Hatillo (Spanish pronunciation: [aˈtiʎo]) is a town and municipality located in Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spread over nine barrios and Hatillo Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Hatillo
Municipio de Hatillo
Sunset over La Marina in Hatillo
Sunset over La Marina in Hatillo
Flag of Hatillo
Coat of arms of Hatillo
Nicknames: 
"El Pueblo sin Sopa", "Capital De La Industria Lechera"' "Hatillo Del Corazón De Riego", "Tierra de Campos Verdes", "Los Ganaderos"
Anthem: "De un mar azul en el Atlántico"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Hatillo Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Hatillo Municipality
Coordinates: 18°29′11″N 66°49′32″W / 18.48639°N 66.82556°W / 18.48639; -66.82556
Sovereign state United States
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
FoundedJune 30, 1823
Founded byAgustín Ruiz Miranda
Barrios
Government
 • MayorJosé A. Rodríguez Cruz (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist.3 - Arecibo
 • Representative dist.15
Area
 • Total
58.73 sq mi (152.10 km2)
 • Land41.78 sq mi (108.22 km2)
 • Water16.94 sq mi (43.88 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
38,481
 • Rank25th in Puerto Rico
 • Density660/sq mi (250/km2)
DemonymHatillanos
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00659
Area code787/939
Major routes

History

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Agustín Ruiz Miranda, a Canarian immigrant, founded Hatillo on approximately ten cuerdas (a cuerda is 0.97 acre, also called a Spanish acre) in 1823. Miranda granted this land on the condition that public buildings be erected and wide streets be built, and that the remaining land be sold or used for homes.[2]

In its first year, Hatillo had 910 people; increasing to 2,663 inhabitants the following year distributed among the central town and the barrios of Carrizales, Capáez, Naranjito, Corcovado, Buena Vista (formerly Yeguada Occidental), Campo Alegre (formerly Yeguada Oriental), Pajuil, Bayaney, Aibonito, and the Pueblo. Barrio Pajuil had disappeared by the 1940 census being divided up between Buena Vista, Naranjito, Corcovado and Campo Alegre barrios. There were also two sugarcane plantations named "Hacienda Santa Rosa" measuring 150 cuerdas and "Hacienda Perseverancia" at 50 cuerdas.

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 a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Hatillo was 1,148.[3]

Hatillo, like several other municipalities on the island, experienced boundary changes from the 1902 municipality consolidation law (Consolidación de Ciertos Términos Municipales de Puerto Rico) in which Hatillo was annexed temporarily into neighboring Camuy. Three years later the territorial legislature approved the reformation of Hatillo as a separate municipality (independent town) from Camuy in 1905.[4] In 1910, Barrio Pueblo (rural) changed its name to Hatillo barrio (rural). In 1930, Yeguadilla Occidental and Yeguadilla Oriental barrios' names were changed to Buena Vista and Campo Alegre, respectively. As mentioned before, Pajuil barrio disappeared by the 1940 census being divided up between barrios Buena Vista, Naranjito, Corcovado and Campo Alegre. In 1947 the Planning Commission of Puerto Rico issued a new map of Hatillo municipality and its barrios. As a result of this new map, the central town was expanded to include part of Hatillo barrio (rural) and the name of "Corcovados" was changed to "Corcovado".

On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico. In Hatillo, residences and municipal buildings sustained damage. The 75 dairy farms which produce much of the milk consumed in Puerto Rico were greatly affected. Ranchers said milk production would decrease by up to 45% in 2017.[5] The hurricane triggered numerous landslides in Hatillo.[6][7]

Geography

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Mogotes on border of Hatillo and Sector Hess in Esperanza, Arecibo

Hatillo is a coastal town on the northern side of Puerto Rico, on the Northern Karst region.[8] There are 9 bridges in Hatillo.[9]

Barrios

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Subdivisions of Hatillo

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Hatillo is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a small barrio referred to as "el pueblo".[10][11][12][13]

Sectors

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Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)[14] and subbarrios,[15] are further subdivided into smaller areas called sectores (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.[16][17][18]

Special Communities

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Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (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 Hatillo: Altos de Fuego, Clan neighborhood, Aibonito, Naranjito, Bayaney, and Buena Vista.[19][20]

Tourism

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To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Hatillo page lists El Gran Parque del Norte, Hatillo Novalac, and Quesos Vaca Negra, as places of interest.[21]

Landmarks and places of interest

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According to a news article by Primera Hora, there are 10 beaches in Hatillo.[22] Other places of interest in Hatillo include:[23]

  • Antigua Central Bayaney
  • Francisco "Pancho" Deida Méndez Coliseum
  • Hacienda Santa Rosa Ruins
  • Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
  • José Antonio Monrouzeau Theater
  • Juan Carmelo "Tito" Rodríguez Donate Stadium
  • La Marina Beach
  • Los Ilustres Park
  • Paseo del Carmen
  • Plaza del Norte Mall
  • Sardinera Beach
  • Trapiche de Santa Rosa
  • Virgen del Carmen Parish
 
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
 
Playa Sardinera
 
Playa La Marina in Hatillo
 
Paseo del Carmen
 
Plaza del Norte Mall

Economy

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Hatillo, Puerto Rico human and cow population in 2010 sign
 
Sign of The Hatillo Cow

Agriculture

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Today, Hatillo is the major producer of milk on the island and produces a third of the milk consumed in Puerto Rico.[8]

Business

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Plaza del Norte is a shopping mall located in the barrio of Carrizales.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
190010,449
191010,6301.7%
192013,97931.5%
193016,16815.7%
194018,32213.3%
195020,87713.9%
196020,238−3.1%
197021,9138.3%
198028,95832.1%
199032,70312.9%
200038,92519.0%
201041,9537.8%
202038,481−8.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[24]
1899 (shown as 1900)[25] 1910-1930[26]
1930-1950[27] 1960-2000[28] 2010[12] 2020[29]

Culture

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Festivals and events

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Hatillo celebrates its patron saint festival in July. The Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Señora del Carmen is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[30][23] The festival has featured live performances by well-known artists such as Sonora Ponceña, Andy Montañez, Pedro Capó, Sie7e and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.[31]

Other festivals and events celebrated in Hatillo include:

  • Fiestas de la Cruz - May
  • Festival de la Herencia Canaria - May
  • Hatillo Music And Culinary Fest - May
  • Festival de la Caña de Azucar- May
  • Festival de la Leche Fresca - June
  • Hatillo es Bomba y Plena - October
  • Cooperative Movement Traditional festival- October
  • Festival de las Máscaras (Mask Festival)- December
  • Christmas festival - December

The Mask Festival began in 1823, and was imported by the immigrants from the Canary Islands, where the traditional festival originated. The early tradition of the festival required that the male population dress as women and they would visit each residence where the owners would offer them food and drinks. Currently the festival is celebrated every year on December 28. The Masks are fashioned and based on the biblical story of King Herod (Herod the Great). The costumes used are very elaborate and the Masks represent the soldiers which were sent by the King Herod to kill all boys age three and younger, after hearing about a new king being born as told by the Three Wise Men. The festival, however is presented in humor and said soldiers only joke around and ride on chariots.[23]

Symbols

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The municipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[32]

Flag

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The flag consists of three broad stripes - Blue, Yellow and Green. Blue represents the sea, yellow represents the material and artistic wealth of the town, and green represents the vegetation of its fields in all its territorial extension.[2][33]

Coat of arms

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On top of the shield is a gold crown with three towers over a silver field a Custard apple tree (Annona reticulata) and a field with two cows in gold which is over eight blue and silver-plated waves. At the center is a shield of "La Orden del Carmen". Under the shield the motto is inscribed, Hatillo Del Corazón.[2][33]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Hatillo Municipality Founding History and Symbols". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Joseph Prentiss Sanger; Henry Gannett; Walter Francis Willcox (1900). Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office (in Spanish). Imprenta del gobierno. p. 161. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "El futuro de los municipios". El Nuevo Dia. March 22, 2019. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  5. ^ "María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. María arruina al sector lechero en Hatillo" [Maria, a name we will never forget. Maria ruins the milk industry of Hatillo]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico". USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  7. ^ "Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico" (PDF). USGS Landslide Hazards Program. USGS. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Hatillo Municipality General Info (Location, Square Miles, Economy and Geography)". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Hatillo Bridges". National Bridge Inventory Data. US Dept. of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  10. ^ Picó, Rafael; Buitrago de Santiago, Zayda; Berrios, Hector H. Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  11. ^ Gwillim Law (May 20, 2015). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4766-0447-3. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  13. ^ "Map of Hatillo at the Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition". factfinder.com. US Census. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  15. ^ "P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Hatillo Municipio, PR" (PDF). www2.census.gov. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  16. ^ "Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget)". Puerto Rico Budgets (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  17. ^ Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (first ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  18. ^ "Leyes del 2001". Lex Juris Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. ^ Rivera Quintero, Marcia (2014), El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 (1st ed.), San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón, p. 273, ISBN 978-0-9820806-1-0
  20. ^ "Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  21. ^ Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando (in Spanish). Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico. 2021.
  22. ^ "Las 1,200 playas de Puerto Rico [The 1200 beaches of Puerto Rico]". Primera Hora (in Spanish). April 14, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  23. ^ a b c "Hatillo Municipality Festivals, Places, Mayor". enciclopediapr.org. Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH). Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  24. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  25. ^ "Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899". War Department, Office Director Census of Porto Rico. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  26. ^ "Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930, 1920, and 1910" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  27. ^ "Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities, Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  28. ^ "Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  29. ^ "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  30. ^ "Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico". Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  31. ^ "Fiestas Patronales de Hatillo 2014". sondeaquiprnet. El Gobierno Municipal de Hatillo. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  32. ^ "Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios". LexJuris de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "HATILLO". LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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