San Lorenzo (sanh lo-REN-zo) Saint Lawrence) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the eastern central region, north of Patillas and Yabucoa; south of Gurabo; east of Caguas and Cayey; and west of Juncos and Las Piedras. San Lorenzo is spread over 10 wards and San Lorenzo Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

San Lorenzo is called El Pueblo de los Samaritanos or La Tierra de Leyendas, The surrounding areas produce tobacco and sugar cane.

History

San Lorenzo was founded in 1811 by Valeriano Muñoz de Oneca. Its original name was San Miguel de Hato Grande.

Flag

The flag of San Lorenzo is divided in four rectangles of equal size. The superior left and the inferior right are yellow. The superior right and inferior left are formed by horizontal stripes of equal width: two yellow and three red ones, alternated.

http://www.vexilla-mundi.com/san_lorenzo_flag.gif (to see the flag)

Coat of Arms

The grill is the traditional symbol of San Lorenzo, deacon and martyr, patron of the town, because in a grill he underwent the martyrdom, slowly burned to death. The hill or mountain represent the Gregorio Hill, which dominates the San Lorenzo panorama. The cross is one of the heraldic attributes of San Miguel Arcángel.

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/p/pr)sl.gif (to see the coat of arms)

Demographics

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

Cayaguas Cerro Gordo Espino Florida Hato

Jagual Quebrada Quebrada Arenas Quebrada Honda Quemados

Geo/Topography

• Cayey Mountain Range.

Rivers; Cayaguás, Emajagua, Grande de Loíza and Las Vegas.

Anthem

Son tus campos de bellísimo verdor
y tu gente como ninguna
pueblo que guardas en tus suelos
una historia de inmenso valor.
Posees riquezas dignas de admirar
el Río Grande y el Cerro Gregorio.
Vistes de fe y esperanza nuestro ser
cuando hablamos de tu santa montaña.

Oh, Samaritana eres mujer ejemplar
nuestro gran tesoro fue heredar tu identidad.
Orgulloso yo viviré del pueblo que represento
con la frente en alto te diré es mi pueblo
San Lorenzo, San Lorenzo.

Economic

Agriculture

However, due to urban sprawl and heavy construction, San Lorenzo has become a sub-urban zone, and little agricultural activity is left.

Business

Industrial

• Clothing, Pharmaceuticals, Footwear, Electromechanical equipment, Industrial and household paints

Tourism

Landmarks and places of interest

• Santuario de la Virgen del Carmen en la Santa Montaña (Holy Mountain)
• Priscilla Flores Theater
• Quintana Ranch
• Gallera San Carlos - OPEN Tuesday,Thursday,Friday,Saturday,Sunday Tel-(787) 734-7126
• Rio Grande de Loiza
• Iglesia (Church) Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes - registered National Historic Site and Monument built circa 1737 and renovated in 1993.

Festivals and events

• Three Kings Caroling - January
• Cavalcade Moncho Roldán - January
• Candelaria Celebrations - February
• Kite Festival - March
• Cross Celebrations - May
• Matron Celebrations - September
• Embroidering and Weave Festival - September
• Passion Fruit Festival - November

Education

Sports

• AA Class Baseball Club "Samaritanos" - multiple National Champions
• Agustin Reyes Half Marathon

Notable "Sanlorenceños"

• Ana C. Buxo de Echevarria
• Andres Gomez Vazquez
• Elmer Figueroa Arce "Chayanne" - (1968- ) - Singer & actor.
• Carmita Jimenez - International singer.
• Genaro Morales Muñoz - Investigating journalist.
• José Tous Soto - Lawyer & senator.
• Julia Vazquez Vda. de Fernandez "La Samaritana"
• Priscila Flores - Puertorrican traditional music singer.
• Rafael Ortiz Cuadrado- Poet, educator, has hand made all diplomas granted from kindergarten to high school.
• Cristobal "Caguitas" Colon - Business person, founding father of the local baseball club "Samaritanos" and an advocate of sports and cultural activities in San Lorenzo. The modern local baseball stadium is named on his honor.
• Jose Aponte Hernandez - (2004 - Present) Hon. President Puerto Rico House of Representatives
• Roberto Silva Gomez - trovador (folk music singer) Grupo Mapeye. Winner of Bacardi Fest.
• Jose "El Invader #1" Huertas Gonzalez - Retired professional wrestler

References

• San Lorenzo and its barrios, United States Census Bureau

Footnotes

Books about San Lorenzo

Additional Information

Photo gallery

External links