Toa Alta is located west of the capital city ofSan Juan and was founded in 1751, making it one of the oldest towns on the island of Puerto Rico. The construction of the San Fernando Rey church in the town square began in 1752. The name Toa Alta comes from the Taíno word for mother or fertility, Thoa. Over the years, agriculture became an important economic force in the area. At the peak of the agricultural economy, the town was also known as the "Granja de los Reyes Católicos". The town is also called Ciudad del Josco. The town is commonly known by its nickname La Cuna de los Poetas, or "Cradle of Poets", due to the numerous Spanish-language poets born there, such as Abelardo Díaz Alfaro and the musician Tomás "Masso" Rivera.
Hurricane Maria
on September 20, 2017 triggered numerous landslides in Toa Alta with the significant amount of rainfall.
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Toa Alta is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo".
Barrios in turn are further subdivided into smaller local populated place areas/units called sectores. The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.
Special Communities
Of the 742 places on the list of Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Toa Alta: Comunidad Acerolas, Sector Cuba Libre, Sector La Prá, Villa del Río, Villa Josco, and Villa Juventud.
Demographics
Tourism
Landmarks and places of interest
Legendary Tree Bala de Cañón
Tomás "Maso" Rivera Municipal Teather
Tomás "Maso" Rivera Statue
Plaza Recreo Egozcué
San Fernando Rey Parish
Villa Tropical Recreation Center
Plaza Aquarium Mall
Valle El Toa
Economy
Culture
Festivals and events
Toa Alta celebrates its patron saint festival in May. The Fiestas Patronales de San Fernando is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment. Festival El Josco or the Festival of the Mechanical Bull is held in October. Other festivals and events celebrated in Toa Alta include:
There are 16 bridges in Toa Alta. In January, 2019 the mayor of Toa Alta fought for the reopening of highway 861, which, he stated, was closed without warning by Puerto Rico Public Works.
Symbols
Flag
Horizontally divided in three, the bottom and top red stripes are double the size of the center yellow stripe. In the upper left corner is a yellow, eight-point star. The original design was elaborated by professor Herman E. Perez and adopted by the City Council in 1983.
Coat of arms
The shield in gold, a red board with a silver sword topped with a gold crown of the same metal, to each side two small shields in red, the right-hand one with a tower in gold and the left-hand one with a gold eight point star, a five tower crown lined in black with red openings. The motto is Non Deserit Alta and Professor Herman E. Pérez included it in the coat of arms so that present and future generations will remember to “not abandon higher principles and values”.
