Salinas, Puerto Rico: History
Salinas was founded in 1840. On July 22, 1841, its first municipal council was established by Don Agustín Colón Pacheco as Mayor, Don Jose Maria Cadavedo as Sargent of Arms, Don Juan Colon as Captain of the Civil Guard and five hacendados which were Don Antonio Semidey, Don Antonio Morelli, Don Francisco Secola, Don Julio Delannoy and Don Jose Antonio Torres. In 1847 it was annexed to the municipality of Guayama until 1851 when it regained its status as a municipality.
Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States conducted its first census of Puerto Rico, finding that the population of Salinas was 5,731.
In the 21st century the availability of clean drinking water has become an issue for Puerto Rico and especially for Salinas, which is located in a dry region of the island.
On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico. In Salinas, 2,800 homes were destroyed by the winds, flooded rivers, and ocean surge.
During Hurricane Fiona on September 18, 2022, flood waters from 760 millimetres (30 in) of rain caused the river to flood neighborhoods and destroy homes in Salinas.