Historical Overview

Rincón was founded on August 16, 1771, by Don Luis de Añasco, who also founded the neighboring town that bears his name. Originally part of the territory of Aguada, settlers petitioned for independence to establish their own parish and civil administration. For nearly two centuries the local economy was centered on sugarcane cultivation and small-scale fishing. A major cultural turning point came in 1968, when Rincón hosted the World Surfing Championship at Domes Beach, transforming the municipality into a world-renowned destination for tourism and watersports. The town also housed the first nuclear reactor in the Caribbean, the BONUS plant (Boiling Nuclear Superheater), which now serves as a landmark and museum. Known today as El Pueblo de los Bellos Atardeceres and La Capital del Surf, Rincón occupies the westernmost point of Puerto Rico, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea.

Coat of Arms

The shield is divided into green, representing the mountains and vegetation, and orange, representing Rincón's famous sunsets. A silver star at the top center honors Santa Rosa de Lima, the patron saint. A Spanish galleon represents the discovery of the island and the town's coastal identity. A central cross reflects the Christian faith of the early settlers. The shield is topped by a three-towered mural crown signifying independent municipal status.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Rincón has 8 barrios:

Atalaya
Barrero
Calvache
Ensenada
Jagüey
Puntas
Rincón Pueblo
Río Grande

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.

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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: Santa Rosa de Lima

Records from 1771

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Digital Archives

FamilySearch: Rincón Civil and parish records
Notas para su Historia: Rincón (OECH) Government History (PDF) Comprehensive government-curated PDF covering Rincón's geographic, indigenous, and colonial history, published by the Office of Historic Preservation of Puerto Rico.
Colecciones Digitales — ADNPR Digital Archive Hub for historical documents, maps, and municipal records from across the western region of Puerto Rico.
Colección Puertorriqueña — Issuu Digital Library Digitized historical newspapers and scholarly materials covering the development of Rincón and surrounding towns.
Portal de Colecciones — Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña Cultural Repository Official government records and cultural history artifacts categorized by region.
FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide