Historical and administrative center (seat) of Guayanilla, Puerto Rico
Guayanilla barrio-pueblo is an urban barrio and the administrative center (seat) of Guayanilla, a municipality of Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 3,757.
As was customary in Spain, in Puerto Rico, the municipality has a barrio called "pueblo" which contains a central plaza, the municipal buildings (city hall), and a Catholic church. Fiestas patronales (patron saint festivals) are held in the central plaza every year.
Features and demographics.
Guayanilla barrio-pueblo has of land area and no water area. In 2010, its population was 3,757 with a population density of .
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The central plaza and its church.
The central plaza, or square, is a place for official and unofficial recreational events and a place where people can gather and socialize from dusk to dawn. The Laws of the Indies, Spanish law, which regulated life in Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, stated the plaza's purpose was for "the parties" (celebrations, festivities) (), and that the square should be proportionally large enough for the number of neighbors (). These Spanish regulations also stated that the streets nearby should be comfortable portals for passersby, protecting them from the elements: sun and rain.
Located across the central plaza in Guayanilla barrio-pueblo was the (English: Church Inmaculada Concepción of Guayanilla), a Roman Catholic church. The church was destroyed during the 2019–20 Puerto Rico earthquakes.
History.
Guayanilla barrio-pueblo was in Spain's gazetteers until Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became an unincorporated territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Pueblo barrio was 973.
Earthquakes in 2020.
On January 7, 2020, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake destroyed the parish church and other structures in Guayanilla Pueblo. A day before, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake had destroyed various structures and cars.
References.
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