Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico
. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" (The Sultaness of the West), "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" (City of Pure Waters), or "Ciudad del Mangó" (City of the Mango). On April 6, 1894, the Spanish crown gave it the formal title of "Excelente ciudad de Mayagüez" (Excellent City of Mayaquez). Mayagüez is located in the center of the western coast on the island of Puerto Rico. It is both a principal city of the Mayagüez Metropolitan Statistical Area
and the Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area.
Mayagüez was officially founded on September 18, 1760 by a group led by brothers Faustino and Lorenzo Martínez de Matos, Juan de Silva and Juan de Aponte, at a hill located about one kilometer inland from Mayagüez Bay
and the outlet of the Yagüez River
. The Spanish Crown granted the founders the right to self-government in 1763, formally separating the town from the larger Partido de San Germán
. Originally the settlement was named Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez (Our Lady of Candelaria of Mayagüez) to evoke an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife
, one of the Canary Islands
. Most of the town's settlers, including its founders, originally migrated from the archipelago, whose patron saint
is the Virgin of Candelaria
.
On May 7, 1836, the settlement was elevated to the royal status of villa
, and Rafael Mangual was named its first mayor
. At the time, the villa's principal economic activity was agriculture
. The famous patriot, educator, sociologist, philosopher, essayist, and novelist Eugenio María de Hostos
was born in Mayagüez in 1839.
On July 10, 1877 the villa formally received its city charter
from the Royal Crown of Spain.
The city's main Roman Catholic church, "Our Lady of the Candelaria" (plot consecrated on August 21, 1760, first masonry building erected in 1780, current church originally built in 1836) was rebuilt in 1922. The original redesign by architect Luis Perocier sought to restore the building to its original splendor. Not only had the 1918 Puerto Rico earthquake
destroyed the temple's ceiling, but a lightning bolt also struck and tore down a wedge-shaped corner of one of its two bell towers. However, lack of proper funding and the extent of the damage of the original structure forced the actual rebuilding of the to be scaled-down considerably.
In 1911, the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
was founded in Mayagüez. Today it is known as the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
(UPRM) — the Caribbean's leading science
and engineering
institution.
Between 1962 and 1998 Mayagüez was a major tuna canning and processing center. At one time, 80% of all tuna products consumed in the United States were packed in Mayagüez (the biggest employer, StarKist
, had 11,000 employees working three daily shifts in the local plant's heyday). Mayagüez was also a major textile industry hub; until very recently, almost a quarter of all drill uniforms used by the United States Army
were sewn in the city.Today, Mayagüez is the fifth-largest city and is considered one of the most important cities in the island. The city itself is centered around the impressive Spanish-style Plaza Colon, a tribute to Christopher Columbus, whose stature stands in the middle of the square, surrounded by 16 bronze statues. In addition, Mayagüez has become a major college town because with the establishment of the UPRM, the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Law School and the Pontiff Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
Mayagüez is located near the geographical center of the west coast of Puerto Rico about two hours by automobile from San Juan
. Its land area is 77.6 square miles (201.06 km2). The city's terrain includes; coast plains, river valleys, marshland, hills and mountains. Of its multiple rivers and streams, the two most important are the Río Yagüez
, which flows from the Central Mountain Range
through downtown until it empties into the Mona Passage
; and the Río Guanajibo
, which flows through several neighborhoods in the southern portion of the municipality until it empties in the Mona Passage as well.
has an estimated population of just over 100,000 spread over 21 wards (barrios) including Mayagüez Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). One of the wards is Isla de Mona e Islote Monito, which consists of the offshore islands of Mona Island
and Monito Island
. This is the largest ward by land area, and at the same time the only one without any permanent population. Also, uninhabited Desecheo Island
belongs to the municipality, as part of Sabanetas barrio.
Mayagüez Pueblo is further subdivided into these wards:
The sectors that comprises Mayagüez City are:
Other notable neighborhoods or sectors:
Of the 31,877 households in 2007 in Mayagüez, 38.6% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households 27.8% are made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.41.
In Mayagüez, the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. Mayagüez has more women, with 88.4 males for every 100 females.
factories and tuna industry, which were the principal industries of the city for the greater part of the 20th century. Over 11,000 permanent jobs in these two industries were lost in the city during the 1990s, and because of this, Mayagüez became the jurisdiction of the United States with the second largest number of industrial job losses during the time period, second only to Flint, Michigan
. Once the third city in population and importance in Puerto Rico, population numbers for it have been relatively stagnant, and it has actually lost population in recent years.
However, due to ancillary infrastructure developments and a renewed effort to repopulate the city's Guanajibo Industrial Park , the local economy has seen a slow turn for the better. In 2005 Winston-Salem Industries for The Blind was the first industry to move into the park in many years. In July 2007 Honeywell
opened a customer support service center for its aerospace and information technology divisions in the city. Other industries, such as Lockheed
, are expected to follow suit in 2009. :)
Contributions to Puerto Rican gastronomy
Mayagüez's contributions to Puerto Rican gastronomy have been many, and a few of these are known outside Puerto Rico. Besides being host to one of the largest concentrations of mango
(spelled locally as "mangó") trees in the island, the city has been a host to various food enterprises whose products are popular in Puerto Rico (and some elsewhere):
A defunct cola
bottling operation in town produced "Vita Cola", a popular soft drink in Puerto Rico between the late 1940s and early 1960s.
Mayagüez was a major rum producing city in Puerto Rico between the 1930s and 1970s . Several brands were produced by the city's three rum distillers. The most successful rum producing operation at the time was that of "José González Clemente y Co.", the bottlers of "Ron Superior Puerto Rico", an award-winning dark rum
that was bottled between 1909 and the late 1970s.
for which the local and commonwealth governments have provided an investment of $250 million for, among other things, building two new stadiums (the first a re-built Isidoro García Baseball Stadium
the second next to it a track and field and soccer stadium
. Mayagüez will also host the 2011 Caribbean Series
.
Mayagüez's National Superior Basketball League (BSN) professional basketball team, the Indios de Mayagüez, are named in honor of the city's Indian heritage. Its baseball winter league team (LBPPR), the Indios de Mayagüez
, honor both their Indian heritage and the home town's Cervecería India brewery. The professional volleyball
team Indias de Mayagüez
from Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino
, plays locally at local Palacio de Recreación y Deportes
.
The "Justas" or Inter University Games of the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico
were celebrated in Mayagüez in 2010 in preparation for the Central American and Caribbean Games
.
As one of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities
, Mayagüez's government has two branches, the executive and the legislative. Those citizens eligible to vote, directly elect a mayor and the municipal assembly for four-year terms. The municipal government is housed in Mayagüez City Hall
or Casa Alcaldia, which faces the south-side of the Plaza de Colon.
The executive branch is headed by a popularly elected mayor. The office is currently held by José Guillermo Rodríguez. In addition to running the city's day-to-day operations and supervising associated departments, the mayor is also responsible for appointing a secretary-auditor and a treasurer.
Mayagüez's Municipal Assembly is made up of sixteen elected officials, as defined in the Puerto Rico Law of Autonomous Municipalities of 1991.
, who signed his documents with the phrase and the motto Christ Ferens, which means: "He who has Christ." The blue and white waves between the third and fourth quarters recall the coat of arms granted to Columbus by kings Ferdinand and Isabella. The waves represent the ocean (and particularly Mona Passage) through which he sailed to bring the gospel to these new lands. The blue and white waves symbolize the Yagüez River and evokes the nickname City of Pure Waters. The red and white flames on the flag symbolize the traditional bonfire
s of Day of Our Lady of Candelaria
("Día de La Candelaria"), ignited in honor of the city's patron saint
(a tradition started for Spanish settlers from the Canary Islands). The flag was officially adopted with the signing of City Ordinance 38, signed December 3, 1996.
of Mayagüez was given to the city 19 December 1894 by the Queen Regent of Spain Maria Christina of Austria
. The upper half of the coat of arms shows the columbine coat of arms recalls and commemorates the discovery of the Island of Borinquén (Puerto Rico) by Columbus in his second trip to the New World in 1493. The lower half of the coat of arms shows a stylized dissembarkment of Columbus on Puerto Rico. The explorer's crew disembarked at the western coast of the island, where several rivers spill their waters in the Mona Passage, among them the Yagüez, from which the name of Mayagüez is derived. The present version was reinterpreted by heraldist Roberto Biascochea Lota.
, a long-time resident and now "adopted son" of the city. Until this song's adoption, the plena
"A Mayagüez", written by César Concepción
, was used by many as an unofficial city song. Quiñones' composition was the winner of a contest sponsored by the city's municipality in 2003.
Mayor Jose Guillermo Rodriguez and the Municipal Legislature entrusted the Advisory Board of Art and Culture of Mayagüez tp hold a contest to select an anthem for the city. The selected composition was a danza
by Mr Luciano Quiñones, who has a Bachelor's degree in music, a piano professor the Escuela Libre de Musica de Mayagüez, he is a music composer already winning nineteen awards in competitions held by the Institute of Puerto Rican culture, and the Circulo de Recreo de San Germán. The lyrics alludes to the emblematic symbols of Mayagüez; its nicknames, to its Patron Saint
, its taste of mango
, to its sunsets in the bay
, to the Taíno
, to Eugenio María de Hostos
, their role as cultural cradle, the sympathy of the ladies and the dream of its valleys and its mountains.
The anthem was presented to the people in a memorable concert held in commemoration of the 239 anniversary of the founding of the city on the night of September 18, 1999, interpreted by tenor, Mayagüez adopted son, Rafael José Díaz, Mayagüezana lyric soprano, Hilda Ramos, accompanied by the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra conducted by its Associate Director, Mayagüezana Roselyn Pabón, in the same place where such Symphony Orchestra offered his first concert forty years earlier: the Plaza Colón
. This danza was recognized as the official anthem of Mayagüez through the Municipal Ordinance number 58, series 1999-2000, adopted on 20 December 1999 by the City Council, which was signed by the Mayor, Honorable José Guillermo Rodríguez on December 24, 1999.
MIDI and recorded versions of the anthem can be listened to here.
, (CROEM
) is one of only two public boarding schools in Puerto Rico. The largest public high school in town is Eugenio María de Hostos High School. The other public high school in Mayaguez is Dr. Pedro Perea Fajardo Vocational High School. The former José De Diego High School was finally closed in 2009.
, (S.E.S.O.
) maintains the Southwestern Community School, an English language college preparatory school. Other private schools include: Colegio San Benito
, (CSB
) (Saint Benedict
College), the "Academia de la Inmaculada Concepción
" (Academy of the Immaculate Conception
), Colegio Episcopal San Andrés", (San Andres Episcopal College), Colegio Presbiteriano
Pablo Casasús, Academia de La Milagrosa (Academy of Our Lady of Miracles),the Academia Adventista del Oeste (Western Adventist
Academy) and Academia Adventista de Bella Vista, (Bella Vista Adventist Academy).
, due in part to various secondary education institutions in the city.
There are also a number of junior colleges in the city.
existing as an arterial highway is the main route between Ponce to the south-east and Aguadilla and Arecibo to the north and north-east respectively. PR-2 is currently undergoing a conversion to a freeway between Ponce and Mayagüez. Another important route in Mayagüez is PR-102
. It begins at an intersection with PR-2, about 2 miles north of Mayagüez Pueblo at the Mar y Sol development and runs along Mayagüez's coastal industrial areas to Joyuda, where it then turns east and terminates in Sabana Grande
. The portion of the highway adjacent to the Estadio Isodoro Garcia was upgraded from a two-lane road into an urban boulevard in anticipation of the 2010 Centro-American and Caribbean Games
celebrated in Mayagüez. In addition to this upgrade, an elevated by-pass was constructed from the coastal park site over the Yagüez River
ending at the Concordia Housing Project.
The city operates three trolleys, free of cost, which run as shuttle between the downtown area and the Palacio de Recreación y Deportes
. The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
also runs an internal network of trollies to carry its students inside campus and between UPRM
, Mayagüez Terrace development and Palacio de Recreación y Deportes, linking here with the city's trolley service. There are some proposals to expand the municipal trolley service to serve inside the UPRM
.
For the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
the Puerto Rico's Department of Transportation and Public Works
released an express public bus system operated with Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses
(San Juan's Metropolitan Bus Authority
) buses specially assigned to serve in the city of Mayagüez. During the Mayagüez 2010 Games
, this bus network
was transporting passengers in a corridor along the Highway 2 and some main roads. The UPRM
trolley bus network was integrated into this service too. Although suspended after the Mayagüez 2010 Games ended, is expected its re-establishment in the near future.
along Puerto Rico routes 64, 341, and 3341, and stretches for 3.8 miles (6.1 km) along the coast. Its main canal is 0.4 mile (0.643736 km) wide and its depth ranges from 47 to 120 ft (14.3 to 36.6 ), the water's depth along the piers ranges between 28 and 29 ft (8.5 and 8.8 ). The port is protected from rough seas by reefs which run along its northern and western sections.
Starting in March 16, 2011 a new ferry service to Dominican Republic will be launched by America Cruise Ferries.
Airport, has had regular airline services for more than thirty years. It is located 4 miles north of the central business district in the Sabanetas Barrio. Prior to being inaugurated in 1955, the airport served as a military base. In the 1970s it had domestic service from Prinair
, then from American Eagle
and Eastern Air Lines
's regional carrier Eastern Metro Express in the 1980s. After Eastern went bankrupt in 1991, American Eagle remained the only airline serving the airport until it ended service to the city on April 30, 2005, due to poor loads. For a while, Fina Air
served flights to the Dominican Republic before the airline went bankrupt. Cape Air
currently serves the airport with 5 daily flights to San Juan
during the high season and three daily flights during the low season.
player Jose Juan Barea
, singer Chucho Avellanet
(Armando Hipólito), his nephew, former Menudo bandmember Roberto Avellanet
, singer, composer and wine maker Wilkins Vélez
, jazz flutist Nestor Torres
, Puerto Rican independence leader Rafael Cancel Miranda
, television hostess Gricel Mamery
, baseball
players José Vidro
and Wil Cordero
, Associate Secretary
of the United States Navy
William A. Navas, Jr.
, former WWE
diva
Nidia Guenard
and her sister Lourdes Guenard, and salsa
percussionist and bandleader Roberto Roena
. Two major Latino television stars in the United States, singer and show host Rafael José
(Diaz) and anchorwoman María Celeste Arrarás
, as well as horror film director and writer Ana Clavell
, were raised in Mayagüez. United States Congressman José Serrano
, who represents Congressional District NY-16 (which covers The Bronx
in New York City) was born in Mayagüez. New York Surrogate's Court Judge Margarita López Torres was also born in Mayagüez.
Arguably the best known native of Mayagüez ever is educator and philosopher Eugenio María de Hostos
(1839–1903).
Roselyn Pabon http://www.prpop.org/biografias/r_bios/roselyn_pabon.shtml is a musician, educator and orchestra director. Born in Mayaguez, he was raised in El Barrio Trastalleres and then in El Barrio El Seco or El Ensanche Miramar, Marina Septentrional sector.
Other Puerto Rican personalities born in Mayagüez are: journalist Carmen Jovet
, news announcer Luz Nereida Vélez
, comedic actors Adrián García and Shorty Castro
, Latin Grammy® Winning Award Producer Miguel Márquez "Escobar", local senator Orlando Parga
and puppeteer (Antulio) Kobbo Santarrosa. Journalist Julio Victor Ramirez, hijo was raised in the city.
Iván "FlipZ" Vélez, a professional dancer better known for dating Geri Halliwell
of the Spice Girls
(and participating in their reunion tour in 2007), was born in Mayagüez.
Former mayor
of San Juan
, Hernán Padilla
was born in Mayagüez, but raised in the nearby town of Cabo Rojo
. Television actor Armando Riesco
was born in Mayagüez, but raised in San Juan
. Porn star
Gina Lynn
, born in the city, was raised in Jackson Township, New Jersey
.
For a while (since his then-wife Herlinda Gómez was a native of the city) Colombia
n folk singer and actor Carlos Vives
was a part-time resident. So were Spanish journalist and adventurer Miguel de la Quadra Salcedo, local media personality Silverio Pérez
, and Ponce
mayor
Francisco Zayas Seijo
when each got a degree from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
. Hugo Savinovich
lived in Mayagüez during the early years of his wrestling career.
Major League Baseball
players who played with the Indios de Mayagüez
include Iván (Pudge) Rodríguez
, Tommy Lasorda
, Ron LeFlore
, Denny McLain
, John Wesley (Boog) Powell
, Dave McNally
, Phil Niekro
, Roberto Hernández, and Wally Joyner
. Current San Francisco Giants
pitcher Jonathan Sánchez
, who threw a no-hitter
against the San Diego Padres
in 2009, was born in Mayagüez.
Puerto Rican folk singer Roy Brown Ramírez
is a current resident. José Alfredo
is a singer and composer who was born in Mayagüez but was raised in San German
.
), Commander-in-chief of the Cuban independence forces (and participant in the Grito de Lares
) Juan Rius Rivera
, Puerto Rican independence leader Juan Mari Brás
, actresses Alicia Moreda
, Lucy Boscana
and Madeline Willemsen
; radio disc jockey
, announcer, musicologist and marketing impresario Gilbert Mamery
, plena
singer and band leader Mon Rivera
(The Younger), former Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Ernesto Ramos Antonini
, María Luisa Arcelay
, the first woman in all of Latin America to be elected to a legislative government body, and former Mayagüez Mayor, Benjamin Cole, who held his office for 24 consecutive years. His brother, composer
Roberto Cole was also a native. Pilar Defilló i Amigüet, the mother of cellist Pablo Casals
, was born in Mayagüez. PFC.Humberto Acosta-Rosario
, U.S. Army, is the only Puerto Rican still listed as Missing in Action from the Vietnam War. Oscar Garcia Rivera, Sr.
(1900–1969), the first Puerto Rican to be elected to public office in the continental United States as a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1937. Simón Madera, was an excellent musician and his compositions were distinguisehed in their use of the violin and clarinet. His best and most popular composition was “Mis Amores” which he composed at age 18. In addition to danzas, he composed waltzes and works for chamber music. He lived his last years in Guayama and died there on August 18, 1957.
Latino crooner and salsa singer (of one of Tito Puente
's orchestras) Santos Colon
was born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico
, but since he was raised in Mayagüez since early childhood he considered himself a (rather proud) mayagüezano. Salsa
artist Frankie Ruiz
, born in Paterson, New Jersey
, was also raised in Mayagüez.
Salvador Agrón
, a notorious murderer turned youth counselor whose life became the basis for the Broadway play The Capeman
, was born in Mayagüez (for a while he was a resident of the local Asilo de Beneficencia, on Ramón E. Betances Avenue) and raised in New York City. Former Puerto Rico governor Roberto Sánchez Vilella
was born in Mayagüez, but was raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico
, former New York State senator
Olga A. Méndez
was also born in Mayagüez.
Ramón Emeterio Betances
, Lola Rodríguez de Tio
, Luis Lloréns Torres
and Rafael Martinez Nadal
were one-time residents.
The late Rafael Lopez Martinez, teacher and orchestra conductor for the Escuela Industrial de Mayaguez, gave Roselyn Pabon (conductor and director of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra) his first lessons in music.
(Honorary Consulate)
Cartagena, Colombia
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" (The Sultaness of the West), "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" (City of Pure Waters), or "Ciudad del Mangó" (City of the Mango). On April 6, 1894, the Spanish crown gave it the formal title of "Excelente ciudad de Mayagüez" (Excellent City of Mayaquez). Mayagüez is located in the center of the western coast on the island of Puerto Rico. It is both a principal city of the Mayagüez Metropolitan Statistical Area
Mayagüez metropolitan area
The Mayagüez Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area in west central Puerto Rico...
and the Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area.
History
Taíno Indians who inhabited the territory, called the island Boriken or Borinquen which means: "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord" or "land of the great lords". Today this word -used in various modifications- is still popularly used to designate the people and island of Puerto Rico. The Taíno Indians, who came from South America, inhabited the major portion of the island when the Spaniards arrived. The Taíno Indians, lived in small villages, organized in clans and led by a Cacique, or chief. They were a peaceful people who, with a limited knowledge of agriculture, lived on such domesticated tropical crops as pineapples, cassava, and sweet potatoes supplemented by seafood.Mayagüez was officially founded on September 18, 1760 by a group led by brothers Faustino and Lorenzo Martínez de Matos, Juan de Silva and Juan de Aponte, at a hill located about one kilometer inland from Mayagüez Bay
Mayagüez Bay
The Mayagüez Bay is a bay located in western Puerto Rico.The bay has recently been opened to the city of Mayaguez with the building of the Parque del Litoral because of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. The Port of Mayagüez is located in the bay. The Yagüez River empties into the bay....
and the outlet of the Yagüez River
Yagüez River
The Rio Yagüez is a river located in western Puerto Rico.The Rio Yaguez originates at 1,200 feet above sea-level in the Urayoán Mountains to the south-east of Las Marias and to the north-east of Maricao...
. The Spanish Crown granted the founders the right to self-government in 1763, formally separating the town from the larger Partido de San Germán
San Germán, Puerto Rico
San Germán is a municipality located in the southwestern region of Puerto Rico, south of Mayagüez and Maricao; north of Lajas; east of Hormigueros and Cabo Rojo; and west of Sabana Grande. San Germán is spread over 18 wards and San Germán Pueblo...
. Originally the settlement was named Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez (Our Lady of Candelaria of Mayagüez) to evoke an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
, one of the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
. Most of the town's settlers, including its founders, originally migrated from the archipelago, whose patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
is the Virgin of Candelaria
Virgin of Candelaria
The cult of the Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candelaria , popularly called La Morenita, celebrates an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands . The center of worship is located in the city of Candelaria in Tenerife. She is depicted as a Black Madonna...
.
On May 7, 1836, the settlement was elevated to the royal status of villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
, and Rafael Mangual was named its first mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. At the time, the villa's principal economic activity was agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. The famous patriot, educator, sociologist, philosopher, essayist, and novelist Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos known as "El Ciudadano de América" , was a Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate....
was born in Mayagüez in 1839.
On July 10, 1877 the villa formally received its city charter
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
from the Royal Crown of Spain.
1918 Puerto Rico earthquake
The San Fermín earthquake, also known as the Puerto Rico earthquake of 1918, was a major earthquake that struck the island of Puerto Rico at 10:14am on October 11, 1918. The magnitude for the earthquake has been reported at around 7.5 ; however, that might not be an exact number...
destroyed the temple's ceiling, but a lightning bolt also struck and tore down a wedge-shaped corner of one of its two bell towers. However, lack of proper funding and the extent of the damage of the original structure forced the actual rebuilding of the to be scaled-down considerably.
In 1911, the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
was founded in Mayagüez. Today it is known as the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
(UPRM) — the Caribbean's leading science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
institution.
Between 1962 and 1998 Mayagüez was a major tuna canning and processing center. At one time, 80% of all tuna products consumed in the United States were packed in Mayagüez (the biggest employer, StarKist
Charlie the Tuna
Charlie the Tuna, the cartoon mascot tuna for StarKist Tuna, was created by Tom Rogers of the Leo Burnett Agency after StarKist hired Leo Burnett in 1961. StarKist Tuna is the name of a brand of tuna currently owned by Dongwon Industries....
, had 11,000 employees working three daily shifts in the local plant's heyday). Mayagüez was also a major textile industry hub; until very recently, almost a quarter of all drill uniforms used by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
were sewn in the city.Today, Mayagüez is the fifth-largest city and is considered one of the most important cities in the island. The city itself is centered around the impressive Spanish-style Plaza Colon, a tribute to Christopher Columbus, whose stature stands in the middle of the square, surrounded by 16 bronze statues. In addition, Mayagüez has become a major college town because with the establishment of the UPRM, the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Law School and the Pontiff Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
Geography
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Its land area is 77.6 square miles (201.06 km2). The city's terrain includes; coast plains, river valleys, marshland, hills and mountains. Of its multiple rivers and streams, the two most important are the Río Yagüez
Yagüez River
The Rio Yagüez is a river located in western Puerto Rico.The Rio Yaguez originates at 1,200 feet above sea-level in the Urayoán Mountains to the south-east of Las Marias and to the north-east of Maricao...
, which flows from the Central Mountain Range
Cordillera Central, Puerto Rico
The Cordillera Central, or La Cordillera Central , is the main mountain range in Puerto Rico. Generally speaking, the range crosses the island from west to east with an average elevation of 915m and divides the territory's northern and southern coastal plains.La Cordillera Central runs east to...
through downtown until it empties into the Mona Passage
Mona Passage
The Mona Passage is a strait that separates the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, and is an important shipping route between the Atlantic and the Panama Canal....
; and the Río Guanajibo
Río Guanajibo
-See also:*List of rivers of Puerto Rico-References:*USGS Hydrologic Unit Map – Caribbean Region *...
, which flows through several neighborhoods in the southern portion of the municipality until it empties in the Mona Passage as well.
Climate
Mayaguez has the most extreme weather of the island. The high frequency of severe storms in the summer can produce tornadoes, waterspouts, strong winds, floods and even hail. The average annual temperature is 75 º F (24C). Winter is usually quite dry and cool with temperatures between 80 º F (26) to 55 º F (13C). Summer is usually very hot and humid with temperatures reaching 95 º F (35C) with heat index of up to 115 º F. During May to October, most evenings experience severe thunderstorms, due to heat, humidity and the topography of the area.Barrios (Districts/Wards)
The municipioMunicipio
Municipio and Município are terms used for country subdivisions. They are often translated as municipality.-Overview:...
has an estimated population of just over 100,000 spread over 21 wards (barrios) including Mayagüez Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). One of the wards is Isla de Mona e Islote Monito, which consists of the offshore islands of Mona Island
Mona, Puerto Rico
Mona is the third largest island of the archipelago of Puerto Rico, after the main island of Puerto Rico and Vieques. It is the largest of three islands located in the Mona Passage, a strait between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the others being Monito Island and Desecheo Island...
and Monito Island
Monito Island
Monito Island is an uninhabited island about 5 kilometers northwest of much larger Mona Island. Monito is the masculine diminutive form of Mona in Spanish. It is one of three islands in the Mona Passage, and part of the Isla de Mona e Islote Monito barrio, a subdivision of the municipality of...
. This is the largest ward by land area, and at the same time the only one without any permanent population. Also, uninhabited Desecheo Island
Desecheo Island
Desecheo is a small uninhabited island of the archipelago of Puerto Rico located in the northeast of the Mona Passage; 21 km from the west coast of the main island of Puerto Rico and 50 km northeast of Mona Island. It has a land area of 1.5 km² . Politically, the island is...
belongs to the municipality, as part of Sabanetas barrio.
- Algarrobo
- Bateyes
- Guanajibo
- Isla de Mona e Islote MonitoIsla de Mona e Islote Monito, Mayagüez, Puerto RicoIsla de Mona e Islote Monito is a barrio in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The US census of 2000 reports six housing units, but a population of zero. The Barrio is made up of the islands of Mona and Monito. This is the largest ward of Mayagüez by area, and the only one without permanent population...
- Juan Alonso
- Leguízamo
- Limón
- Malezas
- Mayagüez Arriba
- Mayagüez Pueblo
- MiraderoMiraderoMiradero is a barrio in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The US census of 2000 reports a population of 5,510. The total land area the barrio is about . It is one of fifteen rural inland barrios of Mayagüez....
- Montoso
- Naranjales
- Quebrada Grande
- Quemado
- Río Cañas Abajo
- Río Cañas Arriba
- Río Hondo
- Rosario
- Sábalos
- SabanetasSabanetas (Mayagüez)Sabanetas is a barrio of the municipality of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.-Name:Sabanetas Barrio is a coastal rural and riverside barrio, it borders with the municipality of Añasco to the north...
Mayagüez Pueblo is further subdivided into these wards:
- Candelaria
- Cárcel
- Marina Septentrional
- Marina Meridional
- Rio
- Salud
The sectors that comprises Mayagüez City are:
- Balboa
- Barcelona
- El Seco
- El Liceo
- El Pueblo
- La Mineral
- La Quinta
- Paris
- Trastalleres
Other notable neighborhoods or sectors:
- El ManiEl ManiEl Maní is a community located along coast in the Sabanetas barrio of Mayagüez on the island of Puerto Rico. El Mani Pavilion is located there.-Facilities inside El Maní:...
- community in Sabanetas - Mayagüez Terrace - development in Algarrobo, near the UPRM Campus
- Alturas de Mayagüez - development in Algarrobo, near the Holiday Inn Hotel and the Regional Distribution Center
- El Cerro de las Mesas - known for being the home of "CROEMResidential Center of Educative Opportunities of MayagüezThe Residential Center of Educative Opportunities of Mayagüez is a magnet secondary specialized High School, in Mayagüez in the United States insular area of Puerto Rico...
" and for its picture perfect views of the City from Camino Berrios. - Buena Vista - a hilltop pintoresque community next to downtown
- Colombia - a famous former slum, now aside Government Center
- Columbus Landing - the second oldest public housing project (caserio) in Puerto Rico
- Dulces Labios - a pintoresque community aside PR-2 famous by its history and its musical activities
- Ensanche Martinez (La Bosque) - student area, near the UPRM Campus
- Ensanche Ramirez - a hilltop high class development, near the UPRM Campus
- Ensanche Vivaldi - student area, near the UPRM Campus
- La Riviera - student area
- Ponce de Leon - development in Mayaguez Arriba next to Luis Munoz Rivera Park (eastern outskirts)
- Santurce - community next to the Old Municipal Cemetery
- Vadi-Cristy - community aside PR-2 and downtown
Demographics
According to 2009 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, there are 92,156 people (down from 98,434 in 2000) in 38,469 housing units residing in Mayagüez. The population density was 1187 PD/sqmi. The city has a considerable "college population" adding approximately 10,000 people to the year around population of Mayagüez. People of Hispanic or Latino origin, who may be of any race, comprised 98.9% of the population.Of the 31,877 households in 2007 in Mayagüez, 38.6% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households 27.8% are made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.41.
In Mayagüez, the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. Mayagüez has more women, with 88.4 males for every 100 females.
| Race - Mayagüez, Puerto Rico - 2010 Census | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Population | % of Total |
| White White people White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin... |
70,091 | 78.7% |
| Black/Afro-Puerto Rican African immigration to Puerto Rico The history of African people in Puerto Rico begins with the immigration of African free men who accompanied the invading Spanish Conquistadors. The Spaniards enslaved the Taínos , and many of them died as a result of Spaniards' oppressive colonization efforts... |
7,345 | 8.2% |
| American Indian Native Americans in the United States Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as... and Alaska Native Alaska Natives Alaska Natives are the indigenous peoples of Alaska. They include: Aleut, Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Eyak, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.-History:In 1912 the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded... |
679 | 0.8% |
| Asian Asian people Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :... |
189 | 0.2% |
| Native Hawaiian Native Hawaiians Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S... /Pacific Islander Pacific Islander Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:... |
10 | 0.0% |
| Some other race | 7,664 | 8.6% |
| Two or more races | 3,102 | 3.5% |
Economy
Although the city has seen its share of natural disasters, it faced a major economic downturn due to the closure of its textileTextile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
factories and tuna industry, which were the principal industries of the city for the greater part of the 20th century. Over 11,000 permanent jobs in these two industries were lost in the city during the 1990s, and because of this, Mayagüez became the jurisdiction of the United States with the second largest number of industrial job losses during the time period, second only to Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. Once the third city in population and importance in Puerto Rico, population numbers for it have been relatively stagnant, and it has actually lost population in recent years.
However, due to ancillary infrastructure developments and a renewed effort to repopulate the city's Guanajibo Industrial Park , the local economy has seen a slow turn for the better. In 2005 Winston-Salem Industries for The Blind was the first industry to move into the park in many years. In July 2007 Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
opened a customer support service center for its aerospace and information technology divisions in the city. Other industries, such as Lockheed
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
, are expected to follow suit in 2009. :)
Contributions to Puerto Rican gastronomyGastronomyGastronomy is the art or science of food eating. Also, it can be defined as the study of food and culture, with a particular focus on gourmet cuisine...
Mayagüez's contributions to Puerto Rican gastronomy have been many, and a few of these are known outside Puerto Rico. Besides being host to one of the largest concentrations of mangoMango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
(spelled locally as "mangó") trees in the island, the city has been a host to various food enterprises whose products are popular in Puerto Rico (and some elsewhere):
- Brazo gitano - literally "gypsy arm", is the locally produced Swiss or jelly rollSwiss rollA Swiss roll or jelly roll is a type of sponge cake roll. The thin cake is made of eggs, flour and sugar and baked in a very shallow rectangular baking tray, called a sheet pan. The cake is removed from the pan and spread with jam or buttercream, rolled up, and served in circular slices.The...
, originally from Spain. E. Franco & Co., a bakery, food importer and restaurant established in the late 1850s, is the best-known provider of brazos gitanos in town. Another (more recent) provider is Ricomini Bakery, whose central store in downtown Mayagüez has been open for over 100 years. - Sangría de Fido - the heirs of Wilfrido Aponte still bottle "Sangría de Fido", a powerful concoction inspired on sangriaSangríaSangria is a wine punch typical of Spain and Portugal, also consumed in Argentina and Uruguay. It normally consists of a wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy. To be specific, a wine is a light, dry, young, high acid, unoaked, inexpensive wine, usually red wine due...
, but actually made with fruit juices, Bacardi 151Bacardi 151Bacardi 151 is an over-proof rum. The 151-proof liquor has an alcohol content of 75.5%, compared to the usual 35%-40%.Due to its high proof, it is typically used as a component in cocktails...
rumRumRum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
and burgundy wineBurgundy wineBurgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from...
(technically not from Bourgogne, but produced by E & J Gallo WineryE & J Gallo WineryE & J Gallo Winery was founded in 1933 by Ernest Gallo and Julio Gallo in Modesto, California. E & J Gallo Winery is the largest exporter of California wines and is a large promoter of wines from Sonoma County.-History:...
in Modesto, CaliforniaModesto, CaliforniaModesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
). Originally bottled by hand by the bartender since the mid-1970s, "Sangría de Fido" has a sizeable reputation outside Puerto Rico, and can claim tasters from as far away as CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Spain. E & J GalloE & J Gallo WineryE & J Gallo Winery was founded in 1933 by Ernest Gallo and Julio Gallo in Modesto, California. E & J Gallo Winery is the largest exporter of California wines and is a large promoter of wines from Sonoma County.-History:...
once awarded Aponte with a "Customer of the Year" award and flew him to their headquarters. Aponte was reportedly offered $250,000 by BacardiBacardiBacardi is a family-controlled spirits company, best known as a producer of rums, including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi 151. The company sells in excess of 200 million bottles per year in nearly 100 countries...
to sell his original recipe once, to which he refused. - Bolo's Sorullitos - a now-defunct operation that originated at "Bolo's Restaurant", a seaside eatery next to Mayagüez Bay, which produced sorullitos, or fried cornsticks, along with mayo-ketchupFry sauceFry sauce is a regional condiment served with French fries. It is usually a simple combination of one part ketchup and two parts mayonnaise. When spices and other flavorings are added, it is similar to—but thicker and smoother than—traditional Russian dressing and Thousand Island dressing...
, a dip made of mayonnaiseMayonnaiseMayonnaise, , often abbreviated as mayo, is a sauce. It is a stable emulsion of oil, egg yolk and either vinegar or lemon juice, with many options for embellishment with other herbs and spices. Lecithin in the egg yolk is the emulsifier. Mayonnaise varies in color but is often white, cream, or pale...
, ketchupKetchupKetchup is a sweet-and-tangy condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and an assortment of...
and garlicGarlicAllium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
extract. The restaurant was popular in Puerto Rico between the late 1970s and mid-1980s (its custom made building now houses WORA-TVWORA-TVWORA-TV is a full-power television station in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico transmitting over analog channel 5, digital 29. The station rebroadcasts over 95% of WLII's programing under an affiliation agreement. WORA-TV produces some programming of its own, mostly airing on Sunday afternoons. During local...
, one of the local television stations). For a while the frozen cornsticks were sold commercially in stores. - Flan-Es-Cedó' - Elmec Industries, Inc. has been the local flanFlanCrème caramel , flan , or caramel custard is a custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top, as opposed to crème brûlée, which is custard with a hard caramel top...
producer for over thirty years - India / Medalla beer - the only remaining mass-produced Puerto Rican beer is brewed by "Cervecería India", one of the largest employers in town. "Mayagüezanos" are queued into morning rush hour, lunch and afternoon rush hour by the company's whistleWhistleA whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
, which rings at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. (all times ASTAtlantic Standard Time ZoneThe Atlantic Standard Time Zone is a geographical region that keeps time by subtracting four hours from either Coordinated Universal Time or Greenwich Mean Time , resulting in UTC-4 or GMT-4...
) - Rex Cream's Ice Cream - established in the mid-1960s by ChineseChinese peopleThe term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
migrants who came to Puerto Rico by the way of Costa RicaCosta RicaCosta Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, Rex Cream is a chain of ice creamIce creamIce cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
parlors that had its heyday in the late 1970s. The two flagship stores in Mayagüez, however, are still popular (particularly on Good FridayGood FridayGood Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
, since one of the stores is the endpoint for a Good Friday religious procession) for producing alternative ice cream flavors, particularly a cornMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
sherbet. - Tuna fish - At one time, StarKistCharlie the TunaCharlie the Tuna, the cartoon mascot tuna for StarKist Tuna, was created by Tom Rogers of the Leo Burnett Agency after StarKist hired Leo Burnett in 1961. StarKist Tuna is the name of a brand of tuna currently owned by Dongwon Industries....
, Chicken of the SeaChicken of the SeaChicken of the Sea is a brand of canned tuna produced by a company owned by Thai Union Group.-Company:Based in San Diego, California, the company markets a variety of other seafood items under the Chicken of the Sea brand name, including clam, crab, mackerel, salmon, sardines and tuna...
and Bumble BeeBumble Bee (brand)Bumble Bee Foods, LLC is a formerly American-owned company that produces canned tuna, salmon, other seafoods, and chicken. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California, United States. The brand is marketed as Clover Leaf in Canada...
produced 80% of their collective production for consumption in the United States in Mayagüez. As of the time of writing, the only tuna fish cannery remaining in town is that for Bumble BeeBumble Bee (brand)Bumble Bee Foods, LLC is a formerly American-owned company that produces canned tuna, salmon, other seafoods, and chicken. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California, United States. The brand is marketed as Clover Leaf in Canada...
. - El Meson SandwichesEl Meson SandwichesEl Meson Sandwiches is a Puerto Rican fast food sandwich chain based in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The company sells sandwiches, breakfast, salads and other Puerto Rican foods. There are over 30 shops in the chain, which employs more than 1,000 employees....
- a Puerto RicanPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
fast food sandwich chain based in Mayaguez. The company sells sandwiches, breakfast, salads and other Puerto Rican foods. There are over 30 shops in the chain, which employs 400 employees. - A new distillery was founded in Mayagüez in 2009 by the name of Destilería Coquí, the production is limited to 100 bottles a day, their main product is artisan rum called Pitorro.
A defunct cola
Cola
Cola is a carbonated beverage that was typically flavored by the kola nut as well as vanilla and other flavorings, however, some colas are now flavored artificially. It became popular worldwide after druggist John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886...
bottling operation in town produced "Vita Cola", a popular soft drink in Puerto Rico between the late 1940s and early 1960s.
Mayagüez was a major rum producing city in Puerto Rico between the 1930s and 1970s . Several brands were produced by the city's three rum distillers. The most successful rum producing operation at the time was that of "José González Clemente y Co.", the bottlers of "Ron Superior Puerto Rico", an award-winning dark rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
that was bottled between 1909 and the late 1970s.
Festivals and events
- Three Kings Festival - 5–6 February
- Black and White Festival - January
- Danza National Festival - February
- Matron Celebrations - February
- Mayagüez Carnival - May
- Festival Gastronomico Porta del Sol- 26 June
- Seco Festival/El Festival de la Cocolia - July
- Mango Festival - August
- Artisan Fair - November
- Christmas Festivities - December
Sports
Mayagüez hosted the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010.-Bid:...
for which the local and commonwealth governments have provided an investment of $250 million for, among other things, building two new stadiums (the first a re-built Isidoro García Baseball Stadium
Isidoro García Baseball Stadium
Isidoro García Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium in Mayagüez, it is also known as "El Cholo García". It is located next to the new Mayaguez Athletics Stadium and across the street of the Parque del Litoral.-Old stadium:...
the second next to it a track and field and soccer stadium
Mayaguez Athletics Stadium
The Mayagüez Athletics Stadium is 13,000 capacity stadium in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico opened in 2010. It is hosting the athletics and soccer games of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games...
. Mayagüez will also host the 2011 Caribbean Series
2011 Caribbean Series
The LIII edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 2011. It was held from February 2 through February 7 with the champions teams from Dominican Republic , Mexico , Puerto Rico and Venezuela...
.
Mayagüez's National Superior Basketball League (BSN) professional basketball team, the Indios de Mayagüez, are named in honor of the city's Indian heritage. Its baseball winter league team (LBPPR), the Indios de Mayagüez
Indios de Mayagüez
The Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League . Normally based in Mayagüez, the Indios have won 16 national championships and two Caribbean World Series...
, honor both their Indian heritage and the home town's Cervecería India brewery. The professional volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
team Indias de Mayagüez
Indias de Mayagüez
Indias de Mayagüez is the professional female volleyball team of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The team home court is the Palacio de Recreación y Deportes.-History:...
from Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino
Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino
The Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino is a professional volleyball league in Puerto Rico. The competitions are organized by the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation .-League Champions:-External links:...
, plays locally at local Palacio de Recreación y Deportes
Palacio de Recreación y Deportes
The Palacio de Recreación y Deportes is a sports arena in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It was built under Benjamin Cole's administration as mayor. It has capacity for 5,500 spectators. It has recently been remodeled in preparation for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games...
.
The "Justas" or Inter University Games of the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico
Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico
The Liga Atletica Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico, or "Inter University Athletic League of Puerto Rico" is a is a college athletic conference. The LAI is a non for profit organization whose main purpose is to regulate sports amongst its member institutions...
were celebrated in Mayagüez in 2010 in preparation for the Central American and Caribbean Games
2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010.-Bid:...
.
Landmarks and places of interest
- Centro Cultural Baudilio Vega BerríosCentro Cultural Baudilio Vega BerríosThe Centro Cultural Baudilio Vega Berríos is a cultural center located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.Located in the heart of the city, aside the City Hall and the Teatro Yagüez, extending between Candelaria Street at front to the Ernesto Ramos Antonini Street at back.-Architecture:The Cultural Center...
(Municipal Cultural Center) - Casa Consistorial De MayaguezMayagüez City HallThe Casa Consistorial De Mayaguez or as it is more commonly known Alcaldia de Mayagüez is the City Hall for the Municipality of Mayagüez. It is located in front of the Colón Main Square facing the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Cathedral.-History:...
- Casa Grande Museum
- Gomez ResidenceGomez Residencia (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico)The Gómez Residencia in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico was built in 1933. It was designed by architect Francisco Porrata Doria in a Mission/Spanish Revival, Neo-Andalusi style. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.-References:...
- India Brewery
- Plaza ColónPlaza ColónPlaza Colón is the main plaza in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. This plaza and its fountain commemorate the explorer Christopher Columbus, whose name in Spanish was Cristóbal Colón...
- Customs HouseU.S. Custom House (Mayagüez, Puerto Rico)The U.S. Customs House or "Edificio Aduana" is a historic custom house building located at Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. As of February 10, 1988, the building was owned by the U.S. Customs Service, Washington, D.C.-History:...
- Dr. Juan A. Rivero ZooDr. Juan A. Rivero ZooDr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo is a zoo located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It is the only zoo on the island. It is named in honor of Juan A. Rivero, its first director. It has an extensive collection of animals from all continents, as well as new facilities.-History:...
- Parque del LitoralParque del LitoralParque Litoral Israel "Shorty" Castro is a park located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It is commonly named "Parque del Litoral".-Features:...
Israel "Shorty" CastroShorty CastroIsrael Castro, better known as Shorty Castro is a Puerto Rican comedian, comedy writer and musician, with a career spanning over 60 years. He is regarded as one of the best stage directors in Puerto Rican comedy... - Eugenio María de HostosEugenio María de HostosEugenio María de Hostos known as "El Ciudadano de América" , was a Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate....
Monument - Hostos Museum at Río Cañas Arriba Ward
- José de DiegoJosé de DiegoJosé de Diego y Martínez , known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement", was a statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's independence from Spain and from the United States....
Park - Mayagüez Children's Libraryhttp://www.bibliotecajuvenil.org
- Mayagüez MallMayagüez MallMayagüez Mall is a shopping mall located between the municipalities of Mayagüez and Hormigueros. It is the third largest shopping center in Puerto Rico with a total of of retail space, and the main shopping center in western Puerto Rico, followed by Western Plaza also in Mayagüez, Aguadilla Mall...
- Mayagüez Resort & CasinoMayagüez Resort & CasinoThe Mayagüez Resort & Casino is the largest hotel resort in western Puerto Rico.-Facilities:The hotel has two restaurants, a large conference center, a casino, and a newly constructed river pool. It was the main hotel for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.-History:The hotel is located...
- Muelle Francés (French Dock)
- Parque de los Próceres (Notable's Park)
- Parque Infantil del Milenio (Millenium Child Park)
- Public Library (at Municipal Cultural Center)
- Tropical Agricultural Research Station
- Teatro YagüezTeatro YagüezThe Teatro Yagüez in Puerto Rico is a historic building that today is a performing arts theater. It is located at Candelaria and Dr. Basora Streets, in the city of Mayagüez. It consists of the Lucy Boscana Hall and the Roberto Cole Cafe Theater.-History:It was originally erected by Francisco...
(Yaguez Theater) - University of Puerto Rico at MayagüezUniversity of Puerto Rico at MayagüezThe University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
(El Colegio) - Urayoán Monument
- RUM PlanetariumRUM PlanetariumThe RUM Planetarium is the only planetarium in Puerto Rico. It is located in the fourth floor of the Physics building of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.-Planetarium and observatory:...
- RUM General LibraryRUM General LibraryThe RUM General Library is the main library for the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. It consists of a main library and a specialized collection.-Building:...
Government
Municipalities of Puerto Rico
The Municipalities of Puerto Rico number 78 and they make up the smallest electoral division of the Commonwealth. Each municipality is divided into barrios, though the latter are not vested with political authority.-Administrative divisions:...
, Mayagüez's government has two branches, the executive and the legislative. Those citizens eligible to vote, directly elect a mayor and the municipal assembly for four-year terms. The municipal government is housed in Mayagüez City Hall
Mayagüez City Hall
The Casa Consistorial De Mayaguez or as it is more commonly known Alcaldia de Mayagüez is the City Hall for the Municipality of Mayagüez. It is located in front of the Colón Main Square facing the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Cathedral.-History:...
or Casa Alcaldia, which faces the south-side of the Plaza de Colon.
The executive branch is headed by a popularly elected mayor. The office is currently held by José Guillermo Rodríguez. In addition to running the city's day-to-day operations and supervising associated departments, the mayor is also responsible for appointing a secretary-auditor and a treasurer.
Mayagüez's Municipal Assembly is made up of sixteen elected officials, as defined in the Puerto Rico Law of Autonomous Municipalities of 1991.
Fire & Safety
Law enforcement in Mayagüez is the joint responsibility of the Mayagüez Municipal Police Department and the Puerto Rico Police Department. The first Fire Fighters corps in the city was created in 1876.Flag
The wide cross represents Christianity brought to the New World by Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
, who signed his documents with the phrase and the motto Christ Ferens, which means: "He who has Christ." The blue and white waves between the third and fourth quarters recall the coat of arms granted to Columbus by kings Ferdinand and Isabella. The waves represent the ocean (and particularly Mona Passage) through which he sailed to bring the gospel to these new lands. The blue and white waves symbolize the Yagüez River and evokes the nickname City of Pure Waters. The red and white flames on the flag symbolize the traditional bonfire
Bonfire
A bonfire is a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration. Celebratory bonfires are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large...
s of Day of Our Lady of Candelaria
Virgin of Candelaria
The cult of the Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candelaria , popularly called La Morenita, celebrates an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands . The center of worship is located in the city of Candelaria in Tenerife. She is depicted as a Black Madonna...
("Día de La Candelaria"), ignited in honor of the city's patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
(a tradition started for Spanish settlers from the Canary Islands). The flag was officially adopted with the signing of City Ordinance 38, signed December 3, 1996.
Coat of arms
According to the Puerto Rican historian Federico Cedó Alzamora, the original version of the coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Mayagüez was given to the city 19 December 1894 by the Queen Regent of Spain Maria Christina of Austria
Maria Christina of Austria
Maria Christina of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain...
. The upper half of the coat of arms shows the columbine coat of arms recalls and commemorates the discovery of the Island of Borinquén (Puerto Rico) by Columbus in his second trip to the New World in 1493. The lower half of the coat of arms shows a stylized dissembarkment of Columbus on Puerto Rico. The explorer's crew disembarked at the western coast of the island, where several rivers spill their waters in the Mona Passage, among them the Yagüez, from which the name of Mayagüez is derived. The present version was reinterpreted by heraldist Roberto Biascochea Lota.
Anthem
The city's anthem was written by pianist and former music teacher Luciano QuiñonesLuciano Quiñones
Luciano Quiñones Lugo , is a pianist and the foremost composer of Modern Puerto Rican Danzas.-Early years:Quiñones, was born in the town of San German, Puerto Rico where he also received his primary education. He was musically influenced by his family who taught him the basics in music at a young age...
, a long-time resident and now "adopted son" of the city. Until this song's adoption, the plena
Plena
Plena is a folkloric genre native to Puerto Rico. Its creation was influenced by African and Spanish music.-History:The music is generally folkloric. The music's beat and rhythm are usually played using hand drums called panderetas, but also known as panderos or pleneras. The music is accompanied...
"A Mayagüez", written by César Concepción
Cesar Concepcion
Cayetano César Concepción Martínez, , was a Puerto Rican musician and composer, who brought the music of his native land to Latin American ballroom dancing, and ballrooms all over the world...
, was used by many as an unofficial city song. Quiñones' composition was the winner of a contest sponsored by the city's municipality in 2003.
Mayor Jose Guillermo Rodriguez and the Municipal Legislature entrusted the Advisory Board of Art and Culture of Mayagüez tp hold a contest to select an anthem for the city. The selected composition was a danza
Danza
Danza is a musical genre that originated in Ponce, a city in southern Puerto Rico. It is a popular turn-of-the-twentieth-century ballroom dance genre slightly similar to the waltz. Both the danza and its cousin the contradanza are sequence dances, performed to a pattern, usually of squares, to...
by Mr Luciano Quiñones, who has a Bachelor's degree in music, a piano professor the Escuela Libre de Musica de Mayagüez, he is a music composer already winning nineteen awards in competitions held by the Institute of Puerto Rican culture, and the Circulo de Recreo de San Germán. The lyrics alludes to the emblematic symbols of Mayagüez; its nicknames, to its Patron Saint
Virgin of Candelaria
The cult of the Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candelaria , popularly called La Morenita, celebrates an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands . The center of worship is located in the city of Candelaria in Tenerife. She is depicted as a Black Madonna...
, its taste of mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
, to its sunsets in the bay
Mayagüez Bay
The Mayagüez Bay is a bay located in western Puerto Rico.The bay has recently been opened to the city of Mayaguez with the building of the Parque del Litoral because of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. The Port of Mayagüez is located in the bay. The Yagüez River empties into the bay....
, to the Taíno
Taíno people
The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America...
, to Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos known as "El Ciudadano de América" , was a Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate....
, their role as cultural cradle, the sympathy of the ladies and the dream of its valleys and its mountains.
The anthem was presented to the people in a memorable concert held in commemoration of the 239 anniversary of the founding of the city on the night of September 18, 1999, interpreted by tenor, Mayagüez adopted son, Rafael José Díaz, Mayagüezana lyric soprano, Hilda Ramos, accompanied by the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra conducted by its Associate Director, Mayagüezana Roselyn Pabón, in the same place where such Symphony Orchestra offered his first concert forty years earlier: the Plaza Colón
Plaza Colón
Plaza Colón is the main plaza in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. This plaza and its fountain commemorate the explorer Christopher Columbus, whose name in Spanish was Cristóbal Colón...
. This danza was recognized as the official anthem of Mayagüez through the Municipal Ordinance number 58, series 1999-2000, adopted on 20 December 1999 by the City Council, which was signed by the Mayor, Honorable José Guillermo Rodríguez on December 24, 1999.
MIDI and recorded versions of the anthem can be listened to here.
Education
Public schools
The Residential Center for Educative Opportunities of MayagüezResidential Center of Educative Opportunities of Mayagüez
The Residential Center of Educative Opportunities of Mayagüez is a magnet secondary specialized High School, in Mayagüez in the United States insular area of Puerto Rico...
, (CROEM
Residential Center of Educative Opportunities of Mayagüez
The Residential Center of Educative Opportunities of Mayagüez is a magnet secondary specialized High School, in Mayagüez in the United States insular area of Puerto Rico...
) is one of only two public boarding schools in Puerto Rico. The largest public high school in town is Eugenio María de Hostos High School. The other public high school in Mayaguez is Dr. Pedro Perea Fajardo Vocational High School. The former José De Diego High School was finally closed in 2009.
Private schools
The non-profit Southwestern Educational SocietySouthwestern Educational Society
Southwestern Educational Society Society is a private, bilingual School in the western part of Puerto Rico founded in 1973.-History:...
, (S.E.S.O.
Southwestern Educational Society
Southwestern Educational Society Society is a private, bilingual School in the western part of Puerto Rico founded in 1973.-History:...
) maintains the Southwestern Community School, an English language college preparatory school. Other private schools include: Colegio San Benito
Colegio San Benito
Colegio San Benito is a private Roman Catholic University-preparatory school and elementary school, founded in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1965. The school was the first boys-only Catholic school founded in the area. On Humacao.- History :...
, (CSB
Colegio San Benito
Colegio San Benito is a private Roman Catholic University-preparatory school and elementary school, founded in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1965. The school was the first boys-only Catholic school founded in the area. On Humacao.- History :...
) (Saint Benedict
Benedict of Nursia
Saint Benedict of Nursia is a Christian saint, honored by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of Europe and students.Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, about to the east of Rome, before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. There is no...
College), the "Academia de la Inmaculada Concepción
Academia de la Inmaculada Concepción
Academia de la Inmaculada Concepción —or Academy of the Immaculate Conception in English, or simply La Inmaculada is a preparatory school founded in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1905.- History :...
" (Academy of the Immaculate Conception
Academia de la Inmaculada Concepción
Academia de la Inmaculada Concepción —or Academy of the Immaculate Conception in English, or simply La Inmaculada is a preparatory school founded in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1905.- History :...
), Colegio Episcopal San Andrés", (San Andres Episcopal College), Colegio Presbiteriano
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
Pablo Casasús, Academia de La Milagrosa (Academy of Our Lady of Miracles),the Academia Adventista del Oeste (Western Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
Academy) and Academia Adventista de Bella Vista, (Bella Vista Adventist Academy).
Colleges and universities
Today, Mayagüez has become a major college townCollege town
A college town or university town is a community which is dominated by its university population...
, due in part to various secondary education institutions in the city.
- University of Puerto Rico at MayagüezUniversity of Puerto Rico at MayagüezThe University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
- Eugenio María de Hostos School of LawEugenio María de Hostos School of LawThe Facultad de Derecho Eugenio Maria de Hostos is a law school located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The School was founded by Fernando Bayrón, Juan Mari Brás and Carlos Rivera Lugo in 1995...
- Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico at MayagüezPontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico at MayagüezThe Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez is a university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It is part of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico....
- Antillean Adventist UniversityAntillean Adventist UniversityThe Antillean Adventist University is a private, coeducational, Christian, and non-profit university in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico...
There are also a number of junior colleges in the city.
Roads and highways
The major form of transport in Puerto Rico is the automobile. Mayagüez, in fact, is served by two highways linking it to other parts of the island. Puerto Rico Highway 2Puerto Rico Highway 2
Puerto Rico Highway 2, the longest highway in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at about 156 miles long, connects San Juan to Ponce....
existing as an arterial highway is the main route between Ponce to the south-east and Aguadilla and Arecibo to the north and north-east respectively. PR-2 is currently undergoing a conversion to a freeway between Ponce and Mayagüez. Another important route in Mayagüez is PR-102
Puerto Rico Highway 102
Puerto Rico Highway 102 is a main highway in the southwestern portion of the Porta del Sol region of Puerto Rico. It begins at Puerto Rico Highway 2 north of central Mayagüez and runs through the municipalities of Cabo Rojo and San German coming to an end in downtown Sabana Grande.-Mayagüez:PR-102...
. It begins at an intersection with PR-2, about 2 miles north of Mayagüez Pueblo at the Mar y Sol development and runs along Mayagüez's coastal industrial areas to Joyuda, where it then turns east and terminates in Sabana Grande
Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico
Sabana Grande is a municipality of Puerto Rico located north of Lajas and Guánica; south of Maricao; east of San Germán; and west of Yauco. Sabana Grande is spread over seven wards and Sabana Grande Pueblo...
. The portion of the highway adjacent to the Estadio Isodoro Garcia was upgraded from a two-lane road into an urban boulevard in anticipation of the 2010 Centro-American and Caribbean Games
2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010.-Bid:...
celebrated in Mayagüez. In addition to this upgrade, an elevated by-pass was constructed from the coastal park site over the Yagüez River
Yagüez River
The Rio Yagüez is a river located in western Puerto Rico.The Rio Yaguez originates at 1,200 feet above sea-level in the Urayoán Mountains to the south-east of Las Marias and to the north-east of Maricao...
ending at the Concordia Housing Project.
Public transportation
Transportation in Mayagüez is limited only to a single trolley service, various private taxi companies and an irregular daytime syndicated público service named "Mayagüez Urbano" (Urban Mayagüez) who provide transportation between the main points of the city at a cost of $2.00 per route. Passenger transportation between Mayagüez and San Juan is operated by the Linea Sultana, another syndicated service.The city operates three trolleys, free of cost, which run as shuttle between the downtown area and the Palacio de Recreación y Deportes
Palacio de Recreación y Deportes
The Palacio de Recreación y Deportes is a sports arena in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It was built under Benjamin Cole's administration as mayor. It has capacity for 5,500 spectators. It has recently been remodeled in preparation for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games...
. The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
also runs an internal network of trollies to carry its students inside campus and between UPRM
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
, Mayagüez Terrace development and Palacio de Recreación y Deportes, linking here with the city's trolley service. There are some proposals to expand the municipal trolley service to serve inside the UPRM
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
.
For the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010.-Bid:...
the Puerto Rico's Department of Transportation and Public Works
Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works
The Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works is a government agency of Puerto Rico regulating transportation and public works. The agency's headquarters are located in San Juan.-External links:*...
released an express public bus system operated with Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses
Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses
Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses or by its initials in Spanish, AMA, is a public bus transit system based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is operated by the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico....
(San Juan's Metropolitan Bus Authority
Public corporations of the Government of Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, Public corporations are separate legal entities owned, either entirely or in a large majority, by the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. These corporations are created to serve a public service, such as electricity, water, public financing, education, transportation, or...
) buses specially assigned to serve in the city of Mayagüez. During the Mayagüez 2010 Games
2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010.-Bid:...
, this bus network
Public transport bus service
Bus services play a major role in the provision of public transport. These services can take many forms, varying in distance covered and types of vehicle used, and can operate with fixed or flexible routes and schedules...
was transporting passengers in a corridor along the Highway 2 and some main roads. The UPRM
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
trolley bus network was integrated into this service too. Although suspended after the Mayagüez 2010 Games ended, is expected its re-establishment in the near future.
Seaport
The Port of Mayagüez is the third busiest port on Puerto Rico. It is located northwest of the central business districtCentral business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
along Puerto Rico routes 64, 341, and 3341, and stretches for 3.8 miles (6.1 km) along the coast. Its main canal is 0.4 mile (0.643736 km) wide and its depth ranges from 47 to 120 ft (14.3 to 36.6 ), the water's depth along the piers ranges between 28 and 29 ft (8.5 and 8.8 ). The port is protected from rough seas by reefs which run along its northern and western sections.
Starting in March 16, 2011 a new ferry service to Dominican Republic will be launched by America Cruise Ferries.
Airport
Mayagüez's airport, Eugenio María de Hostos Airport, also known as El ManiEl Mani
El Maní is a community located along coast in the Sabanetas barrio of Mayagüez on the island of Puerto Rico. El Mani Pavilion is located there.-Facilities inside El Maní:...
Airport, has had regular airline services for more than thirty years. It is located 4 miles north of the central business district in the Sabanetas Barrio. Prior to being inaugurated in 1955, the airport served as a military base. In the 1970s it had domestic service from Prinair
Prinair
Prinair was a Puerto Rican airline. It was Puerto Rico's domestic and international flag carrier airline for almost two decades.- History :Services began in 1966, under the name Aerolíneas de Ponce , with Aero Commanders...
, then from American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
and Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
's regional carrier Eastern Metro Express in the 1980s. After Eastern went bankrupt in 1991, American Eagle remained the only airline serving the airport until it ended service to the city on April 30, 2005, due to poor loads. For a while, Fina Air
Fina Air
Fina Air was an airline based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It operated charter flights to the Dominican Republic from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla and Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez. The airline has now ceased...
served flights to the Dominican Republic before the airline went bankrupt. Cape Air
Cape Air
Hyannis Air Service, Inc., operating as Cape Air, is an airline headquartered at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It operates scheduled passenger services in the Northeast, Florida, the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic States, Midwest, and Micronesia...
currently serves the airport with 5 daily flights to San Juan
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
during the high season and three daily flights during the low season.
Living
Well-known living "mayagüezanos" (as of December 2010) include: NBA Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
player Jose Juan Barea
Jose Juan Barea
José Juan "J.J." Barea Mora is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player. He most recently played as a point guard for the National Basketball Association's 2011 champion Dallas Mavericks. Barea has played in the NBA, NBA Development League, NCAA and the BSN with Indios de Mayagüez and the...
, singer Chucho Avellanet
Chucho Avellanet
Armando Hipólito Avellanet González , nicknamed "Chucho" is a Puerto Rican singer and comedic actor...
(Armando Hipólito), his nephew, former Menudo bandmember Roberto Avellanet
Robert Avellanet
Robert Avellanet , also known as Roberto Avellanet, is a singer who was a member of Menudo.-Biography:Robert Avellanet is the nephew of well known pop and ballad singer Chucho Avellanet...
, singer, composer and wine maker Wilkins Vélez
Wilkins Vélez
German Wilkins Vélez, commonly known as Wilkins , is a Puerto Rican pop music singer and composer.-Early years:Wilkins was born in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, but raised in Mexico City, Mexico. His father, Germán Vélez Forestier, was a radio announcer and part-time singer...
, jazz flutist Nestor Torres
Nestor Torres
Nestor Torres is a jazz flautist who was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1957. He took flute lessons at age 12 and began formal studies at the Escuela Libre de Música, eventually attending Puerto Rico’s Inter-American University. At 18, he moved to New York with his family...
, Puerto Rican independence leader Rafael Cancel Miranda
Rafael Cancel Miranda
Rafael Cancel Miranda , political activist, is a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and an advocate of Puerto Rican independence. On March 1, 1954, Cancel Miranda together with fellow Nationalists Lolita Lebron, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irving Flores Rodriguez entered the United...
, television hostess Gricel Mamery
Gricel Mamery
Gricel Mamery Muñoz [Mayagüez, Puerto Rico] is a Puerto Rican television hostess and comedienne, best known for her appearance on the Puerto Rican show Anda Pa'l Cara....
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
players José Vidro
José Vidro
José Angel Vidro is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. Though he never officially retired, Vidro has not played since .-Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals:...
and Wil Cordero
Wil Cordero
Wilfredo Cordero Nieva is a former first baseman/outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was best known as a member of the Montreal Expos . Cordero made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 and last played in...
, Associate Secretary
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
William A. Navas, Jr.
William A. Navas, Jr.
Major General William A. Navas, Jr. is the first Puerto Rican to be named an Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Navas, who served in the Department of Veterans Affairs resigned in 2007.-Early years:...
, former WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
diva
WWE Diva
Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers....
Nidia Guenard
Nidia Guenard
Nidia Guenard better known simply Nidia is a former professional wrestler who worked for World Wrestling Entertainment...
and her sister Lourdes Guenard, and salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
percussionist and bandleader Roberto Roena
Roberto Roena
Roberto Roena is a salsa music percussionist, orchestra leader, and dancer. Roena was one of the original members of El Gran Combo Puerto Rican's first successful salsa music orchestra. He later became the leader of his own band, "Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound", arguably one of the best Latin...
. Two major Latino television stars in the United States, singer and show host Rafael José
Rafael José
Dr. Rafael José Diaz is a Puerto Rican television show host born in Manatí, Puerto Rico, where his father, a physician born in the Dominican Republic, was the medical director of the local hospital. His family eventually moved to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, where he was raised...
(Diaz) and anchorwoman María Celeste Arrarás
María Celeste Arrarás
Maria Celeste Arrarás is a Puerto Rican journalist and actress and the host and producer of Spanish language news program Al Rojo Vivo Con Maria Celeste.- Biography :...
, as well as horror film director and writer Ana Clavell
Day of the Dead 2: Contagium
Day of the Dead 2: Contagium is a 2005 horror film written by Ana Clavell and directed by Clavell and James Dudelson, starring Justin Ipock, Laurie Maria Baranyay and John F. Henry III. It is half a sequel and half prequel to Day of the Dead...
, were raised in Mayagüez. United States Congressman José Serrano
José Serrano
José Enrique Serrano is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, who represents Congressional District NY-16 (which covers The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
in New York City) was born in Mayagüez. New York Surrogate's Court Judge Margarita López Torres was also born in Mayagüez.
Arguably the best known native of Mayagüez ever is educator and philosopher Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos known as "El Ciudadano de América" , was a Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate....
(1839–1903).
Roselyn Pabon http://www.prpop.org/biografias/r_bios/roselyn_pabon.shtml is a musician, educator and orchestra director. Born in Mayaguez, he was raised in El Barrio Trastalleres and then in El Barrio El Seco or El Ensanche Miramar, Marina Septentrional sector.
Other Puerto Rican personalities born in Mayagüez are: journalist Carmen Jovet
Carmen Jovet
Carmen Jovet, , is a journalist, the first Puerto Rican woman news anchor in Puerto Rico.-Early years:Jovet was born and rasied in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico into a family where having a good education was important. She was considered a gifted child and quickly advanced in school...
, news announcer Luz Nereida Vélez
Luz Nereida Vélez
Luz Nereida Vélez is a television reporter from Puerto Rico.-See also:*List of Puerto Ricans*List of television reporters*List of television presenters/P.R.-References:...
, comedic actors Adrián García and Shorty Castro
Shorty Castro
Israel Castro, better known as Shorty Castro is a Puerto Rican comedian, comedy writer and musician, with a career spanning over 60 years. He is regarded as one of the best stage directors in Puerto Rican comedy...
, Latin Grammy® Winning Award Producer Miguel Márquez "Escobar", local senator Orlando Parga
Orlando Parga
- Early life:Orlando Parga-Figueroa is a former Senator of Puerto Rico born in Mayaguez and currently resides in Caguas with his wife, Teresita. His father, Orlando Parga Tossas, was a leader of the StatehoodRepublican Party and a right-hand man to SRP leader Miguel A. García Méndez...
and puppeteer (Antulio) Kobbo Santarrosa. Journalist Julio Victor Ramirez, hijo was raised in the city.
Iván "FlipZ" Vélez, a professional dancer better known for dating Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
of the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
(and participating in their reunion tour in 2007), was born in Mayagüez.
Former mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Hernán Padilla
Hernán Padilla
Hernán Padilla in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, is a retired physician and former two-term Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the oldest city in the United States....
was born in Mayagüez, but raised in the nearby town of Cabo Rojo
Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Cabo Rojo is a municipality situated on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and forms part of the San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area as well as the larger Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area....
. Television actor Armando Riesco
Armando Riesco
Armando Riesco is a Puerto Rican film and television actor and voice artist.-Biography:Riesco was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico to Cuban immigrants who resettled there. He was raised in San Juan where he attended Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola. Riesco then attended Northwestern University...
was born in Mayagüez, but raised in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Porn star
Pornographic actor
A pornographic actor/actress or a porn star is a person who appears in pornographic film. Most actors appear nude in films...
Gina Lynn
Gina Lynn
Gina Lynn is a Puerto Rican pornographic actress.- Biography :Lynn was born to Puerto Rican and Italian parents in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and grew up in Jackson Township, New Jersey; she currently resides and operates Gina Lynn Productions in Reading, Pennsylvania...
, born in the city, was raised in Jackson Township, New Jersey
Jackson Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,816 people, 14,176 households, and 11,269 families residing in the township. The population density was 427.9 people per square mile . There were 14,640 housing units at an average density of 146.3 per square mile...
.
For a while (since his then-wife Herlinda Gómez was a native of the city) Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n folk singer and actor Carlos Vives
Carlos Vives
Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo is a Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award winning-Colombian singer, composer and actor.-Biography:...
was a part-time resident. So were Spanish journalist and adventurer Miguel de la Quadra Salcedo, local media personality Silverio Pérez
Silverio Pérez
Silverio Pérez is a musician, comedian, entrepreneur and broadcasting media host, born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He is known for several reasons, among them:* hosting several successful Puerto Rican television shows during his career....
, and Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Francisco Zayas Seijo
Francisco Zayas Seijo
Dr. Francisco R. Zayas Seijo, D.V.M., also known as Ico , is a former member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and mayor of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico...
when each got a degree from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
. Hugo Savinovich
Hugo Savinovich
Hugo Savinovich is a former Ecuadorian professional wrestler, formerly employed with WWE, where he was one half of the Spanish announce team for the company's TV shows and pay-per-view events. He was a color commentator and partner of Carlos Cabrera and occasionally Marcelo Rodríguez. When he...
lived in Mayagüez during the early years of his wrestling career.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players who played with the Indios de Mayagüez
Indios de Mayagüez
The Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League . Normally based in Mayagüez, the Indios have won 16 national championships and two Caribbean World Series...
include Iván (Pudge) Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
, Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda
Thomas Charles Lasorda is a former Major League baseball player and manager. marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully...
, Ron LeFlore
Ron LeFlore
Ronald LeFlore is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Montreal Expos, retiring as a Chicago White Sox in . He stole 455 bases in his career, and was an American League All-Star selection in 1976...
, Denny McLain
Denny McLain
Dennis Dale "Denny" McLain is a former American professional baseball player, and the last major league pitcher to win 30 or more games during a season —a feat accomplished by only thirteen players in the 20th century....
, John Wesley (Boog) Powell
Boog Powell
John Wesley Powell is a former major league first baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles , Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, Dave McNally
Dave McNally
David Arthur "Dave" McNally was a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher from until . He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played with them every season except for his final season with the Montreal Expos.McNally has the unique distinction as the only pitcher in Major League...
, Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
, Roberto Hernández, and Wally Joyner
Wally Joyner
Wallace Keith "Wally" Joyner is a former first baseman and hitting coach in Major League Baseball. He played for four major league teams during a 16-year career, most notably for the California Angels, for whom he was an All-Star...
. Current San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
pitcher Jonathan Sánchez
Jonathan Sanchez
Jonathan O. Sánchez is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals....
, who threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in 2009, was born in Mayagüez.
Puerto Rican folk singer Roy Brown Ramírez
Roy Brown (Puerto Rican musician)
Roy Brown Ramírez is a composer, singer and a fervent believer in the cause for the independence of Puerto Rico. Some of his songs have been performed by several renowned international artists.- Early years :...
is a current resident. José Alfredo
José Alfredo Lorente
José Alfredo Lorente Castillo , better known as "José Alfredo", is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. Today his popularity has been increasing in Puerto Rico, Spain, Argentina, México, Venezuela and Brazil...
is a singer and composer who was born in Mayagüez but was raised in San German
San Germán, Puerto Rico
San Germán is a municipality located in the southwestern region of Puerto Rico, south of Mayagüez and Maricao; north of Lajas; east of Hormigueros and Cabo Rojo; and west of Sabana Grande. San Germán is spread over 18 wards and San Germán Pueblo...
.
Deceased
Well-known "mayagüezanos" who have died include: Pedro Gerónimo Goico, founder and the first president of the first political organization on the island of Puerto Rico known as the Partido Liberal Reformista ((Liberal Reformist Party (Puerto Rico)Liberal Reformist Party (Puerto Rico)
The Liberal Reformist Party was a political party in Puerto Rico founded by Pedro Gerónimo Goico, Jose Julian Acosta and Roman Baldorioty de Castro in 1870.It was the first political party ever to be established in Puerto Rico....
), Commander-in-chief of the Cuban independence forces (and participant in the Grito de Lares
Grito de Lares
El Grito de Lares —also referred as the Lares uprising, the Lares revolt, Lares rebellion or even Lares Revolution—was the first major revolt against Spanish rule and call for independence in Puerto Rico...
) Juan Rius Rivera
Juan Rius Rivera
General Juan Ríus Rivera , was the General of the Cuban Liberation Army of the West upon the death of General Antonio Maceo.-Early years:...
, Puerto Rican independence leader Juan Mari Brás
Juan Mari Brás
Juan Mari Brás was an advocate for Puerto Rican independence from the United States who founded the Puerto Rican Socialist Party...
, actresses Alicia Moreda
Alicia Moreda
Alicia Moreda Tuya , was a soap opera actress, a natural comedian, and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television.-Early years:...
, Lucy Boscana
Lucy Boscana
Lucy Boscana was an actress and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television industry.-Early years:Boscana was born in the city of Mayagüez which is located on the west coast of Puerto Rico. Her family moved to the United States when she was a child because of the economic crisis in the island...
and Madeline Willemsen
Madeline Willemsen
Madeline Willemsen was a Puerto Rican actress and comedian, born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to a Dutch father and a Puerto Rican mother. She was also the first cousin of Lucy Boscana, considered by some Puerto Rican theater critics to be the finest Puerto Rican actress of all time.Her full name was...
; radio disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, announcer, musicologist and marketing impresario Gilbert Mamery
Gilbert Mamery
Gilbert Mamery Riera was a Puerto Rican disc-jockey, musicologist, radio station owner, radio and television personality, marketing impresario and composer born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
, plena
Plena
Plena is a folkloric genre native to Puerto Rico. Its creation was influenced by African and Spanish music.-History:The music is generally folkloric. The music's beat and rhythm are usually played using hand drums called panderetas, but also known as panderos or pleneras. The music is accompanied...
singer and band leader Mon Rivera
Mon Rivera
Mon Rivera is the common name given to two distinct Puerto Rican musicians , namely Monserrate Rivera Alers and his oldest son, Efraín Rivera Castillo Mon Rivera is the common name given to two distinct Puerto Rican musicians (both born in Mayagüez), namely Monserrate Rivera Alers (originally...
(The Younger), former Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini was the President of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and co-founder of the Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico .-Early years:...
, María Luisa Arcelay
María Luisa Arcelay
María Luisa Arcelay , was an educator, businesswoman and politician who on November 1932, became the first woman in Puerto Rico to be elected to a government legislative body.-Early years:...
, the first woman in all of Latin America to be elected to a legislative government body, and former Mayagüez Mayor, Benjamin Cole, who held his office for 24 consecutive years. His brother, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Roberto Cole was also a native. Pilar Defilló i Amigüet, the mother of cellist Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals
Pau Casals i Defilló , known during his professional career as Pablo Casals, was a Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor. He is generally regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest cellists of all time...
, was born in Mayagüez. PFC.Humberto Acosta-Rosario
Puerto Ricans Missing in Action - Vietnam War
There were 18 Puerto Ricans Missing in Action in the Vietnam War, from a total of 2,338 people that were listed as Missing in Action. This total, with the exception of PFC...
, U.S. Army, is the only Puerto Rican still listed as Missing in Action from the Vietnam War. Oscar Garcia Rivera, Sr.
Oscar Garcia Rivera, Sr.
Oscar Garcia Rivera, Sr. was a politician, lawyer and activist. Garcia Rivera made history when in 1937 he became the first Puerto Rican to be elected to public office in the continental United States...
(1900–1969), the first Puerto Rican to be elected to public office in the continental United States as a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1937. Simón Madera, was an excellent musician and his compositions were distinguisehed in their use of the violin and clarinet. His best and most popular composition was “Mis Amores” which he composed at age 18. In addition to danzas, he composed waltzes and works for chamber music. He lived his last years in Guayama and died there on August 18, 1957.
Latino crooner and salsa singer (of one of Tito Puente
Tito Puente
Tito Puente, , born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz and Salsa musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" and "The King of Latin Music"...
's orchestras) Santos Colon
Santos Colon
Ángel Santos Colón Vega , aka Santitos Colón, was a Puerto Rican salsa music singer and crooner, born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico and raised in Mayagüez. He was also known with a moniker: "The Man with The Golden Voice".- Youth and Early Career :Colón was born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, but...
was born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico
Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico
Sabana Grande is a municipality of Puerto Rico located north of Lajas and Guánica; south of Maricao; east of San Germán; and west of Yauco. Sabana Grande is spread over seven wards and Sabana Grande Pueblo...
, but since he was raised in Mayagüez since early childhood he considered himself a (rather proud) mayagüezano. Salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
artist Frankie Ruiz
Frankie Ruiz
Frankie Ruiz was a famous Puerto Rican salsa singer.-Early years:Born Jose Antonio Torresola Ruiz, he was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. His parents moved from Puerto Rico to the United States in search of a better way of life. In Paterson, Ruiz received his primary and secondary...
, born in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, was also raised in Mayagüez.
Salvador Agrón
Salvador Agron
Salvador Agron The correct spelling of his surname in Spanish is Agrón. But the biography by Jacoby, his personal friend, uses the americanized spelling Agron exclusively throughout...
, a notorious murderer turned youth counselor whose life became the basis for the Broadway play The Capeman
The Capeman
The Capeman is a musical play written by Paul Simon and Derek Walcott based on the life of Salvador Agrón. The play opened at the Marquis Theatre in 1998 to poor reviews and had an initial run of only 68 performances....
, was born in Mayagüez (for a while he was a resident of the local Asilo de Beneficencia, on Ramón E. Betances Avenue) and raised in New York City. Former Puerto Rico governor Roberto Sánchez Vilella
Roberto Sánchez Vilella
Roberto Sánchez Vilella was the second Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969. He was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
was born in Mayagüez, but was raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, former New York State senator
New York Legislature
The New York State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together...
Olga A. Méndez
Olga A. Méndez
Olga A. Méndez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a state legislature in the United States mainland.-Early years:...
was also born in Mayagüez.
Ramón Emeterio Betances
Ramón Emeterio Betances
Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán was a Puerto Rican nationalist. He was the primary instigator of the Grito de Lares revolution, and as such, is considered to be the father of the Puerto Rican independence movement...
, Lola Rodríguez de Tio
Lola Rodríguez de Tio
Lola Rodríguez de TióThis name uses Spanish marriage naming customs; the first is the maiden family name " Rodríguez" and the second or matrimonial family name is "Tió"., , was the first Puerto Rican born poetess to establish herself a reputation as a great poet throughout all of Latin America...
, Luis Lloréns Torres
Luis Lloréns Torres
Luis Llorens Torres , was a Puerto Rican poet, playwright, and politician. He was an advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico.-Early years:...
and Rafael Martinez Nadal
Rafael Martínez Nadal
Senator Rafael Martínez Nadal, the third president of the Senate of Puerto Rico, was an orphan from an early age, since his mother, Estebanía Nadal Freyte died hours after his birth, and his father, Rafael Martínez Santana, when he was only five years old...
were one-time residents.
The late Rafael Lopez Martinez, teacher and orchestra conductor for the Escuela Industrial de Mayaguez, gave Roselyn Pabon (conductor and director of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra) his first lessons in music.
Diplomacy
Mayagüez serves as a host city for two foreign consulates with business in Puerto Rico:(Honorary Consulate)
Sister cities
Quiroga, MexicoQuiroga, Michoacán
Quiroga is a municipality in the Mexican state of Michoacán. The municipal seat of Quiroga is also called Quiroga.-Geographic location:The municipality of Quiroga is located at the north of the State, at coordinates 19 º 40 'N latitude and 101 ° 32' west. At an altitude of 2080 meters above sea level...
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
- El Vendrell, Cataluña, Spain
- Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Books
- Gaudier, Martín, Genealogías, Biografías e Historia del Mayagüez de Ayer y Hoy y Antología de Puerto Rico, 1957.
External links
- www.mayaguezsabeamango.com is a web site about the history and cultural life of Mayagüez
- Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
- Mayaguez 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
- 1888 Map of Mayaguez (Library of Congress)
- Earthquake of 1918
- Karl Stephen Hermann's memoir of the occupation of the city by United States troops, written in 1907 (Library of Congress)
- Current weather in Mayagüez from: Weather Underground
- Peter van der Krogt's page about the Columbus monument at Mayagüez's Plaza de Colón
- Historic Places in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary