Historical Overview

Añasco was founded on October 18, 1733, and was named for Don Luis de Añasco, a Spanish colonist associated with the early settlement history of western Puerto Rico. The municipality is closely tied to the traditional story of the drowning of Diego Salcedo in the Añasco River, an episode that became part of Puerto Rico's Taíno and Spanish-contact historical memory. The town also inherited symbolic importance from the movement of the early San Germán settlement after repeated attacks, making Añasco part of the broader western colonial story. Located on the Mona Passage and bordered by several western municipalities, Añasco is remembered both for that origin narrative and for its coastal-western identity. Its nickname, Donde los Dioses Mueren (Where the Gods Die), reflects this deep connection to the Diego Salcedo legend. For genealogical research, Añasco is significant as a mother town whose parish of San Antonio Abad holds records dating to the town's founding year.

Coat of Arms

Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The shield has a green field with a black saber cross outlined in silver and gold scallop shells in each quadrant. A gold mural crown with three towers sits above the shield, indicating municipal status. The symbols are linked to the town's colonial heritage and to the founding figure of Captain Luis de Añasco, representing faith, local identity, and Añasco's founding-era traditions.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Añasco has 10 barrios:

Añasco Abajo
Añasco Arriba
Añasco barrio-pueblo
Caguabo
Carreras
Cerro Gordo
Corcovada
Hatillo
Miraflores
Río Arriba

Daughter Municipalities

The following municipalities separated from Añasco. Residents recorded events before their founding year in Añasco's parish:

Mayagüez (founded 1760) — Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

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.

Añasco (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 Antonio Abad

Records from 1733

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Diocesan Archive

Diocese: Diocese of Mayagüez

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

Diocese Website

Digital Archives

FamilySearch: Añasco Civil and parish records
Find A Grave: Cementerio Municipal de Anasco Cemetery index
Notas para su Historia: Añasco (OECH) Government History (PDF) Historical reference PDF with notes on Añasco's past, published by the Office of Historic Preservation of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645–1969 Digitized Records Islandwide Catholic church-record collection including baptisms, marriages, burials, and confirmations. Includes Añasco parish records.
Puerto Rico Civil Registration, 1885–2001 Digitized Records Civil registration births, marriages, and deaths for all Puerto Rico municipalities including Añasco, beginning 1885.
FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide