Salinas, Puerto Rico Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Salinas

Municipio de Salinas

Town Hall of Salinas

Flag	Coat of arms

Nicknames:

"El Pueblo del Mojo Isleño", "Cuna del Mojito Isleño", "Los Marlins"

Anthem: "Salinas"

Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Salinas Municipality

Commonwealth

Puerto Rico

Founded

July 22, 1851

Barrios

6 barrios

Aguirre
Lapa
Palmas
Quebrada Yeguas
Río Jueyes
Salinas barrio-pueblo

Area

• Total

69.7 sq mi (180.4 km²)

Population

(2020)

• Total

25,789

• Density

370.00/sq mi (142.95/km²)

• Racial groups
(2000 Census)

74.6%White
10.6% Black
0.4% American Indian/AN
0.1% Asian
0.1% Native Hawaiian/PI
9.8% Some other race
4.5% Two or more races

Salinenses

UTC-4 (AST)

00751

787/939

Major routes

Salinas is a town and municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama. Salinas is spread over 5 barrios and Salinas Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

It has long been a fishing spot for Puerto Ricans, known for its beaches, fish variety and the birthplace of the famous "mojo isleño".

Although Salinas doesn't have any commercial airports, there is a military training area there, Camp Santiago, which is one of the training centers of the Puerto Rico National Guard. Army National Guard, Air National Guard, State Guard, U.S. Army ROTC, U.S. Army Reserve and the U.S. Army also conduct military training at Camp Santiago.

History

Salinas was founded in July 22, 1841 by Don Agustín Colón Pacheco as Mayor, Don Jose Maria Cadavedo as Sargent of Arms, Don Juan Colon as Captain of the Civil Guard and five hacendados which were Don Antonio Semidey, Don Antonio Morelli, Don Francisco Secola, Don Julio Delannoy and Don Jose Antonio Torres.

Geography

Gorges: The Callao, La Palma y Majada and Pasto Viejo.
Lagoons: Mar Negro and Punta Arctias.
Rivers: Río Jájome, Río Jueyes, Río Lapa and Río Nigua (Río Salina).
Mountains: Cerro Las Tetas.

Cityscape

Barrios

Aguirre (Aguirre Central, Coquí,San Felipe, Las Mareas,Playita)
Lapa (Monte Grande, Coco,Parcelas Vazquez, Naranjo,Vertedero, Sabana Llana)
Palmas
Quebrada Yeguas (Bo. Plena)
Río Jueyes (Las 80,Playa)
Salinas Pueblo (Pueblo)

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

View of "El Cayo Matias" in Salinas

Albergue Olímpico (Olympic Hostel)
Aguirre Forest
Antigua Central Aguirre (Sugar Cane Mill)
Camp Santiago
Sports Museum
Playa Salinas

Culture

Festivals and events

Abey Carnival - February
- Abey - Cacique (Chief) of yucayeque-(village) in the area of Abeyno Salinas, Puerto Rico.
Pescao Festival - June
Matron Celebration - September
Festival Del Mojo Isleño

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	5,731	—
1910	11,403	99.0%
1920	12,971	13.8%
1930	15,446	19.1%
1940	19,400	25.6%
1950	23,435	20.8%
1960	23,133	−1.3%
1970	21,837	−5.6%
1980	26,438	21.1%
1990	28,335	7.2%
2000	31,113	9.8%
2010	31,078	−0.1%
2020	25,789	−17.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1960-2000 2010 2020

**Demographic distribution**
Race - Salinas, Puerto Rico - 2000 Census
Race	Population	% of Total
White	4,645	74.6%
Black/African American	647	10.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native	29	0.4%
Asian	8	0.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	2	0.1%
Some other race	599	9.8%
Two or more races	211	4.5%

Symbols

Flag

On a green rectangular field, five white isosceles triangles equal in size, placed in the center of the flag and forming a row that covers the extent of the background. The green represents the land and the triangles hills of salt from which the name of the town is derived.

Coat of Arms

The shield uses the traditional colors of the town; green and silver. The salt knolls indicate in graphical form the name of the town: Salinas. The fish refer to the fishing. The sugar cane leaves that surround the shield, symbolize the sugar cane plantations.

Economy

Agriculture

Picking tomatoes in Salinas

Salinas is one of the main agricultural producers on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It has large banana and papaya farms in its Lapa and Aguirre barrios. The Río Jueyes barrio is one of the main producers of beef in the south, counting with La Hacienda Las Carolinas which supplies Ganaderia Santiago, a slaughter house, with meat. Salinas also is headquarters for Canto Alegre, a company which specializes in poultry. This company supplies most of Puerto Rico's supermarkets with fresh poultry.

Business

Apparel
Commercial fishing: Salinas has a private marina with a hotel and convention center.

Industry

The Aguirre Sugar Cane Mill was the last operational sugarcane mill in Puerto Rico and closed its doors in 1993. The Central Aguirre Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic places but there are no current plans to renovate the area and is now mostly in ruins. Some other industries in Salinas include electrical and electronic machinery, plastics, sunglasses.