Manatí is a municipality

Municipality

A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...

 of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

 in the northern coast, north of Morovis

Morovis, Puerto Rico

Morovis is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region of the island, north of Orocovis, south of Manatí, Vega Baja and Vega Alta; east of Ciales, and west of Corozal. Morovis is spread over 13 wards and Morovis Pueblo...

 and Ciales

Ciales, Puerto Rico

Ciales is a municipality of Puerto Rico, located on the Central Mountain Range, northwest of Orocovis; south of Florida and Manatí; east of Utuado and Jayuya; and west of Morovis. Ciales is spread over eight wards and Ciales Pueblo...

; east of Florida

Florida, Puerto Rico

Florida is a municipality of Puerto Rico located north of Ciales, south of Barceloneta, east of Arecibo, and west of Manatí. Florida is spread over one ward and Florida Pueblo...

 and Barceloneta

Barceloneta, Puerto Rico

Barceloneta is a municipality in Puerto Rico and is located in the north region, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Florida, east of Arecibo and west of Manati. Barceloneta is spread over 3 wards and Barceloneta Pueblo...

; and west of Vega Baja

Vega Baja, Puerto Rico

Vega Baja is a municipality in north central Puerto Rico located in the northern coast, north of Morovis; east of Manatí; and west of Vega Alta. Vega Baja is spread over 13 wards and Vega Baja Pueblo...

. Manatí is spread over 8 wards and Manatí Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Barrios (districts/wards)

• Bajura Adentro
• Bajura Afuera
• Coto Norte
• Coto Sur
• Los Rabanos
• Manatí Pueblo
• Río Arriba Poniente
• Río Arriba Saliente
• Tierras Nuevas Poniente
• Tierras Nuevas Saliente

History

Manatí was founded in 1738 by Don Pedro Menendez Valdes. It is named after a sea mammal, the manatee

Manatee

Manatees are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows...

(which are also known as sea cows). During those early years, the Mayor of the town was Jose Aulet. The family was rich in pineapple, sugar cane, and green bananas. The Aulets sold the land to the government in 1985.

Economy

Isidoro Colón established the Sugar Cane "Candelaria" in the years between 1860 and 1870, located between Manatí and Barceloneta.

Agriculture

Manatí is the pineapple center of Puerto Rico. In addition, grows in its surroundings fruits, sugar cane, and coffee.

Industry

Manufacture (pharmaceutics)

José Abraham Rosario initiated the "Publicidad Rosario" on 1945.

Landmarks and places of interest

• The Acropolis Sports Complex
• El Salón del Poeta
• Historic Zone
• Los Tubos Beach
• los chicos
• Mar Chiquita Beach
• Marqués de la Esperanza Hacienda Ruins
• Ruinas de la Oficina de la Central Monserrate

Festivals and events

• Patron Fetivities - February: "La Virgen De La Candelaria"
• Cross Festivities - May
• Beach Festival - July
• Manatee Festival - July
• Halloween Festival - October
• Christmas Festival - December