History

Adjuntas was founded August 11, 1815, by Diego Maldonado, gaining administrative independence from Utuado.

After the mid 1800's, Adjuntas welcomed many immigrants from the Mediterranean islands Corsica and Majorca. Some of them established coffee plantations. During the last decades of XIX century, the fine coffee produced in Adjuntas was exported to Europe, United States and even The Vatican.

It was proclaimed "villa", or a first order municipality, by the Spanish Government Monarchy in 1894.

Adjuntas was occupied by the United States Army forces during the Spanish American War of 1898 and was visited by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.

The discovery of rich deposits of copper, gold and other minerals during the 1960's, motivated some local community and environmental leaders to opposed the minning. By the 1990's they convinced the Puerto Rican Government to take a stand against the minning industry, on behalf of conservation. Today, instead of minning, with the leadership of Casa Pueblo, a community organization, Adjuntas leads the preservation of natural resources movement in Puerto Rico.

Barrios (Districts/Wards)

• Capáez
• Garzas
• Guayabo Dulce
• Guayo
• Guilarte
• Juan González
• Limaní
• Pellejas
• Portillo
• Portuguez
• Saltillo
• Tanamá
• Vegas Abajo
• Vegas Arriba
• Yahuecas
• Yayales

Geo/Topography

Guilarte State Forest Between Adjuntas, Peñuelas and Yauco

Agriculture

Adjuntas main industry is the growing of tropical crops such as bananas, coffee and citron.

Landmarks and places of interest

• Guilarte
• Hacienda Bareal Ruins
• Hacienda El Muerto
• Hacienda La Arbela
• Hacienda Pietri Ruins
• Inabon Waterfalls
• Mirador de Vegas Arriba
• Poblado Castañer
• Sotomayor Villa
• Casa Pueblo: is a local museum and cultural institution called founded by a group of local activists who fought against the copper mines exploitation of the area for decades. Casa Pueblo is responsible for many environmental projects like the preservation of hundred of acres of pristine woods and fresh water bodies.

Festivals and Events

• Festival del Gigante - March
• Festival de la Cidra - March
• San Joaquín & Santa Ana Patron Festivities - August

Transportation

The main road is Puerto Rico 10, that connects the cities of Ponce in the South and Arecibo in the North. In addition, there is a small airport that caters to private airplanes.

Sports

The town has a professional volleyball team called Gigantes de Adjuntas.

Notable Adjunteños

• Dr.Norman Maldonado - Physician and former President of the University of Puerto Rico
• Dr. Arístides Moll (1880-1965) - Physician, writer and poet. Secretary of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau of the Pan American Health Organization
• Jesús M. Benitez
• Rafael Bosh - Lawyer, poet and writer. Legal adviser of the Committee of Insular Affairs of the Senate of United States of America
• Josefina Moll, (writer)
• Pelegrín López de Victoria (1850-1942) - Writer
• Rafael de Jesús Cordero (1897-1974) - Economist. Professor and cofounder of the Department of Economy of the University of Puerto Rico. First Puerto Rican to held the position of Auditor of Puerto Rico, named by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. First Comptroller of Puerto Rico.

Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. (2006, October 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:39, October 11, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adjuntas%2C_Puerto_Rico&oldid=80411858