Ceiba, Puerto Rico
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Ceiba is a small town in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree.
Brief Summary
Ceiba, situated near Fajardo, used to be home of an American military air-base, the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. Most of the units there were relocated and the base was closed on 2004. Ex-governor Sila María Calderón suggested turning the property into a major international airport, to serve as a relief to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, and to increase the number of international airlines that operate into Puerto Rico. She has was met with skepticism about these plans by such groups as environmentalists, economists and others, and the situation as far as what will be done with Ceiba's old air base is still being debated.History and Location
Ceiba was founded on April 7, 1838 by Luis de la Crap. Ceiba derives its name from an Indian word Seyba, which is the name for a famous tree that grows in the island, the Ceiba Pentandra.Ceiba is located in the east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Naguabo, south of Fajardo, and east of Río Grande. Its rivers are: Daguao, Fajardo and Demajaguas. The annual precipitation is approximately 1.312 mm and the average temperature is 78 °F.
Wards: Chupacallos, Daguao, Guayacán, Machos, Quebrada Seca, Pueblo, Río Abajo and El Saco.
Driving Distance from San Juan: 33.0 miles *
Driving Time from San Juan: 1 hour, 1 minute *
Land Area: 70 km² (27.5 sq mi)
Water Area: 129.78 km²
Population: 18,004
Density: 251.8 per km² (654.6 per sq mi)
Housing Units: 6,742
Housing Density: 232.1
Per Capita Income: $9,256
Source: 2000 Census
Interesting facts
The city is known as "La Ciudad del Marlin" (the town of the Marlin).Locals are commonly known as "Las Come Sopa" (Soup Eaters), eventhough there is no official reason on why they were called this a few stories have been suggested. Among the tales is the belief that since the town did not have a local meat market people had to travel long distances in order to buy some meat and therefore mostly ate soup.
Ceiba is home of the Ceiba Forest which extends along the coastline between Ceiba and Fajardo. 95% of the forest is classified as mangrove. Various species of birds can be seen as well as turtles and manatees.
There are many well-known "Ceibiños", among them: former San Juan mayor Felisa Rice de Gautier and actor Luis Vigoreaux.
Former IBF world Jr. Middleweight boxing champion Carlos Santos hails from Ceiba.
Religious outlook: As in most towns of Puerto Rico it was founded on the Christian ideas and faith statements of the Catholic church which prevailed in previous centuries through spaniard tradition. The town still maintains a central Catholic church which can be found in the town square. Today, protestants make up most of the proclaimed christians in the town with almost a 100 small churches scattered among the different wards.
Local Patrimony
Hymn: CeibaLetra: Carmen E. Pérez
Música: Lito Peña
Ceiba...
bello rincón de mi tierra
de tí se nutre mi vida
y la savía de mis venas
por tí la ezperanza mía
florece en mi pensamiento.
Y por tí lanzo orgulloso
mi voz a los cuatro vientos
No cambio tus arboledas
ni campos ni riachuelos
ni este sol que vivifica
ni este pedazo de cielo
porque sería quitar
a Dios de mi pensamiento.
Y por tí Ceiba querida
ofrezco mi vida entera
resguardado por tu escudo
y abrazo a tu bandera.
Flag: Ceiba's flag derives its design and colors from the municipal coat of arms. This maintains the same symbolism given to the coat of arms. It is made of two vertical lines of the same width, red in the left side and green on the right. The red side depicts a yellow cross.
Coat of Arms: It depicts a shield with golden field with a Ceiba tree in the middle. In the upper part of the shield it has a red horizontal line with a golden cross in the middle and two golden flowers in each side. The cross symbolizes the Christian faith as well as a recognition to Don Luis de la Cruz who founded the town. The golden flowers represent sugar cane flowers. Above the shield there is a golden Spanish fort.
Local Events:
Maratón de los Enamorados - Febrero
Festival de Marlin - Mayo - Junio
Fiestas Patronales - Junio
Fiesta Nacional de la Raza - Octubre
Maratón del Pavo - Noviembre
Places of interest:
Mural Histórico de Ceiba
Playa Los Machos
Playa Medio Mundo
Roosevelt Roads Base
Mayor: Hon. Lex Camacho
P.O. Box 224
Ceiba, P.R. 00735
(787) 885 -2180
Patron Saint: San Antonio de Padua
Traditional Catholic Church: Parroquia San Antonio de Padua
Apartado 77
Ceiba, P.R. 00735
Tel. (787) 885-2530
References and Related
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