Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

Boquerón is a barrio in the municipality of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 5,373.^[3][4][5][6] The village of Boquerón, located on the Boquerón Bay is one of the main tourist attractions in the southwestern part of the island.^[7] In 2000, its population was 4,963.^[8]

Boquerón
Barrio
Marina in Boquerón
Flag Seal
Location of Boquerón within the municipality of Cabo Rojo shown in red
Boquerón Location of Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 17°59′50″N 67°10′51″W[1]
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	Cabo Rojo
Area [1]
• Total	15.88 sq mi (41.1 km2)
• Land	12.50 sq mi (32.4 km2)
• Water	3.38 sq mi (8.8 km2)
Elevation [2]	144 ft (44 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	5,373
• Density	516.4/sq mi (199.4/km2)
	Source: 2010 Census
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)

History

Boquerón was in Spain's gazetteers^[9] 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 Boquerón was 1,185.^[10]

People from the El Combate community in barrio Boquerón are known as mata con hacha ("those who kill with axes") based on an old folk tale about a fight over the salinas, where those from Cabo Rojo fought with axes against people from the adjacent town of Lajas. The latter apparently fought back by throwing stones and are thus known as tira piedras ("those who throw stones").^[11]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	1,185		—
1910	1,931		63.0%
1920	2,434		26.0%
1930	2,682		10.2%
1940	3,447		28.5%
1950	2,778		−19.4%
1960	2,580		−7.1%
1970	2,790		8.1%
1980	3,675		31.7%
1990	4,251		15.7%
2000	4,963		16.7%
2010	5,373		8.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900)[12] 1910-1930[13] 1930-1950[14] 1980-2000[15] 2010[16]

Features

The barrio is home to a village (El Poblado de Boquerón) and two national wildlife refuges. The Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge is a habitat for a number of native bird species, including the endangered yellow-shouldered blackbird, also known as mariquita de Puerto Rico or capitán. The Boqueron State Forest is one of seven state forests managed by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.^[17]

According to local folklore, after the Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí shared some of his treasure with his family and friends, he would hide what was left over in a cave located in "Barrio Pedernales" which is just north of Boquerón Bay. Throughout the years no one has found any treasure in the cave.^[18]

The downtown of Boquerón known as El Poblado is known for its gastronomy and its nightlife. It is home to many restaurants offering local, international, and fusion cuisine which feature the excellent seafood that Cabo Rojo is renowned for.^[19] El Poblado is also populated by bars for every preference, from pool halls to holes-in-the-wall, many providing a variety of flavored mojitos and other mixed drinks. Outdoor karaoke is also a feature of Boquerón nightlife as cars are not permitted in the center of El Poblado during the weekends, so karaoke spills out into the streets. There is a parador, a type of countryside inn, by the same name in Poblado.^[20][21] El Poblado is also known for being LGBT friendly and hosts a growing Pride Parade each year in June.^[22]

Boquerón beach Balneario de Boquerón is a public beach and resort managed by the Puerto Rican government. It is rated as one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico along with Luquillo Beach.^[23] The beach was awarded Blue Flag Beach status by the Foundation for Environmental Education.^[24]

Languna Rincón is located in Boquerón.^[25]

Gallery

• 
  View of ocean in Cabo Rojo
• 
  Combate Beach
• 
  View from Aquarius Vacation Club in Boquerón
• 
  Boquerón fire station
• 
  José at the USFWS Greenhouse in Boquerón
• 
  Laguna Rincón

See also

• Puerto Rico portal

• List of communities in Puerto Rico

References

1. "US Gazetteer 2019". US Census. US Government.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Boquerón barrio
3. Picó, Rafael; Buitrago de Santiago, Zayda; Berrios, Hector H. (1969). Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969.
4. Gwillim Law (20 May 2015). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4766-0447-3. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
5. Puerto Rico: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts.pdf (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. 2010.
6. Porter, Darwin; Prince, Danforth (2008). Frommer's Puerto Rico. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-78740-2. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
7. Puerto Rico Tourism Company. "Portal del Sol". Retrieved 2009-03-19.
8. "U. S Census Fact Finder". Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
9. "Anuario del comercio, de la industria, de la magistratura y de la administración. 1881". Biblioteca Nacional de España (in Spanish). p. 1614. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
10. Joseph Prentiss Sanger; Henry Gannett; Walter Francis Willcox (1900). Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office (in Spanish). Imprenta del gobierno. p. 164.
11. "Página Oficial Municipio Autónomo de Cabo Rojo". www.caborojopr.net.
12. "Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899". War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
13. "Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
14. "Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
15. "Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
16. Puerto Rico: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts.pdf (PDF). U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
17. "BOSQUE ESTATAL DE BOQUERÓN". Retrieved 2009-03-19.
18. University of Puerto Rico - Agriculture of Cabo Rojo Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, (Spanish) Retrieved March 19, 2009
19. "Entretenimiento para hoy..." El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish).
20. "Paradores celebran el amor". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish).
21. "Comerciantes de Boquerón se preparan para la noche de San Juan". Univision (in Spanish).
22. "Cabo Rojo Pride 2021 features some of the biggest gay dance parties". Gay Travel 4u. 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
23. Sainsbury, Brendan (2008). Puerto Rico. Lonely Planet. pp. 214. ISBN 978-1-74104-723-3. Retrieved 2009-03-18. Boquerón puerto rico.
24. "Blue Flag: Boquerón beach". Archived from the original on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
25. Municipio de Cabo Rojo memoria Suplementaria Mapa de Limites Jurisdiccionales de Barrios (PDF) (1947 ed.). Junta de Plantificación, urbanización y zonificación de Puerto Rico. 1947. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-14.

External links

U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Boquerón barrio