History

Founding

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

Horizontaly 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.

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.

Agriculture

Important milk producer.

Industrial

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

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

Notable Toalteños

• Dayanara Torres Delgado, Miss Universe 1993 and former wife of salsa-star Marc Anthony.
• Misael Morales - Puerto Rico's finest drummers, progressive rocker , lead drummer and percussionist of "Los Rockeros de la Montaña".

Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:18, October 23, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toa_Alta%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=81907943