Historical Overview

Sabana Grande was founded in 1813 by Pedro de Acosta in southwestern Puerto Rico, though the community's Catholic heritage dates back to before 1808, when it was still a sector of San Germán. Known as the 'Pueblo de los Prodigios' (Town of Wonders), the municipality's principal parish, dedicated to San Isidro Labrador y Santa María de la Cabeza, preserves some of the oldest ecclesiastical records in the region. The municipality's eight barrios are situated in the southwestern interior-southern corridor, bordered by San Germán, Yauco, Maricao, Lajas, and Guánica. Genealogical research for Sabana Grande benefits from Catholic church records predating the town's official founding as well as civil registration records from 1885 onward.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Sabana Grande features a rake and shovel representing patron saint San Isidro Labrador, and a jug symbolizing Santa María de la Cabeza. A palm leaf reflects local agricultural tradition, while a three-towered crown indicates town status, civic solidarity, and common defense. The shield's gold and green colors reflect the town's traditional identity, and the motto 'Pueblo de los Prodigios' recalls the town's legendary reputation for extraordinary and historical events.

Barrios

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

Callejones
Machuchal
Pueblo
Rincón
Sabana Eneas
Santana
Susúa
Tolosita

Neighboring Municipalities

Also check records in neighboring municipalities:

Guánica — San Antonio Abad
Lajas — Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria
Maricao — San Juan Bautista
San Germán — San Germán de Auxerre
Yauco — Nuestra Señora del Rosario

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: San Isidro Labrador y Santa María de la Cabeza

Records from 1808

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Digital Archives

FamilySearch: Sabana Grande Civil and parish records
Find A Grave: Sabana Grande Cemetery index
Puerto Rico Slave Census — Sabana Grande archival records Slave census records for Sabana Grande available through the Puerto Rico Archives storefront. Useful for colonial-era research.
FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide