Juana Díaz (, ) is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an o ...

and

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

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...

located in the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya,

Ciales Ciales (, ) is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico, located on the Central Mountain Range, northwest of Orocovis; south of Florida and Manatí; east of Utuado and Jayuya; and west of Morovis. Ciales is spread over eight barrios and Ciale ...

Orocovis Orocovis (from Taino language, Orocobix popularly thought to mean "''remembrance of the first mountain''") is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range, north of Villalba and Coamo; south of Morovis and Cor ...

and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the

Caribbean Sea The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexic ...

to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 13 barrios and Juana Diaz Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the

Ponce Metropolitan Statistical Area The Ponce Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in south central Puerto Rico. A 1 July 2009 Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 262,414, a 0.95% decrease from the ...

. Juana Díaz is known as "La Ciudad del Mabí" (Mabí City). ''

Mabi Mauby (in Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Grenada, Guyana, Bermuda, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and Anguilla), also known as ''maví (or mabí)'' in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, ''mabi'' in ...

'' is a fermented Taíno beverage made out from the bark of the mabi tree '' Colubrina elliptica''.

History

Juana Díaz was founded in 1798 and was known as , in honor of the

Taíno The Taíno were a historic Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, indigenous people of the Caribbean whose culture has been continued today by Taíno descendant communities and Taíno revivalist communities. At the time of European contact in the ...

Cacique A ''cacique'' (Latin American ; ; feminine form: ''cacica'') was a tribal chieftain of the Taíno people, the indigenous inhabitants at European contact of the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. The term is a S ...

Jacaguax. The civil government of this territory was established on April 25, 1798. Puerto Rico was ceded by

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

in the aftermath of the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

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 ( fil, Kasunduan sa Paris ng 1898; es, Tratado de París de 1898), was a treaty signed by Spain and the United Stat ...

and became a territory of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

. 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, ...

conducted a

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Juana Díaz was 27,896. On September 20, 2017

Hurricane Maria Hurricane Maria was a deadly Category 5 hurricane that devastated the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly Dominica, Saint Croix, and Puerto Rico. It is regarded as the worst natural disaster in recorded history to affect ...

struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Juana Díaz, 2,500 homes lost their roof.

Geography

Juana Díaz is located on the southern coast. Several rivers run through the Juana Díaz territory, among them,

Río Inabón Río Inabón is one of one of the 14 rivers in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. With a length of some , it is Ponce's second longest river after Río Jacaguas. It is fed by the Río Anón, Río Guayo (which itself is fed by the Chiqu ...

and the

Río Jacaguas Río Jacaguas is a river shared between the municipalities of Ponce and Juana Díaz in Puerto Rico. It flows from north to south, draining into the Caribbean Sea east of the city of Ponce. One of the 14 rivers in the municipality of Ponce, i ...

, from which Juana Díaz takes it's nickname, "Ciudad del Jacaguas". The Guayabal dam between Juana Díaz and Villalba is located in this river. Among its main tributaries are Río Toa Vaca in Villalba, also dammed. Both Guayabal and Toa Vaca lakes are visible in the map. Lake Toa Vaca is also the main source of drinking water for Juana Díaz, Ponce and other towns. The highest point in the municipality is located close to the top of

Cerro Maravilla Cerro Maravilla is Puerto Rico's fourth highest peak at . It is located on the northern edge Barrio Anón in Ponce, close to the border with the municipality Jayuya, and is part of the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range). It is known as ...

Barrios

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Juana Díaz is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as . # Amuelas # Callabo # Capitanejo # Cintrona # Collores # Emajagual # Guayabal # Jacaguas #

Juana Díaz barrio-pueblo Juana Díaz barrio-pueblo is a barrio and the administrative center (seat) of Juana Díaz, a municipality of Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 3,977. As was customary in Spain, in Puerto Rico, the municipality has a barrio called ''pueblo' ...

# Lomas # Río Cañas Abajo # Río Cañas Arriba # Sabana Llana # Tijeras

Sectors

Barrios (which are like

minor civil divisions A minor civil division (MCD) is a term used by the United States Census Bureau for primary governmental and/or administrative divisions of a county or county-equivalent, typically a municipal government such as a city, town, or civil township. MCD ...

) and subbarrios, in turn, are further subdivided into smaller local populated place areas/units called sectores (''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. It is used across discipline ...

. 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 Juana Díaz: Arús (Pastillito), Callejón de los Perros (Los Buenos), Sector San Carlos in Collores, Sector Baldío in Cuevas, La Atómica, Las Palmas and Manzanilla.

Demographics

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

There are 30 beaches in Juana Díaz. * Guayabal Reservoir * Holy Kings Monument * (Three Kings Museum) * Lucero Cave *Plaza Román Baldorioty de Castro * Schoenstatt Shrine

Economy

Flamboyan tree, Juana Diaz, PR - panoramio

Agriculture

In the past, Juana Díaz was a large producer of

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

but with industrial development the sugar cane industry disappeared. Local

rum Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak barrels. Rum is produced in nearly every sugar-producing region of the world, such as the Ph ...

s are now produced from raw materials imported from other countries. Juana Díaz produces plantains, bananas, mangoes, and other crops that are consumed in the local markets and also exported to other countries. Cattle and pigs are also raised in local farms.

Industry

Juana Díaz is a producer of beige marble, one of the finest marbles in the world.

Culture

Festivals and events

Juana Díaz celebrates its

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

festival in late August / early September. 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 Juana Díaz include: * Three Kings Festival - January 6 - religious and cultural event which began in 1884 celebrating the visit of the

Three Kings The biblical Magi from Middle Persian ''moɣ''(''mard'') from Old Persian ''magu-'' 'Zoroastrian clergyman' ( or ; singular: ), also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men or (Three) Kings, also the Three Magi were distinguished foreigners in the ...

to baby Jesus. The main event is a parade down Comercio Street to the town's plaza where a big altar is set up for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist begins with an act of the Prophets announcing the coming of the

Messiah In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; , ; , ; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of '' mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach ...

. The prophesies are followed by the sighting of three kings by the shepherds. The

holy mass The Mass is the central liturgical service of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, in which bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Christ. As defined by the Church at the Council of Trent, in the Mass, "the same Chri ...

follows and at the end the Three Kings find and adore baby Jesus. Some people come to the festival dressed up as shepherds. * ( Mauby Festival) - March * Bull Frog Festival - April *

Good Friday Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Holy ...

- Juana Díaz celebrates many activities during Holy Week each year. The most notable is the Good Friday procession that transits through many of the urban communities with representations of the Stations of the Cross. Thousands of juanadinos and people from other towns visit Juana Díaz on Good Friday. *Llorensiana Week - May *Puerto Rican Festivities - December

Government

Like all municipalities in

, Juana Díaz is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Ramón Hernández Torres, from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Hernández was elected at the 2000 general election. Part of the city belongs to the

Puerto Rico Senatorial district V Puerto Rico Senatorial District V, also known as the Senatorial District of Ponce, is one of the eight senatorial districts of Puerto Rico. It is currently represented by Marially González Huertas and Ramón Ruiz Nieves (both from the Popular ...

, which is represented by two senators. In 2012,

Ramón Ruiz Ramón Ruiz Nieves is a Puerto Rican politician from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Ruiz was elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico in 2012. Ruiz was elected once again in the election in 2020 as District Senator. Ruiz was born in Arecibo. ...

and

Martín Vargas Morales Martín Vargas Morales (born December 12, 1971) is a Puerto Rican politician from the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Vargas served as Mayor of Guánica for three consecutive terms (2000-2012). He was elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico in ...

, from the Popular Democratic Party, were elected as district senators. The other part of the city belongs to the

Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI Puerto Rico Senatorial District VI, also known as the Senatorial District of Guayama, is one of the eight senatorial districts of Puerto Rico. It is currently represented by Miguel Pereira Castillo and Angel M. Rodríguez (from the Popular Demo ...

, which has been represented by

Miguel Pereira Castillo Miguel A. Pereira Castillo (born September 26, 1947) is a Puerto Rican politician, attorney, and public servant. Throughout his career, he has served in various government positions like Director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, Superintenden ...

and

Angel M. Rodríguez In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...

since 2012.

Symbols

The has an official flag and coat of arms.

Flag

The flag of Juana Díaz is rectangular in shape, formed by two triangles whose hypotenuse extends from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. The upper triangle is white, the symbol of silver and the lower triangle is yellow or gold. At its center is the coat of arms of Juana Díaz in its natural colors.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms features The Nazarene Cross. It is in the center of the coat of arms. It stands out subtly between furrows and space, symbolizing the union of two races by means of the inalienable bond of the Christian faith. The cross also symbolizes the western

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

culture. The woman represents - Mrs. Juana Díaz, the towns namesake - with her hands the woman strews thirteen grains of corn into thirteen furrows, symbolizing the seeds that germinated and were the base for the foundation and growth of our town. The woman dresses as those of her time. The sun symbolizes a new horizon, hope in the formation of a town. The sun within the coat of arms has thirteen rays, each represents one of the barrios of Juana Díaz. Thirteen knolls stand out in the coat of arms symbolizing each of the thirteen barrios or barrios of Juana Díaz. The mountains also symbolize that Juana Díaz has been one of the richest mineral towns in Puerto Rico. The Indians represents the natives who settled the village before the arrival of the white man. The native carries on his back thirteen sheathed arrows and a bow, and an arrow on his head. The bow and arrow represent the only effective means of defense useful for survival. The shackle and the whip represent Juana Díaz as the martyr of 1887 because the most heinous, repressive institution known at the time was enforced in our town, "El Componte". It was in Juana Díaz where liberal politicians and dedicated patriots were martyred because they fought against the tyranny imposed by Spanish General Romualdo Palacios. Palacios was the most tyrannical and cruel of all the governors of our nation. "El Componte", a military tribunal, was used to quiet the rebel voices of those who loved law and order. The harp represents the music, the quill pen dipped in the ink well represents the verse, the poetry. Juana Díaz has generously given distinguished poets to Puerto Rican literature. Ciudad del Jacaguas is the name by which Juana Díaz was known in the past. Many people knew Juana Díaz as the city of Jacaguas, but Luis Lloréns Torres dubbed it "La Versalles de Ponce" (Ponce's Versailles). Four Castles Represent that Juana Díaz reached the stature of city. Cities have five castles in their coat of arms, villages have four and smaller towns have three.

Transportation

Among the most important roads in Juana Díaz are the Luis A. Ferré Expressway ( PR-52) which connects Juana Díaz to Ponce and the airport in just minutes and

San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to: Places Argentina * San Juan Province, Argentina * San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province * San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province * San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...

in a little more than one hour. Other important roads include road PR-14 which runs through

downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ...

Juana Díaz on its route between Ponce and Cayey, road

PR-149 Puerto Rico Highway 149 (PR-149) is a secondary highway in Puerto Rico that connects the towns of Manatí in the north coast of Puerto Rico, from PR-22 to Juana Díaz in the south coast, ending at PR-1. It goes through Ciales, and is a divide ...

from Juana Díaz to Manatí running through Villalba and the " Cordillera Central" and road PR-1 which goes from Ponce to

through barrio Pastillo in the south coast of Juana Díaz. There are 51 bridges in Juana Díaz.

Notable "Juanadinos"

Natives of the Juana Diaz are referred to as "Juanadinos" within Puerto Rico. Among the most notable Juanadinos are: Tito Gomez- Salsa singer, known for his work with

Ray Barretto Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as La ...

La Sonora Ponceña La Sonora Ponceña is a Puerto Rican salsa band, founded in 1954 by Enrique "Quique" Lucca Caraballo. Today Quique's son, Papo Lucca, directs the band. The band has stayed active for a remarkable amount of time, recording dozens of albums, inclu ...

and

Grupo Niche Grupo Niche is a salsa group founded in 1978 in Bogotá, Colombia. In 1982, the group settled in the city of Cali, Colombia, enjoying great popularity throughout Latin America. It was founded by Jairo Varela and Alexis Lozano. Varela remained ...

Luis Lloréns Torres Luis Llorens Torres (May 14, 1876 – June 16, 1944), was a Puerto Rican poet, playwright, and politician. He was an advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico. Early years Llorens Torres was born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. His parents ...

- Famous Puerto Rican poet and essayist

Guillermo Jose Torres Guillermo () is the Spanish form of the male given name William. The name is also commonly shortened to 'Guille' or, in Latin America, to nickname 'Memo'. People *Guillermo Amor (born 1967), Spanish football manager and former player *Guillermo Ar� ...

- Puerto Rican reporter and news anchorman Hector Tricoche- Salsa singer known for his work as the lead singer for the Tommy Olivencia Orchestra Yayo El Indio - Salsa singer

Gallery

Puerto Rico Highway 52, PR-52, heading north, near the town of Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.jpg, Driving from Juana Díaz to Santa Isabel on PR-52 Iglesia de San Juan Bautista y San Ramon Nonato - Juana Diaz Puerto Rico.jpg, in barrio-pueblo Cueva Lucero - Juana Díaz Puerto Rico.jpg, Carvings on rock in Cueva Lucero TOFYBUSTO9.JPG, Puerto Rican singer Tommy Figueroa posing with his bust in the Center for Fine Arts in Juana Díaz

References

External links

Juana Díaz and its barrios, United States Census Bureau

Puerto Rico Government Directory - Juana Díaz
{{DEFAULTSORT:Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico Municipalities of Puerto Rico Populated coastal places in Puerto Rico Populated places established in 1798 Ponce metropolitan area