Historic Cronology of Coamo - USA Territory

1899
The Saint Ciriaco hurricane batters Coamo. Population: 15,144 inhabitants.

1901
The first school building is constructed in Coamo: Franklin Public School.

1905
The telephone systems is inaugurated.

1908
The first aqueduct systems is constructed, while don Manuel Betances was mayor. The Baptist Church is constructed.

1910
Don Juan Reyes and don Celestino Caratini are the first automobile in Coamo. The number of automobile increases to 61 over the next 15 years. The use of "carro público" (public car) is common. Coamo has 17,129 inhabitants.

1911
Don Gabriel Emanuelli establishes the first ice factory.

1915
Don Ramón Iglesias establishes the first freight trucking service. His main business was transporting groceries and gas from Ponce. Don Ramón also establishes the first gasoline station, in society with co-owner don Zoilo María Colón.

1920
Don Celestino Caratini establishes the first electricity system.

1926
The Coamo Public High School is inaugurated thanks to the legacy of philanthropist don Florencio Santiago for the construction of the building.

1928
The Saint Felipe hurricane batters Coamo and destroys the coffee industry.

1930
Coamo has 18,125 inhabitants.

1937
Coamo has its first female mayor, Mrs. María Isabel Colón, teacher (mayor from 1937 to 1939).

1940
Coamo has 22,772 inhabitants.

1946
Father MacDonald, pioneer of the Antigonish cooperative movement in Canada, visits Coamo invited by José Felipe Zayas and Ramón Rivera Bermúdez.

1947
The first cooperative based on the Antigonish movement in Coamo is established, Cooperativa de Consumo La Coameña.

1950
Coamo has 26,485 inhabitants.

1951
The first loans and savings cooperative in Coamo is established, Cooperativa San Blas de Illescas.

1955
Manufacture surpasses agriculture in economic gain, starting the downfall of agriculture in Coamo as in all Puerto Rico.

1960
Coamo has 26,082 inhabitants.

1963
First edition of the San Blas Half Marathon, sponsored by the Delta Phi Delta Fraternity.

1970
Coamo has 26,468 inhabitants.

1979
Coamo celebrates four hundred years since its foundation.

1989
Coamo obtains second place Quality of Life State Prize.

1990
Coamo obtains first place Quality of Life State Prize. The official number of inhabitants is 33,837. Two major public projects are inaugurated: the Osvaldo Rivera Athletic Track and the Osvaldo Seda Festivals Center.

1991
The new Dr. Dámaso Talavera Family Health Center opens its doors. The Demographic Registry inaugurates a computerized system of records, which allows to obtain documents locally.

1992
The Center for the Evaluation and Therapy of Children and Young Adults opens its doors.