Culebra Island History
The first inhabitants of Culebra were the Tainos, a peaceful indigenous tribe that resided throughout the Caribbean. Legend has it that pirates also used Culebra as a hideout. The colonization of Culebra started in 1880. The first settlement, San Ildefonso, was located at “Lower Camp” across the bay from Dewey.
By 1894, 519 residents resided in five communities: San Ildefonso, Flamenco, San Isidero, Playa Sardinas I & II, and Frayle. Eighty Four straw houses existed, 24 of which were in San Ildefonso.
Agriculture was the major source of income including exports of wood, turtle oil and shells, salted fish, tobacco, livestock, country cheese, vegetables, coconuts, and cotton.
The Spanish Crown determined that all land in Culebra was public property except for the central government buildings and several large fincas (farms) deeded to a few settler families. As part of the Hispano-Ameican war ended in 1898, the island was turned over to the U.S. With the agreement the property titles given by the Spanish government would be honored.
In 1901, the U.S military arrived to use the island as a firing range and for military exercises, taking over San Ildefonso and relocating the residents to other areas in violation of the Paris Treaty. Most went to Playa Sardinas which was renamed by Don Pedro Marquez as Dewey after the U.S. Navy Admiral. In 1909 then president Theodore Roosevelt named Culebra a National Wildlife Refuge.
The U.S. Military practiced bombing on Culebra, particularly at Flamenco beach (where tanks still sit as a rusty monument). Local protest, including a wooden chapel built at Flamenco, resulted in the military moving operations in 1975 to our sister island of Vieques. Recent similar protests there have resulted in the U.S. Military leaving Vieques as well as a base on the Big Island.
In 1960 it became law to elect the Mayor and Municipal Legislature of Culebra for a four-year term of office. The Municipal Legislature consists of five members, four from the majority party, and one from the minority party. Residents are U.S. Citizens, but are not eligible to vote for U.S. Presidents. The political process is a source of island pride, and can become quite a heated subject – therefore it is frowned upon in many public areas to discuss politics.
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