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San Germán

San Germán, Puerto Rico
Municipality
Porta Coeli Church, the most recognized landmark of San Germán.
Porta Coeli Church, the most recognized landmark of San Germán.
Flag of San Germán, Puerto Rico
Flag
Coat of arms of San Germán, Puerto Rico
Coat of arms
Anthem: "San Germán es mi pueblo querido"
Location of San Germán in Puerto Rico
Location of San Germán in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°N 67°W / 18°N 67°W / 18; -67Coordinates: 18°N 67°W / 18°N 67°W / 18; -67
Country Puerto Rico
Founded 1573
Government
 • Mayor Isidro A. Negrón Irizarry (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist. Mayagüez
 • Representative dist. 20
Area
 • Municipality 54.51 sq mi (141.18 km2)
 • Land 54.51 sq mi (141.18 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 528 ft (161 m)
Population (2010)
 • Municipality 35,527
 • Density 650/sq mi (250/km2)
 • Metro 136,212
 • CSA 251,260
Demonym(s) Sangermeños
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 00683, 00636
Website municipiodesangerman.com

San Germán (Spanish pronunciation: [saŋ xerˈman], Saint Germain) is a municipality located in the southwestern region of Puerto Rico, south of Mayagüez and Maricao, north of Lajas, east of Hormigueros and Cabo Rojo, and west of Sabana Grande. San Germán is spread over eighteen wards and San Germán Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is both a principal city of the San Germán–Cabo Rojo Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area. San Germán is the second oldest city of Puerto Rico, after San Juan. The island of Puerto Rico was once split between the San Juan and the San Germán municipalities. The latter extended from a line from Arecibo in the north to Ponce in the south, westward to the sea.

Spanish settlement in the original city of San Germán occurred early in the conquest and colonization of Puerto Rico. After the destruction of a small early settlement near modern-day Añasco during a Taíno uprising which started in February 1511, the new settlement was built by Miguel Diaz at Guayanilla and named after Germaine of Foix, the new queen of King Fernando. This town was attacked by French corsairs in August 1528, May 1538 and 1554. The construction of a small fort began in 1540, but work stopped in 1546 when the population of the town began moving inland to the current modern location.


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