Historical Overview

Founded in 1799 at Puerto Rico's southeastern coastal tip, Maunabo was carved from the territory of Yabucoa and takes its name from the Taíno river name 'Manatuabón.' The municipality's economy centered on sugar production along the coast and small-scale agriculture inland, with the patron-saint parish of San Isidro Labrador holding digitized records spanning 1800 to 1935. With just four barrios and land borders shared only with Yabucoa and Patillas, Maunabo offers a contained research scope; researchers tracing pre-1799 ancestors from this area should consult Yabucoa records. Maunabo did not serve as a mother municipality for any later town.

Coat of Arms

The shield features a silver field with a green chevron and a green chief bearing a lighthouse. Two gold yokes with silver cords appear in the lower field. The silver and green colors symbolize sugarcane and agricultural wealth. The chevron represents the two mountain ranges that frame the town; the lighthouse refers to the historic coastal structure; and the yokes symbolize agriculture and the patron saint San Isidro Labrador. A mural crown of three towers sits above the shield.