dios bendiga los sabios mentores

que difunden contentos la luz

y nos dan los consejos más puros

son los Cristos que llevan la Cruz.



Cuando cese mi vida yo ansío pueblo amado

un humilde rincón donde pueda dormir

al regazo de mi tierra que hallara Colón.

Naranjito es mi hogar predilecto de Borinquen

un plácido Edén, mis cariños por ti son eternos

porque tú eres el alma del bien.

Official symbols

Municipal symbols

• Coat of arms
• Flag

Official bird

• Chango (Puerto Rican Grackle) ("Quiscalus niger")

Official flower

• Rosa roja (Red Rose) ("Rosa adorata
  Rose
  A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
  
  ")

Official tree

• El Naranjo (Orange tree) ("Citrus aurantium
  Orange (fruit)
  An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
  
  ")

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

• Achiote
  Achiote Naranjito
  Achiote is one of the 8 country settlements of Naranjito, Puerto Rico....
  
  
• Anones
  Anones
  Anones is one of the 8 country settlements of Naranjito, Puerto Rico....
  
  
• Guadiana
  Guadiana Naranjito
  Guadiana is one of the 8 country settlements of Naranjito, Puerto Rico....
  
  
• Lomas
  Lomas de Naranjito
  Lomas de Naranjito is one of the 8 country settlements of Naranjito, Puerto Rico....
  
  
• Cedro Abajo
• Barrio Nuevo
• Pueblo
  Pueblo of Naranjito
  Pueblo of Naranjito is one of the eight country settlements of Naranjito, Puerto Rico....
  
  
• Cedro Arriba

Economy

Traditionally the main agricultural crops of Naranjito are coffee and the tobacco. In recent years have borne fruits such as bananas, oranges, papayas, and other tropical fruits; also in the town the poultry factory has been very popular, specifically the dairy cattle (fresh milk). Naranjito has many factories, most of these factories are made garments (clothing).

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

• Anones Park
• Cancha Gelito Ortega
• Cedro Abajo Falls (Las Lagrimas Falls)
• La Marina Boardwalk
• La Plata Lake
• Las Avispas Hills
• Municipal Swimming Pool
• Trovador Plaza
• Mirador de Anones
• Puente Atirantado Jesús Izcoa Moure
  Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge
  The Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge is a Cable-stayed bridge that connects the cities of Toa Alta and Naranjito, in Puerto Rico by the Puerto Rico Highway 5....
  
  

Festivals and events

• Mothers Day - May
• San Antonio Day - June
• Chango Festival - June
• Anon Festival - June
• Volleyball Tournament - February - June
• San Miguel Arcangel Day - September
• Patron Festivities - September - October
• Turkey marathon - November

Sports

"Los Changos de Naranjito" are a professional male volleyball team based in Naranjito. The team is one of the most successful sport's franchises in Puerto Rico.

Books about Naranjito

• El Chango. Apuntes Historicos del Pueblo de Naranjito-1824-1998, Author: Silvestre J. Morales 1999