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Humacao, Puerto Rico

(oo-mah-KOU)

Humacao is located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage.

Humacao is known as "La Perla del Oriente" (pearl of the orient) and "La Cuidad Gris" (gray city). The city was founded on April, 1722 and became autonomous (town) in 1793. Humacao derives its name from a local Indian chief Jumacao.

Off shore near (1 km) Humacao is an island inhabited by Rhesus monkeys once used for scientific experiments back in the 1930s. Cayo Santiago (15.2 ha (38 acres) host one of two field stations of the Caribbean Primate Research Center in the island. The small island contains a population of approximately 800 monkeys, which are direct descendants of the original 409 monkeys imported from India and released onto the island in 1938. Research policy strictly limits the number of visitors allowed on the island at any one time, but you can cruise around it and snorkel nearby, observing the monkeys from a distance that is safe for both you and the animals.

Humacao's small airport is served by Vieques Air Link with a daily flight from Vieques.

The town has light industry, including textiles, plastic products, and castor-oil extracting. The surrounding area produces coffee, sugarcane, rice, and tobacco.

There are many well-known "humacaeños", among them:

  • Luis Rafael Sánchez
  • Osiris Delgado
  • Rita Moreno
  • Emilio E. Huyke
  • Felipe Janet
  • Antonia Saez
  • Juan Pena Reyes,
  • Federico Acosta Velarde
  • Jus Luis Rivera "Yoyo Boing"
  • Lito Pena
  • Lucy Fabery
  • Luis Somalea Iglesias

Humacao is made up of 13 barrios (wards/districts):

  • Antón Ruiz
  • Buena Vista
  • Candelero Abajo
  • Candelero Arriba
  • Cataño
  • Collores
  • Mabú
  • Manbiche
  • Mariana
  • Pueblo
  • Punta Santiago
  • Río Abajo
  • Tejas

Rivers:
Antón Ruíz, Candelero and Humacao

Restaurants

Accommodations

Festivals and Events

Education

There are 31 public schools in Humacao, education is handled by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Humacao is also home of 5 colleges and universities.

Climate

The annual precipitation is around 98 inches.

10 Day Forecast

Symbols

Humacao's Coat of Arms

The coat of arms consists of two colors, gold and green. The gold represents the sun, Humacao is located in the island were the sun rises. Green symbolizes the native Indian heritage as well as the natural tropical valley where the city is located. The shield itself represents Humacao's native and Indian name origin.

It consists of three horizontal stripes: gold that stands for Chief Jumacao's crown, red that symbolizes the Coat of Arms and the green that represents the arrows used by the Taínos.

Anthem:
Humacao, hijo de taíno bravío...

Demographics *

Population
50,896

Puerto Rico: 3,285,874

Land Area: 44.75 sq mi

Density: 1,153.60 per sq mi

Median Age: 44.5

Sex: 53% female

Economics **

Per capita income
$13,832
Puerto Rico: $21,058

Median household income: $21,802
Puerto Rico: $21,058

Persons below poverty line: 39.8%

Housing, families and educational attainment *

Number of households
13,914
Housing units density:
627.9 (2013)

Persons per household: 2.88

High school grad or higher: 79.3%

Marital status: 41% married

* U.S. Census Bureau 2020 data, unless otherwise noted - Source: Quick Facts Puerto Rico.
** U.S. Census Bureau 2016-2020

Map References

Coordinates: 18.1497° N, 65.8275° W

Zip Code: 00741, 00791, 00792

Driving Distance from San Juan: 30.8 miles

Driving Time: 1 hours, 2 minutes




Did You Know?

Puerto Rico has a larger population in the western hemisphere than Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, and the same or more population than 30 of the 50 states of the US.