COROZAL, PUERTO RICO

'Corozal' (ko-ro-ZAHL) is a municipality (''municipio'') of Puerto Rico located in the central-eastern region, north of Orocovis and Barranquitas; south Vega Alta; southwest of Toa Alta; east of Morovis and Orocovis; and west of Naranjito. Corozal is spread over 12 wards and Corozal Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
The city name is derived from the "palma de corozo" (grugru palm, Acrocomia media) which abounds in the central zone of the Island.

Contents

History

Flag

Coat of Arms

Demographics

'Barrios' (Districts/Wards)

Geo/Topography

Anthem

Economic

Agriculture

Business

Industrial

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

Festivals and events

Transportation

Education

Sports

References

Footnotes

Books about Corozal

Notable "Corozaleños"

Photo gallery

External links

History

Corozal's local Taino Indian Cacique (Chief) was called Orocobix and his yucayeque or tribe was known as the Jatibonicu Taino.
Corozal was founded in 1795 and officially became a town in 1804. Commonly known as ''La Cuna del Volibol'' or ''Volleyball's Crib''. It takes its name from the "palma de corozo" (''Acrocomia media''). Its population as of the 2000 census was 36,867, and it has a land area of 110.3 km².

Flag

Consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width, yellow the top, green the middle and blue the bottom, and in some instances the middle stripe could have embroidered or printed the Coat Of Arms

Coat of Arms

On a gold background three Corozo Palms, with clusters in their original color, planted on a green landscape and in front of a mountain range. At the bottom, blue and silver water waves sprinkled with gold nuggets. The three towercrown is gold with black stones.

Demographics

'Barrios' (Districts/Wards)

★ Abras ★ Barrio Pueblo ★ Cibuco ★ Cuchillas

★ Dos Bocas ★ Magueyes ★ Maná ★ Negros

★ Padilla ★ Palmarejo ★ Palmarito ★ Palos Blancos

Geo/Topography

★ Rivers are: Cibuco, Corozal, De los Negros and Grande de Manatí River,

★ Jacinta Ravine.

★ Caverna de los Quintero.

Anthem

By Aníbal Gándara Campo
Salve Perla de Sabana

salve, salve, salve

perla incomparable.

Salve, salve todos tus hijos

fieles vasallos hoy rendidos

te aclaman y en este himno.

Todo su amor te consagran.

Todo su amor te consagran.

Cual soberana perla te destacas

en un valle ameno de altivas palmeras,

ellas te ofrecen jugosos alimentos

y... te abanican gentil princesa.

Ríos y dos mares

perlas te desgranan

para enriquecerte.

Oh mi patria amada

más hay una perla

digna de tu gloria es Corozal

la perla más preciada.

Si el héroe mártir

y el saber de un hombre

la fama de un pueblo

crea y eterniza

su existencia toda

sin fin te proclaman

tus estudiosos y gallardos hijos.

Economic

Agriculture

Agriculture (bananas, specially the platain kind)

Business

Crafts

Industrial

Tourism

Corozal is home to the Historical Center of Cibuco, a park and museum with relics from the puertorican natives (''tainos'') as well as objects, paintings and artifacts from the town's history.
The Balalaika, it's a dinner, Liquor store that opened it's doors around circa 1878 and hasn't been closed since, with the exceptions of Hurricane Hugo and the occasional political elections. It's where author/ songwriter/ vocalist/ poetist and Space Pirate Gollo Costra was born and raised. It also serves as a Municipal Police Outpost.

Landmarks and places of interest

★ El Rancho Recreation Center

Festivals and events

★ Patron Festivities - January

★ Corozal Carnival - June

★ San Juan Bautista Carnival - June

★ Plantain Festival - September

★ Corozo Festival - October

Transportation

Education

The Public High School's name is: Emilio R. Delgado High School near Corozal's downtown at road 159, and Porfirio Cruz García High School in Barrio Cuchillas at road 568

Sports

Volleyball

References

★ Corozal and its barrios, United States Census Bureau

Footnotes

Books about Corozal

"Rosa Melchocho Grande" By: Albert J. Laforte Resto (AnasaZi)
"Como triunfar alrededor de las palmas de corozo y cerca de el medianito" por Pancho Rabia
"Bubu, un canino de mitos y leyendas (Un dia de Perro (titulo Mexico))" por Gollo Costra

Notable "Corozaleños"

★ Von Marie Santos

★ Eddie A. Perez - mayor of Hartford, Connecticut

★ Sixto Febus, artist-painter

★ Ramón Luis Acevedo, actual Professor of Hispanic Studies at the University of Puerto Rico and current member of the Academia Puertorriqueña de la Lengua Española

★ Rafael López Acevedo, tales writer

★ Emilio R. Delgado, poet and journalist that emigreted to Spain and escaped Franco's execution order.

Photo gallery

External links

★ Map of Corozal Puerto Rico