San Germán barrio-pueblo

San Germán barrio-pueblo is a barrio and the administrative center (seat) of San Germán, a municipality of Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 2,660.^[1][4][5][6]

San Germán barrio-pueblo Pueblo de San Germán
Municipality Seat[1]
The San Germán plaza
Location of San Germán barrio-pueblo within the municipality of San Germán shown in red
San Germán barrio-pueblo Location of Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°04′52″N 67°02′36″W[2]
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	San Germán
Area [2]
• Total	0.33 sq mi (0.9 km2)
• Land	0.33 sq mi (0.9 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation [3]	200 ft (60 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,660
• Density	8,060.6/sq mi (3,112.2/km2)
	Source: 2010 Census
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)

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.^[7][8]

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) (Spanish: a propósito para las fiestas), and that the square should be proportionally large enough for the number of neighbors (Spanish: grandeza proporcionada al número de vecinos). These Spanish regulations also stated that the streets nearby should be comfortable portals for passersby, protecting them from the elements: sun and rain.^[7]

Located across the central plaza in San Germán barrio-pueblo is the Iglesia San Germán de Auxerre, a Roman Catholic church.^[9][10]

History

San Germán barrio-pueblo was in Spain's gazetteers^[11] 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 Central was 1,493, Pueblo Occidental was 821 and Pueblo Oriental was 1,640.^[12]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	3,954		—
1910	4,999		26.4%
1920	5,019		0.4%
1930	5,038		0.4%
1940	6,446		27.9%
1950	8,872		37.6%
1960	7,790		−12.2%
1970	0		−100.0%
1980	4,520		—
1990	3,802		−15.9%
2000	3,307		−13.0%
2010	2,660		−19.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900)[13] 1910-1930[14] 1930-1950[15] 1980-2000[16] 2010[17]

Gallery

• 
  Central Plaza in San Germán barrio-pueblo
• 
  Iglesia San Germán de Auxerre, a historic church in the pueblo
• 
  San Germán Historic District
• 
  San Germán Historic District
• 
  Plaza and City Hall in San Germán

See also

• Puerto Rico portal

• List of communities in Puerto Rico