History

Gurabo's history dates as far back as the 1600s, when Gurabo was actually part of Caguas. Then, the area was known as Burabo. By 1700, transportation, medical and economic trouble were crippling the population of the Burabo area; traveling to Caguas' center for business and medical help was not easy and took hours. This led to many of Burabos citizens to seek for the area to gain autonomy.

It would be long, however, before Gurabo was separated from Caguas. The separation movement was brought forward by a 1812 meeting of all 168 family leaders in Gurabo, who decided to have Luis del Carmen Echevarría lead them in their quest for autonomic independence, based on the large number of residents in Burabo.

In 1815, Gurabo became a municipality. In 1822, the first Catholic church in town was erected. In 1903, the First Baptist Church opened its doors in Gurabo town.

Gurabo is also known as "La Ciudad de las Escaleras", or "city of the stairs", for which Gurabo is known today for. Located in the town center, the stairs are about twenty two floors high, and they are painted in bright colors. They cross an important business area of Gurabo. Gurabo's mayor is "Manolito".

Flag
With eleven stripes, six green and five yellow, alternated, the yellow with the superior (top) edge indented forming a stairway.

Coat of Arms
In a green field resides a widened gold patriarcal cross. Below the bottom arm are two shields in silver. The one on the left has a fleur de lis and the one on the right three lilies with stems in a natural way. Three towers in gold crown the shield.

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

• Celada
• Hato Nuevo
• Jaguar
• Jaguas
• Mamey
• Masas
• Navarro
• Rincón
• Santa Rita

Geo/Topography

• Loiza River

Agriculture
Dairy Farms

Industrial
Manufacturing (metal, paper, plastics, chemistries, phamaceuticals, textiles, electrical and electronic equipment, and electrical machinery)

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

• Centro de Exposición
• Cofresí Park
• Del Turabo University Museum
• Hacienda Mirador
• Loíza Lagoon

Festivals and events

• San José Patron Festivities - March
• Mapeyé Festival - October

Education

Turabo University at Gurabo

Notable "Gurabeños"

• Ángel Celestino Morales
• Ángel Viera Martínez
• Luis del Carmen Echevarría
• Nilda González Monclova

Gurabo, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:07, October 20, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gurabo%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=79892172