Loíza, Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia : L : LO : LOZ : Loíza, Puerto Rico
Loíza (pronounced /lu.i.zæ / in English) is a small town and municipality (municipio) in the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico, near Canóvanas, Carolina and San Juan. The population of the municipality was 32,537 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Loíza is located at 18° 25' 11.5104" North, 65° 52' 23.1456" West (18.419864, -65.873096)According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 170.19 km² (65.71 mi²). 50.36 km² (19.44 mi²) of it is land and 119.83 km² (46.27 mi²) of it is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,537 people, 10,927 households, and 6,140 families residing in the municipality. The population density was 646.1/km² (1,673.4/mi²). There were 10,927 housing units at an average density of 217/km² (562/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 20.1% White, 67.2% Afro-Latino, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.0% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races.There were 10,927 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 29.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.39 and the average family size was 3.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 39.3% under the age of 19, 7.8% from 20 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years.
The median income for a household in the town was $8,962, and the median income for a family was $9,911. Males had a median income of $14,076 versus $12,903 for females. The per capita income for the town was $4,707. 67% of the population and 64.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 62.3% of those under the age of 18 and 59.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Recent history
A beach-town with apartment complex buildings, Loíza is on one of the two main landing paths to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport; pilots of airliners landing from the west at Luis Muñoz Marín usually fly over Loíza. The airport would today be part of Loiza, had Isla Verde not been annexed to Carolina and the residents of that area displaced. In the 1970s, an Aero Virgin Islands DC-3 plane crashed in a Loíza beach, with no fatalities.Loíza was populated by African freed or escaped slaves and Taino Indians early during the town's first years. Because of this, most of Loíza's population is of African and Taino descent. Due to neglect from the government, and ineffective mayors many in Loiza live below poverty as on the rest of the island.
In the early 30's, residents from Loiza were displaced from what is now Isla Verde in Carolina in order to build what was then called Isla Verde International Airport, but was later changed to Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport. These residents were moved to Sabana Abajo in Carolina. Because of this, many residents of this area in Carolina have their roots in Loiza, and many families claim to be from both areas.
One of Loiza's barrios, Loíza aldea, is famous across Puerto Rico because it has been a talent pool for dancers and artisans. Though "Loiza Aldea" refers to "El Pueblo" or "Downtown Loiza", many across the island refer to it as such as a means of discrimination as aldea means "village" in Spanish. Each year there is a celebration in Loiza where people parade around wearing Máscaras de Vejigante. Máscaras de Vejigante are a type of mask made in Loíza. They are made of coconut, and painted in multiple colors.
Loiza is known as "La Capital de la Tradicion"- "The Capital of Traditions"- for its "bomba" music, traditional Taino and African dishes, artisanry, and distinct culture. Loiza is home to such celebrities as the "Hermanos Ayala", Samuel Lind, Daniel Lind, DJ Eliel, etc. and many artists have roots in Loiza like Daddy Yankee (his father is known as El Negro from "Los Hermanos Ayala", Ramon Ayala), Don Omar, Lennox from "Zion y Lennox", Mackie from "Mackie y Yaga", DJ Joel, DJ Goldy, DJ Tito,Tego Calderon, and the list goes on and on.
References
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