Historical Overview

Arecibo, known as 'La Villa del Capitán Correa,' is one of Puerto Rico's oldest municipalities, officially established in 1616 along the northern coast at the mouth of the Río Grande de Arecibo. Arecibo was founded as a daughter town of San Juan, the island's capital and original colonial center. The town holds a celebrated place in Puerto Rican history: Captain Antonio de los Reyes Correa's defense against a British naval force in 1702 earned Arecibo the honorific Muy Leal Villa and cemented its place in island memory. Over the following centuries, Arecibo served as a regional hub and mother municipality, with portions of its territory eventually forming several neighboring towns. For genealogists, the Catedral San Felipe Apóstol is the principal parish, with Catholic records accessible through FamilySearch; civil registration began in 1885.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms combines Taíno, colonial, and civic symbolism. The crown at the top references Taíno heritage and the town's indigenous roots. Blue and gold lozenges in the central field honor Governor Felipe de Beaumont y Navarro and the Spanish foundation era. A belt or banda running across the shield commemorates Captain Antonio de los Reyes Correa, whose 1702 defense of the town against British forces earned Arecibo the honorific Muy Leal Villa.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Arecibo has 18 barrios:

Arecibo barrio-pueblo
Cambalache
Capita
Coto
Dominguito
Factor
Garrochales
Hato Viejo
Islote
Miraflores
Río Arriba
Sabana Hoyos
Santana
Tiburones
Trembladora
Vega
Viví Abajo
Viví Arriba

Daughter Municipalities

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

Manatí (founded 1738) — Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria
Utuado (founded 1739) — Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel
Camuy (founded 1807) — San José
Hatillo (founded 1823) — Nuestra Señora del Carmen

Neighboring Municipalities

Also check records in neighboring municipalities:

Barceloneta — Nuestra Señora del Carmen
Ciales — Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Florida — Nuestra Señora de la Merced
Hatillo — Nuestra Señora del Carmen
Utuado — Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel

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.

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Historical maps coming soon

Genealogy Toolkit

Civil Records

Began in 1885

Covers births, marriages, and deaths.

⬇ Search Civil Records

Parish Records

Parish: Catedral San Felipe Apóstol

Records from 1708

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Digital Archives

FamilySearch: Arecibo Civil and parish records
Find A Grave: Cementerio Municipal de Arecibo Cemetery index
Find A Grave: Cementerio Nuevo Municipal Urbano #3 - Arecibo Cemetery index
FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide