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| Aibonito, Puerto Rico | |||
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| Nickname(s): La Ciudad de las Flores", "La Ciudad Fría", "El Jardín de Puerto Rico", "La Nevera De Puerto Rico | |||
  Aibonito, Puerto Rico
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| Coordinates: 18°08′24″N 66°15′58″W / 18.14°N 66.26611°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| Territory | Puerto Rico | ||
| Founded | March 13, 1824 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Hon. William Alicea Perez (PNP) | ||
| - Senatorial dist. | 6 - Guayama | ||
| - Representative dist. | 27 | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 31.5 sq mi (81.61 km2) | ||
| - Land | 31.5 sq mi (81.6 km2) | ||
| - Water | 0 sq mi (.01 km2) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Gentilic | Aiboniteños | ||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | ||
| Anthem - "Aibonito" | |||
Aibonito (uh-EE-boh-NEE-toh) is a small mountain town in Puerto Rico located in the Mountain range of Cayey, north of Salinas; south of Barranquitas and Comerio; east of Coamo; and west of Cidra, and Cayey. Aibonito is spread over 8 wards and Aibonito Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Aibonito is located on a relative high elevation (its main plaza is the highest in the island at 2,401 ft/731 m above sea level), thus cooler year round than many of island towns.
Aibonito's current population is 8,463 people.
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History
The first Catholic church in Aibonito was built in 1825. The building was replaced by the current church, which was started in 1887 and completed in 1897. The name of the town of Aibonito is a corruption of the Taino word Jatibonicu and derives its name from Jatibonicu. Aibonito's local Taino Indian Cacique (Chief) was called Orocobix and his yucayeque or tribe was known as the Jatibonicu Taino. Also for the first time in Aibonito's history, on November 4, 2008 Hon. William Alicea Perez (known as Willie) of the "Partido Nuevo Progresista", won the elections, beating former mayor Hon. Jose Alberto Diaz (PPD) by 3,658 votes.
Flag
Blue for the sky, white for air purity, red for love of the own motherland, and gold (yellow) for the traditional Hispanic values.
Coat of arms
The shield is divided in four corners or quarters. The superior left corner represents the Asomante where last battles of the Hispano-American War took place, symbolized by the sword.
In the right corner we find: a white band symbolizing the fog that covers the Aiboniteños valleys and mountains in winter; on a blue field, a purple color flower typical of the region and declared official by the organizers of the First Festival of the Flowers in 1969; and in the inferior end a golden lily to remember San José, patron of the Parochial Church of the town and also symbolizing Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez, first Puerto Rican Cardinal of the Catholic Church. The bottom left corner on a blue background is placed the gold tower of the Manresa House to symbolize the spiritual value that such institution represents for all Puerto Rico. In the right corner a divided mountain of green color which represents the San Cristóbal Canon with a seashell in the superior part that symbolizes Apostle Santiago
Demographics
Barrios (Districts/Wards)
- Aibonito Pueblo—including Bda. San Luis
- Asomante
- Algarrobo
- Caonillas
- Cuyón
- Llanos
- Pasto
- Plata
- Robles[1]
Geography
Mountains; Asomante (2,042 ft), La Sierra (2,394 ft) and the Torre Degetau (2,109 ft).
Rivers; Río de Aibonito, Río Cuyón, Río de la Plata and Río Usabón.
Illustrious People
- Miguelon
- Elvin Perez
- Chanfle
- Pablo "The Librarian"
- Christian Ortiz Vega (12-5)
- Los Mayeyos
- Jefet21
Economy
Agriculture
Mainly flowers, some tobacco and coffee
Large chicken producer such as Pollos To-Ricos hailed from here.
Cattle production
Business
The Factory Baxter is of the biggest one in the Caribbean and the US, It produces medical tools for the hospitals and other medical uses.
Industrial
Clothing, furniture and tapestry as well as pottery and ceramics;
Tourism
Festivals are one of the main tourist attractions, as well as looking around the landmarks and places of interest. People love to buying flowers and the little trees that are for sale. The Festival Of The Flowers, which takes place in July, is visited by people from all around the world.
Landmarks and places of interest
- Cañon de San Cristóbal - Between Barranquitas and Aibonito
- Casa Manresa - Aibonito
- La Piedra de Degetau - Aibonito
- La Trinchera de Asomante - Aibonito
Festivals and Events
- Fiestas de Pueblo - August
- Aibonito is known for its flowers, and every year, many visitors from other Puerto Rican areas and other countries are attracted to Aibonito's annual Festival de las Flores (Festival of the Flowers). - July
- Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Celebrations) - July
- Festival del Pollo - August (No longer Active)
- Maratón del Pavo - November
- Festival de la Montaña - November
Climate
Aibonito holds the record for the lowest temperature in Puerto Rico. That is 40 °F (4 °C) on March 9, 1917. Aibonito is the second or first in the lowest temperature, Adjuntas is its competition. Aibonito can reach a very low temperature and a high one too.
Sports
Aibonito had a BSN basketball franchise, the Polluelos de Aibonito. In 1986, with such players as Angel Cachorro Santiago, Enrique Aponte, Willie Melendez and Panama's Rolando Frazer, the Polluelos, sponsored by To-Ricos, beat the defending champions Jose Piculin Ortiz and his Atleticos de San German in seven games (game seven score: 94-92 Aibonito) to win their only championship. In 1987, the Polluelos reached the finals once again, but that time, they lost in seven games to the Titanes de Morovis. Recently, the Polluelos have not been able to see action on the BSN's tournaments because of economic and team ownership problems.
Aibonito also practices baseball, volleyball, soccer, track and field, and tennis.
References
External links
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