Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

Toa Alta (TO-ah AHL-tah) 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 8 wards and Toa Alta Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

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 Kings). 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.

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.

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 three tower crown lined in black with red openings. Motto: Non Deserit Alta.

Demographics

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

Contorno
Galateo
Mucarabones
Ortiz

Piñas
Quebrada Arenas
Quebrada Cruz
Río Lajas

Geo/Topography

Toa Alta Northern Coastal Plain and to the karst zone.

Anthem

By Israel Rivera Náter

¡Cuna de historia y de grandes poetas;
Así es mi valle de verde tambor;
Valle hermosísimo, donde Abelardo
cinceló en lágrimas su gesta de amor!

¡Valle de luchas y de profundo llanto
donde Morales, nuestro héroe y cantor;
esculpió en letras de oro y de sangre
la libertad sagrada en nuestro corazón!

¡Oh Toa Alta, mi pueblo inmortal
tu gente levanta con orgullo
la radiante bandera de tu fundación!

¡Oh Toa Alta, mi pueblo inmortal
me abrazaré a tu escudo,
a la tierra y al honor!

Cuna de hermosas mujeres.
¡Oh tierra josca de mi ensoñación;
donde las cuerdas de un cuatro
encantado remolinó a los pájaros
y éstos en su empeño despertaron a Dios.

Revolcaron la cama
de un noble trovador
que una tarde de lluvia
le regaló una décima
como ofrenda de amor.

Vivan por siempre, por siempre vivan,
la raza, el empeño y el amor.
Vivan la fauna, el cielo, la montaña y el valle
en que se bañan con tus noches estrelladas
que amanecen galanas con la hermosa
sonrisa del inolvidable sol.

Economic

Agriculture

Important milk producer

Business

Industrial

Scientific instruments, food, clothing, leather articles, rubber and plastic articles

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

Legendary Tree
Masso Rivera Municipal Teather
Masso Rivera Statue
Recreo Egozcué Plaza
San Fernando Rey Parish
Villa Tropical Recreation Center

Festivals and events

Chopa Marathon - March
Patron Celebrations - May
Typical Musica - November

Transportation

Education

Sports

Notable "Toalteños"

Dayanara Torres Delgado, Miss Universe 1993 and former wife of salsa-star Marc Anthony.
Angel E. Rodriguez Cabrera, Former Mayor The first Toa Alta Mayor in the JAIL.

References

Toa Alta and its barrios, United States Census Bureau

Footnotes

Books about Toa Alta

Additional Information

Photo gallery

External links

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Coordinates: 18°23′18″N, 66°14′54″Wbpy:টৱা আলটা, পুয়ের্তো রিকো

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