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The Tres Picachos

The municipality of Jayuya was founded in 1911. It is known as the "High Ground," the "Towntown, founding: A group of vecinos that wanted to found a town had to grant a power of attorney to one or more other vecinos to represent them before the governor and viceroy. This person could authorize the founding of the town and the establishment of a parish. The grantors of the power of attorney had to be a majority in the given territory and more than ten in number. Once the case had been made, the governor appointed a capitán poblador or settlement official to represent the vecinos and one or more delegates, who usually lived in nearby cabildos vecinos to receive the necessary documentation. Proof was required that the settlement was so far from a church that it was very difficult for the settlers to partake of sacraments and municipal services. In general, proof was provided of the absence or bad condition of roads and bridges. If the petition was approved, it was required that the vecinos mark off the new municipality and build public works such as a church, a parish house, a government house (Casa del Rey), a slaughterhouse, and a cemetery, and to set aside land for the town square or plaza and the commons (ejidos). The vecinos were expected to cover the cost of building these works by levying special assessments. Usually one of the land owners donated some land for the founding. Once the requirements had been met, the governor authorized the founding of the town and the parish, and he appointed a Lieutenant at War who usually was the same capitán poblador. of the Tomato," the "Town of the Three Peaks," the "Indigenous Capital of Puerto Rico," the "Overlook of Puerto Rico" and the "Artisan Mecca."

The autonomous municipality of Jayuya is located in the central region of Puerto Rico and covers 39 square miles km. It consists of the sectors of Jayuya-Pueblo, Coabey, Collores, Jauca, Jayuya Abajo, Mameyes Arriba, Pica, Río Grande, Saliente, Veguitas and Zamas. According to the 2000 Census, the population is 17,318.

Jayuya is also known for its indigenous monuments: The Written Rock and the Tibes Rock, located in the Coabey sector; The Tomb of the Indian in Jayuya-Pueblo sector; and the Indigenous Mural in the Zamas sector, where the Jayuya sun petroglyph was found.

The Cemí Archaeological Museum exhibits archaeological pieces from the indigenous cultures of the island. The municipality is also the site of the National Indigenous Festival of Jayuya, one of the most important folk festivals held on the island. It honors the memory of the Tainos.

Geography

Jayuya is bordered by Utuado and Ciales on the north, by Ponce, Juana Díaz and Orocovis on the south, by Ciales on the east and Utuado on the west. It is located in the highest elevations of the Central Mountain Range, site of the highest mountains in Puerto Rico. Its land is high in clay content and the elevation of its lower sandy hills range between 400 and 2,000 feet. meters.

The highest point on the island, La Punta, is 4,390 feet in elevation. Other important peaks are: Cerro Magoyo, Piedra Blanca, Cerro Maravillas, Cerro Saliente and the Tres Picachos. The largest segment of the Toro Negro Forest is also located in Jayuya and Ponce. It is located at an elevation of between 440 meters (1,433 feet) and 1,338 meters (4,390 feet). Rivers in the municipality include the Grande de Jayuya, as well as the Saliente, Jauca, Limón, Naranjito and Veguita.