Ceiba, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ceiba Municipio de Ceiba
Town and Municipality
Town Hall of Ceiba
Flag Coat of arms
Nicknames:  "Los Come Sopas", "La Ciudad del Marlin", "Los Sin Sopa"
Anthem: "Ceiba"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Ceiba Municipality
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Founded	April 7, 1838
Barrios	8 barrios Ceiba barrio-pueblo Chupacallos Daguao Guayacán Machos Quebrada Seca Río Abajo Saco
Area
• Total	77.33 sq mi (200.28 km2)
• Land	27.2 sq mi (70.5 km2)
• Water	50.11 sq mi (129.78 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,307
• Density	146.220/sq mi (56.456/km2)
Demonym(s)	ceibeños
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Codes	00735, 00742
Area code(s)	787/939
Major routes

Ceiba is both a small town and a municipality in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the north-east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, south of Fajardo, north of Naguabo and southeast of Río Grande. Located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan, Ceiba is spread over 7 barrios and Ceiba Pueblo (the downtown area and administrative center). It is part of the Fajardo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Ceiba was founded on April 7, 1838 by Luis de la Cruz. 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 (Kapok).

Geography

Ceiba is home of the Ceiba Forest (787) 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. Its rivers includes; Río Daguao, Río Demajagua and Río Fajardo.

The municipality extends northwest into the seas between Fajardo and Culebra and thereby includes the reefs and islets named Arrecifes Hermanos and Arrecifes Barriles. The reef are closest to the coastal barrio (ward) of Machos, but barrio boundaries are not defined in that area.

Cityscape

Barrios

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

• Ceiba Historic Mural
• Los Machos Beach
• Medio Mundo Beach
• Roosevelt Roads Base (a former United States Navy installation which is now closed)
• The cellist Pablo Casals lived in Ceiba.

Culture

Festivals and events

• Enamorado (Lovers) Marathon - February
• Air Show - April 2/3
• Marlin Festival - May - June
• Fiestas Patronales-San Antonio de Padua (Patron Saint Festivities) - June
• Fiesta Nacional de la Raza (Race) - October
• Marathon Del Pavo - November
• Encendido Navideño - December

Sports

Former IBF world Jr. Middleweight boxing champion Carlos Santos hails from Ceiba. Ceiba also has an amateur AAA baseball team Los Marlins de Ceiba. Chi-chi Rodrigez, Pro golfer is from Ceiba.

Religion

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.

Transportation

José Aponte de la Torre Airport offers commercial (mostly domestic) flights on four airlines; it also houses an MD-82 jet donated by American Airlines to local air mechanics students.

There are 29 bridges in Ceiba.

Symbols

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.

Shield

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.

Economy

Manufacturing (plywood, apparel, hardware products).

Demographics

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Ceiba include:

• Carlos Santos - former IBF Junior Middleweight Champion of the World.
• Domingo Quiñones - although born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey; Domingo Quiñones moved to Ceiba at the early age of 4 and lived there until the age of 14.
• Pablo Casals - built his home in Ceiba at the age of 80; the place was known as "El Pesebre".
• Rogelio Figueroa Garcia - was born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico; however, was raised in Parcelas Aguas Claras (Barrio El Corcho) in Ceiba. He is a Puerto Rican engineer, a politician, and the co-founder of the Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico (PPR) political party.
• McJoe Arroyo - IBF Super Flyweight world boxing champion
• Jaron Brown - is a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. He was born in Ceiba, PR.
• Isabel Rosado Morales - was born in Barrio Chupacallo in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. She studied in La Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Rico Piedras and obtained a bachellor's degree in Education and Social Work. During the 1930's she was a rural teacher, position she held during 14 years. Alongside Blanca Canales, Carmen Rivera de Alvarado and other women, she was a founding member of La Sociedad Insular de Trabajadores Sociales, known today as Colegio de Trabajadores Sociales de Puerto Rico. She was a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and activist for the Puerto Rican Independence Movement. She lived until reaching the age of 107.

Images for kids

• 

  Subdivisions of Ceiba.

• 

  Bridge on PR-971 between Fajardo and Ceiba near Las Tinajas, Charco Frio and Hacienda Tinajas, tourist attractions just inside the eastern side of the El Yunque National Forest

• 

  National Guard working in Ceiba after the hurricane

See also

In Spanish: Ceiba (Puerto Rico) para niños