Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): "La Ciudad del Toa", "Cuna de Poetas", "Ciudad del Josco"
Motto: "Todo un Pueblo"
Anthem: "Cuna de historia y de grandes poetas"

Location of Toa Alta in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°23′18″N 66°14′54″W / 18.38833°N 66.24833°W / 18.38833; -66.24833Coordinates: 18°23′18″N 66°14′54″W / 18.38833°N 66.24833°W / 18.38833; -66.24833
Sovereign State United States
Founded 1751
Government
 • Mayor Hon. Clemente "Chito" Agosto (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist. 2 - Bayamón
 • Representative dist. 11
Area
 • Total 27.44 sq mi (71.08 km2)
 • Land 27.37 sq mi (70.88 km2)
 • Water 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2)
Elevation 236 ft (72 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 74,066
 • Density 2,700/sq mi (1,000/km2)
Demonym(s) Toalteños
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
Zip code 00953, 00954
Area code +1 (spec. +1-787 and +1-939)
Website Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

Toa Alta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtoa ˈalta]) 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 (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.[1]

History

Toa Alta located west of the capital city of San Juan, the town was founded in 1751 making it one of the oldest towns on the Island. The construction of the San Fernando Rey church in the town square began in 1752. The name Toa Alta comes from the Taino word for valley, "Thoa". Over the years, agriculture became an important economic force in the area. At the peak of the agricultural economy, the town was also known as the "Granja de los Reyes Católicos" (the Farm of the Catholic Monarchs). The town is also called "Ciudad del Josco". The town is commonly known by its nickname "La Cuna de los Poetas," or "Cradle of Poets," due to the numerous Spanish-language poets who were born there, such as Abelardo Diaz Alfaro and the musician Tomás "Masso" Rivera.

Geography

Toa Alta Northern Coastal Plain and to the karst zone.

Cityscape

Barrios

  • Contorno[2]
  • Galateo
  • Mucarabones/Bucarabones
  • Ortiz
  • Piñas
  • Quebrada Arenas
  • Quebrada Cruz
  • Río Lajas

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

Culture

Festivals and events

Government

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Toa Alta is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Clemente Agosto, from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Agosto was elected at the 2012 general election.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district II, which is represented by two Senators. Migdalia Padilla and Carmelo Ríos Santiago have served as District Senators since 2005.[3]

Symbols

Flag

Horizontally divided in three, the bottom and top red stripes double the size of the center yellow stripe. In the upper left corner a yellow eight point star. The original design was elaborated by professor Herman E. Perez and adopted by the City Council in 1983

Coat of arms

The shield in gold, a red board with a silver sword topped with a gold crown of the same metal, to each side two small shields in red, the right-hand one with a tower in gold and the left-hand one with a gold eight point star, a five tower crown lined in black with red openings. Motto: Non Deserit Alta. Prof. Herman E Pérez included in the Coat of Arm this motto so that the present and future generations will remember: “not abandon higher principles and values”

Education

Toa Alta counts with several public and private schools distributed through several regions. Public education is handled by the Puerto Rico Department of Education.[4]

Elementary schools

Colegio Nacional de PR

Middle and junior high schools

High schools

Notable natives and residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gobierno de Puerto Rico - Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
  2. ↑ Welcome to Puerto Rico - Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
  3. ↑ Elecciones Generales 2008: Escrutinio General on CEEPUR
  4. ↑ Educacion - Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
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