Lares, Puerto Rico
Lares (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlaɾes], locally [ˈlaɾeʔ]) is a mountain town and municipality of Puerto Rico's central-western area. Lares is located north of Maricao and Yauco; south of Camuy, east of San Sebastián and Las Marias; and west of Hatillo, Utuado and Adjuntas. Lares is spread over 10 barrios and Lares Pueblo (Downtown Lares). It is part of the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Lares
Municipio Autónomo de Lares | |
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Town and Municipality | |
Lares City Hall in 2019 | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
| Nicknames: Ciudad del Grito (The Town of The Cry), Altar de la Patria (High of the Fatherland), La Capital de la Montaña (Capital of the Mountains) | |
| Anthem: "En las verdes montañas de Lares" (In the green mountains of Lares) | |
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Lares Municipality | |
| Coordinates: 18°17′42″N 66°52′43″W | |
| Sovereign state | United States |
| Commonwealth | Puerto Rico |
| Founded | April 26, 1827 |
| Barrios | 12 barrios
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| Government | |
| • Mayor | Fabián Arroyo Rodríguez (PPD) |
| • Senatorial dist. | 5 - Ponce |
| • Representative dist. | 22 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 61.64 sq mi (159.6 km2) |
| • Land | 61.45 sq mi (159.2 km2) |
| • Water | .09 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 28,105 |
| • Rank | 45th in Puerto Rico |
| • Density | 460/sq mi (180/km2) |
| Demonym | Lareños |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (AST) |
| ZIP Codes | 00669, 00631 |
| Area code | 787/939 |
| Major routes | |
A city adorned with Spanish-era colonial-style churches and small downtown stores, Lares is located on a breezy area that is about 1.5 hours from San Juan by car.
Lares was the site of the 1868 El Grito de Lares (literally, The Cry of Lares, or Lares Revolt), an uprising brought on by pro-independence rebels who wanted Puerto Rico to gain its freedom from Spain. Even though it was soon extinguished it remains an iconic historical event in the history of the island.