Country Area 51.4 sq mi | Founded June 22, 1772 Population 40,052 (2011) | |
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Unemployment rate 11.9% (Dec 2014) Mayor Hon. Jose E. Aviles Santiago (PNP ) | ||
Map of Moca, Puerto Rico
Moca ([ˈmoka]) is a municipality of Puerto Rico (U.S.) located in the north-western region of the island, north of Añasco; southeast of Aguadilla; east of Aguada; and west of Isabela and San Sebastián. Moca is spread over 12 wards and Moca Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the ville). It is part of the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
- Map of Moca Puerto Rico
- History
- Geography
- Economy
- Landmarks and places of interest
- Sports
- Government
- Flag
- Coat of arms
- References
The name of Moca comes from the tree Andira Ínermis whose beautiful pink/purple flowers expose their presence, which are very common in this region.
The Moca tree was officially adopted as the representative tree of the town on February 19, 1972. Moca is famous for its Mundillo lace. Mundillo is the Puerto Rican name for handmade bobbin lace. It is almost synonymous with the small town of Moca.
History
Moca known as "La Capital del Mundillo" (The capital of lace) it was founded by Don José de Quiñónez on June 22, 1772. Diverse versions exist on the date of its foundation. Manuel de Ubeda and Delgado, in his "Isla de Puerto Rico. "Estudio histórico, geográfico y estadístico", published in San Juan in 1878, says to us that it was founded on 1774. On the other hand, Cayetano Coll y Toste, in the "Boletín histórico de Puerto Rico", maintains that it was founded on June 22, 1772.
On August 14, 1898, The United States Armed Forces entered and took the town of Moca finding no resistance. On August 8, 1898, after the Spanish–American War officially ended, Puerto Rico became a United States territory as an outcome of the Treaty of Paris of 1898.
Geography
Localization: 18° 23'N and 67° 06'W of the Meridian of Greenwich. It is located in a small valley, in the skirts of "The Tuna" mountains, at 141 feet (43 m) above sea level.
Climate: Tropical with hardly noticeable seasonal changes. Temperatures throughout the year range between 76 and 98 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 37 °C).
Hydrography: The Río Culebrinas crosses its territory from east to west, and its tributaries include the gorges of Los Gatos, Lassalle, de las Damas, Vieja, Los Romanes, the Morones, Higuillo, Chiquita, Yagruma, Echeverria, Aguas Frias, Las Marias, de los Méndez, La Caraíma, Grande, y Dulce. Cerro Moca, Monte El Ojo, Monte Mariquita of the Jaicoa Mountain Range
On May 16, 2010, Moca was the epicenter of a strong 5.8 earthquake. The earthquake was felt in the entire island and also in the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands. Damage was reported in various towns.
Economy
Landmarks and places of interest
Sports
Moca has a Double-A Baseball team called the Moca Vampiros that play in the Superior Baseball League.
Moca also had a volleyball team named "Los Rebeldes", which played in LVS (Liga de Voleibol Superior) through the years of 1998 to 2005. The team went to the post season every year, obtained a controversial second place in its 1998 final with the "Changos" of Naranjito. In addition, "Los Rebeldes" were National Champions against the "Changos" in the 2000 final. "Los Rebeldes" swept the "Changos" 4-0 in the finals, handing the "Changos" its most embarrassing finals defeat in the teams history.
Government
Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Moca is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is José Avilés Santiago, from the New Progressive Party (PNP). Avilés was elected at the 2000 general election.
The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district IV, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, María Teresa González and Gilberto Rodríguez were elected as District Senators.
Flag
Erick De Jesus was the designer of the flag, one night "Bien Arrebatao" using paint. The rectangular flag consists of a purple equilateral triangular field, the color of the Moca tree flower. In this field appear five point stars, silver-plated, surrounding a greater gold star, also with five points.
Coat of arms
It has oblong form. Divided in a silver-plated field and blue sky united by a purple rhombus (diamond shape), the color of the Moca flower. The rhombus has within religious symbolisms. The rhombus is surrounded, in its inferior part, by two branches of the Moca tree; in its superior part, an arc of eleven silver-plated five-point stars. Within the rhombus is a gold monogram (of the Virgin Mary) topped by a Christian crown of the same metal. A silver-lined crown in form of a three-tower castle crowns the shield. On the frontal portion of the crown, carved in gold, the word Moca. The stones of the castle are lined in blue. The doors and windows are purple.