Historical Overview

Aibonito was founded on March 13, 1824, by Manuel Vélez, and was separated from Coamo to serve the growing population of the central mountain communities. Known as La Ciudad de las Flores (City of the Flowers) and Jardín de Puerto Rico, Aibonito occupies one of the highest elevations on the island, with a cool climate that favors flower cultivation and agriculture. The town's San José Parish holds records from 1831, and Aibonito's central-mountain location makes it a key research anchor for families who moved between Coamo, Cayey, Barranquitas, and neighboring municipalities throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Coat of Arms

Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The four-quartered shield is topped by a mural crown of four towers, symbolizing municipal status. The upper-left quarter shows the Asomante mountains and a sword on Spanish-flag colors, commemorating the 1898 Battle of Asomante during the Spanish-American War. The upper-right quarter features a crown and heraldic devices evoking municipal authority and royal heritage. The lower-left quarter displays the Casa Manresa tower on a blue field, honoring the spiritual and historical importance of that institution for Puerto Rico. The lower-right quarter depicts the Cañón de San Cristóbal with a shell (concha), symbolizing Santiago Apóstol, the patron of Aibonito's July fiestas. A banner at the base reads Jardín de Puerto Rico with the founding year 1824.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Aibonito has 9 barrios:

Aibonito barrio-pueblo
Algarrobo
Asomante
Caonillas
Cuyón
Llanos
Pasto
Plata
Robles

Neighboring Municipalities

Also check records in neighboring municipalities:

Historical Maps

Historical maps help identify barrios, boundaries, and communities as they existed in the past. Maps from the 18th and 19th centuries are preferred.

Aibonito (2026)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, TIGER/Line Shapefiles

Genealogy Toolkit

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Civil Records

Began in 1885

Covers births, marriages, and deaths.

⬇ Search Civil Records

Parish Records

Parish: San José

Records from 1831

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Diocesan Archive

Diocese: Diocese of Caguas

For sacramental records not available digitally, contact the diocesan archive directly.

Diocese Website

Digital Archives

FamilySearch: Aibonito Civil and parish records
Find A Grave: Cementerio La Paz del Señor Cemetery index
Find A Grave: Cementerio Municipal Rabanal Sierra Aibonito Cemetery index
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645–2021 Digitized Records Islandwide Catholic church-record collection including baptisms, marriages, burials, and confirmations. Includes Aibonito parish records.
Puerto Rico Civil Registration, 1885–2001 Digitized Records Civil registration births, marriages, and deaths for all Puerto Rico municipalities including Aibonito, beginning 1885.
Cementerio La Paz del Señor — Find a Grave Cemetery Index Cemetery index for La Paz del Señor in Aibonito. Useful for verifying death dates and burial information.
Cementerio Municipal Rabanal Sierra — Find a Grave Cemetery Index Cemetery index for the Rabanal Sierra municipal cemetery in Aibonito. Useful for verifying death dates and burial information.
FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide