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Puerto Rican Genealogy Conectando Raíces, Celebrando Herencia

Isabela

Founded 1819 Northwest, Puerto Rico

Historical Overview

Isabela, known as the 'Garden of the Northwest,' traces its origins to the Hermitage of San Antonio de Padua de la Tuna, founded around 1725. In 1818, residents petitioned Governor Salvador Meléndez for permission to relocate to a coastal plateau with better agricultural conditions, and the new town was officially founded on May 21, 1819, named in honor of Queen Isabel I of Castile. As the successor settlement of San Antonio de la Tuna, Isabela shares early parish records with what became Quebradillas and Camuy. Genealogical research benefits from parish records dating to 1818 at the Parroquia San Antonio de Padua and civil registration records from 1885 onward.

Coat of Arms

Coat of arms of Isabela, Puerto Rico

Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The coat of arms of Isabela features a bell between prickly pears representing the Hermitage of San Antonio de la Tuna, the town's founding settlement; olive green stripes honoring the Igneri Indians, ancient inhabitants of the region; gold symbolizing the Taínos; roosters representing the bravery of the Isabelinos and the tradition of breeding fighting cocks; and a horse symbolizing livestock wealth and Isabela's fame for its Paso Fino breed.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Isabela has 14 barrios:

  • Arenales Altos
  • Arenales Bajos
  • Bajura
  • Bejucos
  • Coto
  • Galateo Alto
  • Galateo Bajo
  • Guayabos
  • Guerrero
  • Isabela Pueblo
  • Jobos
  • Llanadas
  • Mora
  • Planas

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.

Isabela

Isabela (2026)

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

Genealogy Toolkit

Civil Records

Began in 1885

Covers births, marriages, and deaths.

⬇ Search Civil Records

Parish Records

Parish: San Antonio de Padua

Records from 1818

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Diocesan Archive

Diocese: Diocese of Arecibo

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

Diocese Website

Digital Archives

Padrones and Municipal Censuses

The following image groups were created by the Gobierno de Puerto Rico and digitized by FamilySearch. They are not name-indexed, so you browse them like a book. A free FamilySearch account is required. To learn how to read and work through them, see Padrones and the Image Search, or scan the island-wide set in the Padrones Browser.

Padrón de Almas (soul census) (2)

A household-by-household count of every soul in the parish or municipality, listing residents by name, age, and relationship to the head of household.

Municipal Population Census (183)

Population counts compiled by the municipal government, separate from the island-wide enumerations. Detail varies widely by municipality and year.

Further Reading

  • Notas para su Historia: Isabela — State Historic Preservation Office (OECH) Book (PDF) Official municipal history of Isabela published by the Puerto Rico Office of Historic Preservation. Covers the town's founding, development, and social heritage from San Antonio de la Tuna onward.
  • FamilySearch Wiki — Isabela, Puerto Rico Genealogy Web Resource Comprehensive guide to genealogical resources for Isabela, including civil registration, Catholic church records, and links to digitized collections on FamilySearch.
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