Maricao, Puerto Rico

Maricao
Municipio Autónomo de Maricao
Maricao High School
Maricao High School
Flag of Maricao
Coat of arms of Maricao
Nicknames: 
"Pueblo de las Indieras", "Ciudad del Monte del Estado", "Ciudad de Leyenda y Romance", "Tierra del Café"
Anthem: "Sobre las verdes altura"'
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Maricao Municipality
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Maricao Municipality
Coordinates: 18°10′51″N 66°58′48″W / 18.18083°N 66.98000°W / 18.18083; -66.98000
Sovereign state United States
Commonwealth Puerto Rico
Settled1848
FoundedApril 10, 1874
Barrios
Government
 • MayorWilfredo (Juny) Ruiz (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist.5 - Ponce
 • Representative dist.21
Area
 • Total37.1 sq mi (96.0 km2)
 • Land37.1 sq mi (96 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total4,455
 • Rank77th in Puerto Rico
 • Density120/sq mi (46/km2)
DemonymMaricaeños
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code
00606
Area code787/939
Major routes

Maricao (Spanish pronunciation: [maɾiˈkao]) is a town and the second-least populous municipality of Puerto Rico; it is located at the western edge of the Cordillera Central. It is a small town set around a small square in hilly terrain, north of San Germán, Sabana Grande and Yauco; south of Las Marías and Lares, southeast of Mayagüez, and west of Adjuntas. Maricao is spread over 6 barrios and Maricao Pueblo (the downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

The town borders the Maricao Fish Hatchery, a fish hatchery made up of tanks and pools in a garden setting, where some 25,000 fish are raised yearly to stock farm fishponds and island lakes.[2] The hatchery is part of the Maricao State Forest, also known as Monte del Estado. Though of dryer vegetation than the other mountain forest, Maricao is home to large number of bird species. Its stone observation tower provides far-flung views to the coast and the Mona Passage.

Maricao has a 2020 census population of 4,455.[3]

  1. ^ Bureau, US Census. "PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "Agua dulce". DRNA. May 20, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  3. ^ "Census of Population and Housing, 2000 [United States]: Summary File 4, Puerto Rico". ICPSR Data Holdings. April 28, 2004. doi:10.3886/icpsr13563.v1. Retrieved August 26, 2021.