Arecibo,
The name of a district and of its port, in the north of the island of Porto Rico. The district is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean; on the east by the District of Bayamon; on the south by those of Mayaguez and Ponce; and on the west by that of Aguadilla. The town is about 50 miles west of San Juan; has a population of between 6,000 and 7,000; and its habor is so full of dangerous reefs that goods are transferred from shore to shipping by means of flat-boats and lighters. The town has a plaza, surrounded by a church and various public buildings, in the centre, and streets running from it in right angles, forming regular squares. The buildings are constructed of wood and brick.