:Cayey, Puerto Rico

File:Cayey - Street Scene (1906).jpg

Cayey was founded on August 17, 1773, by Juan Mata Vázquez, who became its first mayor. It is popularly said that Cayey derives its name from the Taíno word for "a place of waters". It was named {{lang|es|Cayey de Muesas}} in honor of Miguel de Muesas, the then governor of Puerto Rico. The town is located in a valley nestled between Puerto Rico's Cordillera Central mountain range and the Sierra de Cayey at roughly the midpoint of routes PR-1 and PR-52. The routes lead to a popular drive that provides panoramic views of the island from its highest points.

Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Cayey was 14,442.{{cite book|author1=Joseph Prentiss Sanger|author2=Henry Gannett|author3=Walter Francis Willcox|title=Informe sobre el censo de Puerto Rico, 1899, United States. War Dept. Porto Rico Census Office|url=https://archive.org/details/informesobreelc00joangoog|year=1900|publisher=Imprenta del gobierno|page=[https://archive.org/details/informesobreelc00joangoog/page/n253 162]| language=es}}

An education base began in the early to mid-1950s when the Interamerican University opened a branch in Cayey providing teacher training through a night class scheme. In 1967 the University of Puerto Rico opened a campus in the former Henry Barracks Military Reservation, and in the early 1980s El Turabo University, subsidiary of the Ana G. Mendez conglomerate opened a campus in the old tobacco factory at the entrance of town. The Interamerican University will be opening a Graduate campus in front of the main town square (downtown), and there are conversations with a foreign educational concern to open a technology campus using the buildings left over by the Gordonshire Knitting Mills. There are three major private schools: Radians School, the long established Colegio de Nuestra Senora de la Merced and La Milagrosa School. Cayey's health care base expanded in the mid-1960s with the Mennonite Medical Center and a Municipal

Hospital along with laboratories, and urgent care centers that cater to the poor and the elderly.

With the construction of the Interstate (PR-52), Cayey has evolved into a "bedroom community" with gated housing developments, located just 30 minutes from San Juan and 45 minutes away from Ponce. With pleasant weather and good private schools, Cayey has become a prime location for the affluent.

Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017, triggered numerous landslides in Cayey with significant amount of rain and wind.{{cite web |title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico |url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/ |website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program |publisher=USGS}}{{cite web |title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico |url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf |website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program |publisher=USGS}} The hurricane destroyed 3,000 homes in Cayey.{{cite news | title=María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. "Cayey era como una ciudad fantasma esa mañana después del huracán" | trans-title=Maria, a name we will never forget. "Cayey was a ghost town the morning after the hurricane." | newspaper=El Nuevo Día| date=June 13, 2019 | url=https://huracanmaria.elnuevodia.com/2017/municipio/cayey/| language=es | access-date=September 19, 2021}}

File:Puerto Rico National Guard (37420248312).jpg|National Guard in Cayey after Hurricane Maria

File:Lt. Colin A. Roberts speaks with local civilian employees during an assessment of Centro Medico Menonita de Cayey Hospital’s medical. (37451604851).jpg|Mennonite hospital in Cayey

File:Damaged structure over a basketball court in Cayey, Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.jpg|Damaged basketball court

File:Map of landslides in Puerto Rico - Hurricane Maria 2017.jpg|Map of landslides in Puerto Rico

Henry Barracks Military Reservation was a lifeline for the residents of Cayey from 1901 to 1966, when it was declared excess land and passed to the General Services Administration for decommission. The property consisted of {{convert|439.92|acre|order=flip}} (FUDS (Sep 27, 2006). Project Fact Sheet-August 2005. Jacksonville, FLA: Army Corps of Engineer). The property was divided into three prominent encampments: the Spanish Camp or Campamento Español ({{convert|15|acres|order=flip}} ), Camp Henry or Henry Barracks, the Home of the third Battalion of the 65th Inf. Regiment that consisted of {{convert|372|acres|order=flip}} , and {{convert|67|acres|order=flip}} the Cayey Naval Radio Station ({{convert|67|acres|order=flip}} )(Department of the Navy (1915). Map showing boundary lines of the original Spanish Reservation and the present reservation February 7, 1903: Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Yards & Docks, Department of the Navy). This reservation is situated in the east of the town of Cayey. The Spanish Reservation containing an area of approximately {{convert|15|acres|order=flip}} , known as Hospital Hill was set apart by Executive Order of June 30, 1903, under an Act of Congress approved on July 7, 1902.Executive Order of June 30, 1903, under an Act of Congress approved on July 7, 1902 The main army post was located in the northern part of the reservation, initially housing the Puerto Rico Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

The combined posts had approximately 1,200 men who used the resources provided by the town people. Families moved into Punta Brava and Vieques neighborhoods. A laundry, show shop, and other smaller stores were located right outside the gate. By 1906 about 350 civilians had jobs in the two posts (Camp Henry and The Cayey Navy Radio Station).

The U.S. Department of the Navy submitted a proposal to raise three {{convert|620|ft|order=flip}} tall masts as part of a global radio communication linkage. In 1916 the Department of the Navy approved a budget of $40,000. At the time 300 men were hired to build the facility for a period of two-year, the project was completed in 1918(Hopper, S.C. (1922) Development of high power radio and its practical applications in the Services of the United States Navy. Radio Broadcast Magazine 1(3), 484–489).

On September 11, 1928, a category five hurricane called San Felipe destroyed the temporary buildings at Henry Barracks, and the Navy Radio Station.Fassig, O.L. (September 1928). San Felipe-the Hurricane of September 13, 1928, at San Juan, P.R. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Station Report Weather Bureau Office-San Juan A radio message was sent from the Cayey Navy Radio Station on September 18, 1928, to follow “All buildings Henry Barracks destroyed by hurricane September 13th”.(Adjutant General 600.913).

The Navy left Cayey and moved its station to Isla Grande and Stop 7 {{frac|1|2}} in Puerto de Tierra. All the land held by the Navy included Magazine Hill (known in the community as "El Polvorin"), which was taken over by the U. S. Army. The 65th Infantry Regiment remained in the north side of the post. The south side was converted into two {{convert|1000|ft|order=flip}} shooting ranges( Parsons, Inc (2010). Site Inspection Report: Henry Barracks Military Reservation. Norcross, Georgia: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-FUDS Project 102PR097902).

The decision was made to reconstruct all building for the regiment in the north side in concreteQuartermaster (July 31, 1929) Completion Report at Henry Barracks, Puerto Rico. Governors Island, New York: War Department. One hundred and ninety buildings were completed, to include the north side of Henry Barracks.(Smith, C. (July 15, 1930). Completion Report for the construction of one two-company barracks and two one-company barracks at Henry Barracks, Cayey, Puerto Rico: Quartermaster Constructing Report. U.S. Army). Over 600 men were hired for a period of three years to work in these projects. During this period three large barrack buildings were constructed. The two one company barracks each had its own mess hall and kitchen and was occupied by an infantry company each. The two companies barrack located in the center of the quad occupied the Battalion Headquarters Co. and the Machine Gun Co.(Smith, C. (July 15, 1930). Completion Report for the construction of one two-company barracks and two one-company barracks at Henry Barracks, Cayey, Puerto Rico: Quartermaster Constructing Report. U.S. Army. p.4

By 1953, the U.S. Department of the Army had reached the conclusion that Henry Barracks would be closed in the near future. A full complement of maintenance personnel composed of professional, technical, and daily laborers were maintained in the Reservation. The growth of three major housing developments is evidence of the economic impact of the Reservation (Reparto Montellano, El Polvorin, Urbanización Aponte)Personal communication with Maj. Manuel Rivera Garcia (ret.) and Harry Benett, J.D.(August 24, 2014)

While the all-Puerto Rican 65th Infantry regiment would never return to its home base, several other initiatives were undertaken, which had a direct impact on the economic development of the town and the region, one such initiatives was the commissioning of the Caribbean Signal Agency in 1959. Over the coming years several tenants occupied the lands comprised by the Henry Barracks Military Reservation, among them:

• In the company size building to the west of the quad, the National Guard had its Officer Training School in 1965 and 1966. It was later moved to Camp Santiago in Salinas. The golf course was used as a helicopter landing strip.
• YMCA Cuerpos de Paz, and VESPRA (1965–68) had an Administration Building, a swimming pool, a golf course and three houses, which housed the majors and their families.El Mundo, 26 de enero 1965, p.7-8
• The Encampment for Citizenship held its 1966 six-week encampment in the two-company building in the middle of the quad. One hundred fifty-one young leaders from 56 countries from all over the world meet in Cayey to learn to develop self-government and to perform community development projects.San Juan Star, Sunday Magazine p. 4 Agosto 1966
• The Foundation for Community Development moved to the housing is located in the southeastern part of the Post until 1972.Silva Gotay, S. (1967). Proposal for the development of the Instituto de Desarrollo Comunal de Puerto Rico. Funded by the Office of eEconomic Opportunity, Washington, D.C. under the Community Action Programs Thousands of people received training in community development, and leadership during those years.

Cayey is located in a valley surrounded by the Sierra de Cayey, a branching mountain range of the Cordillera Central where the Carite Forest Reserve is located, and the main ranges of the Cordillera Central to the west. Because of its location, Cayey is known for its mountains, its cool weather and its misty mornings, especially in winter. During Spanish colonial rule, Spanish soldiers assigned to Puerto Rico were sent to Cayey. Its cool weather resembled the weather of Spain and soldiers could become acclimated to the tropical weather. In winter, it is not unusual for the temperature to drop into the {{convert|50|°F|order=flip}}.{{cite web|url=https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/cayey-municipality/|title=Cayey Municipality|publisher=Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH)|website=enciclopediapr.org|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=August 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822185845/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/cayey-municipality/|url-status=dead}}

The Carite Forest Reserve

• Rivers are: Río Grande de Loíza, Río Guavate, Río Jájome, Río de la Plata and Río Maton.

Cayey's climate is humid, rainy and mild compared to lower-elevation areas of the island, the area of the town is nearly {{convert|1500|ft}} high, so the climate is subtropical high. In summer average high Temperatures are around {{convert|82|°F|°C|abbr=on}} to {{convert|88|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and {{convert|70|°F|°C|abbr=on}} to {{convert|78|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in winter, and low around {{convert|68|°F|°C|abbr=on}} to {{convert|72|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in summer and {{convert|57|°F|°C|abbr=on}} to {{convert|63|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in winter. The record maximum temperature is {{convert|94|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and minimum {{convert|45|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The average annual rainfall is 100 inches (2,540 mm) and maximum rainfall record in 24 hours is 20.87 inches (530 mm) of rain.

Image:Eleutherodactylus jasperi.jpg]]

The golden coquí (Eleutherodactylus jasperi; Spanish: coquí dorado) is a rare and possibly extinct leptodactylid frog species [https://www.britannica.com/science/endemic-species endemic] to Puerto Rico. Native to the municipality of Cayey, golden coquís have only been found in areas of dense bromeliad growth in the Sierra de Cayey between 2,123 and 2,575 feet (647 and 785 meters) above sea level. They get their name from the song the male coquis sing at night. The golden coqui is the smallest of the coqui frogs in Puerto Rico. Mature adult coquis are roughly the size of a dime. Male coquis are bright yellow where females tend to be more light yellow and brown. The golden coqui is the only frog species in the New World known to give birth to live young. These frogs are known around the whole island and are considered a symbol of Puerto Rico.{{Cite web|url=http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/amphibians/coqui_llanero/natural_history.html|title=Natural history|website= Biological Diversity|access-date=May 5, 2016}}

File:Cayey, Puerto Rico locator map.png

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Cayey is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as {{lang|es|"el pueblo"}}, near the center of the municipality.{{cite book|author=Gwillim Law|title=Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nXCeCQAAQBAJ|access-date=December 25, 2018|date=May 20, 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0447-3|page=300}}

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

1. Beatriz
2. Cayey barrio-pueblo
3. Cedro
4. Cercadillo
5. Culebras Alto
6. Culebras Bajo
7. Farallón
8. Guavate
9. Jájome Alto
10. Jájome Bajo
11. Lapa
12. Matón Abajo
13. Matón Arriba
14. Monte Llano
15. Pasto Viejo
16. Pedro Ávila
17. Piedras
18. Quebrada Arriba
19. Rincón
20. Sumido
21. Toita
22. Vegas

{{div col end}}

Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions){{cite web |title=US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |website=factfinder.com |publisher=US Census |access-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513190743/https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |archive-date=May 13, 2017 |url-status=dead }} and subbarrios,{{cite web |title=P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Luquillo Municipio, PR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72035_cayey/PL10VTD_C72035_001.pdf |website=www2.census.gov |publisher=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=August 22, 2020 |archive-date=August 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823014512/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_english/c72035_cayey/PL10VTD_C72035_001.pdf |url-status=live }} are further subdivided into smaller areas called {{lang|es|sectores}} (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.{{cite web|url=http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm|title=Agencia: Oficina del Coordinador General para el Financiamiento Socioeconómico y la Autogestión (Proposed 2016 Budget) |website= Puerto Rico Budgets|language=es|access-date=June 28, 2019}}{{Citation | author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia | title=El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997–2004 | year=2014 | publication-date=2014 | publisher=San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón | edition=first | isbn=978-0-9820806-1-0 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm|title=Leyes del 2001|website=Lex Juris Puerto Rico|language=es|access-date=June 24, 2020}}

{{main|Puerto Rico Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development}}

{{lang|es|Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico}} (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Cayey: Parcelas Nuevas in Beatriz, Cantera, Sector Jalda Abajo, Cedro, El Coquí, Jájome Bajo, La Placita, Saint Thomas, San Cristóbal, and La Vega.{{Citation|author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia|title=El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997–2004|year=2014 |publication-date=2014| publisher=San Juan, Puerto Rico Fundación Sila M. Calderón| edition=1st|page=273|isbn=978-0-9820806-1-0}}{{cite web|url=https://cpprbib.wordpress.com/biblioteca-virtual/guias-tematicas/comunidades-especiales/comunidades-especiales-de-puerto-rico/|title=Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico|date=August 8, 2011|language=es|access-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624004414/https://cpprbib.wordpress.com/biblioteca-virtual/guias-tematicas/comunidades-especiales/comunidades-especiales-de-puerto-rico/|archive-date=June 24, 2019|url-status=live}}

Image:Estadio Pedro Montanez.jpg

Telemundo WKAQ-TV Tower, situated at 18°6'47"N 66°3'9"W, is a {{convert|336.8|m|ft|order=flip}} tall guyed mast for FM-/TV-broadcasting. It was built in 1971 and it is the second tallest man-made structure of Puerto Rico.

The Pedro Montañez Municipal Stadium in Cayey, proceeded by the first Pedro Montañez Municipal Stadium in Cayey, is the home of the Toritos de Cayey Double-A baseball team,{{cite news |title=El Béisbol Recuerda A Héctor Ferrer |url=http://www.islanewspr.com/2018/11/06/el-beisbol-recuerda-a-hector-ferrer/ |access-date=February 1, 2019 |work=Isla News PR |date=November 6, 2018 |language=es |archive-date=February 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202100821/http://www.islanewspr.com/2018/11/06/el-beisbol-recuerda-a-hector-ferrer/ |url-status=dead }} and the Benigno Fernandez Garcia Jr. High School's field day competitions.

The Cayey Pegasus Broadcasting tower, at coordinates 18°6'33"N and 66°3'2"W is the third-tallest structure in Puerto Rico. It is a guyed mast owned by Hemisphere Media Group with a height of {{convert|332.5|m|ft|order=flip}}, which was built in 1966.

File:Cayey Road, Cayey, Puerto Rico circa 1900-1917.jpgCayey's economy was based on growing tobacco, sugarcane and general fruits. Its agricultural economy that evolved starting in the 1950s has diminished considerably. Most of its agricultural products are imported from other islands in the Caribbean or mainland United States.

During the first half of the 20th century,Life in Cayey during the first part of the 20th century, and the last part of the 19th century, is detailed in "Obras Completas" by Cayey's native son Miguel Melendez Muñoz Cayey was basically an agricultural area of small farmers and local haciendas dedicated to the farming of crops for the local market. During the 1920s and 1930s farmers increasingly lost their land to absentee landowners, mostly American companies, that turned to the cultivation of sugarcane and, to a lesser extent, tobacco for export. In the 1950s and 1960s some manufacturing concerns established plants in Cayey taking advantage of tax incentives offered by Operation Bootstrap, Puerto Rico's industrialization program.

An industrial base, in 1947 Cayey saw the beginning of industrial entrepreneurship. There were three factories in town, the Caribe Flower Co. in the Palo Seco neighborhood, a Baseball Factory in the Toita neighborhood, and a Uniform Factory in the back of the High School. These factories employed mostly females. By 1950 the men that worked agriculture became excess population and began migrating to the United States or join the military. In 1950 with the approval of Fomento Industrial and Operation Bootstrap there was a boom of light factories in Cayey. The Gordonshire Knitting Mill in the Guayama road had twelve large buildings and ran two shifts with more than 1,000 employees, and the Consolidated Cigar Corporation across from the road from the Reparto Montellano neighborhood operated three shifts employing over 2,500 from Cayey and surrounding towns.

There is a Coca-Cola bottling location in Cayey.{{cite web | title=Locations | website=Puerto Rico Bottlers | url=https://www.ccprb.com/locations/ | access-date=July 3, 2021 | archive-date=July 9, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184237/https://www.ccprb.com/locations/ | url-status=dead }}

The Cayey Massacre, in 1994, took place partly in Cayey.

In August 2019, El Vocero newspaper reported there had been three mass shootings, that year, in Cayey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elvocero.com/ley-y-orden/en-cayey-la-tercera-masacre-del-a-o/article_e9041e30-bd70-11e9-89da-ef050ac28366.html|title=En Cayey la tercera masacre del año|first=Miguel|last=Rivera Puig|website=El Vocero de Puerto Rico|language=es}}

To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Cayey page lists the "gastronomic route" in {{lang|es|Guavate}} barrio, {{lang|es|Casa del Cuento y la Historia Cayeyana Ramón "Moncho" Gomez}}, {{lang|es|Bosque de Pinos}}, and agrotourism at {{lang|es|Siempre Verde}}, as places of interest.{{cite book | title= Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando |publisher=Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico | year=2021| language=es}}

Cayey is a mountainous municipality with many places of interest.{{cite web| url=http://cayeyciudadverde.com/2019/01/09/info-cayey/|title=Información Municipio de Cayey| language=es|date=January 9, 2019|publisher=Cayey Municipality Gov}}

There are seven places in Cayey listed on the US National Register of Historic Places:{{cite web |title=Puerto Rico: Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos |url=https://www.geoisla.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/listado_prop_webmap.pdf |website=geoisla.com |publisher=Government of Puerto Rico |access-date=May 15, 2021}}

• {{lang|es|Casa de Juana Rodríguez Morales}}
• Church Nuestra Señora de la Asunción of Cayey
• La Liendre Bridge
• Arenas Bridge
• Carretera Central
• Río Matón Bridge
• Carretera No. 4 (today PR-15) including the Principe Alfonso XII Bridge.{{cite web | title=Puente Príncipe Alfonso XII en Cayey formará parte del Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos | website=Puerto Rico Posts | date=March 31, 2021 | url=https://puertoricoposts.com/puente-principe-alfonso-xii-en-cayey-formara-parte-del-registro-nacional-de-lugares-historicos/ | language=es | access-date=April 9, 2021 | archive-date=March 31, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331201026/https://puertoricoposts.com/puente-principe-alfonso-xii-en-cayey-formara-parte-del-registro-nacional-de-lugares-historicos/ | url-status=dead }}

Image:Monumento Reyes Magos.jpgOther landmarks, landscapes and places of interest are:

• La Robleda Protected Natural Area
• Comsat Station
• Ramón Frade Exhibit{{cite web|url=http://www.mapr.org/en/museum/proa/artist/frade-ramon|title=Ramón Frade – Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico|website=mapr}}
• Brisas De Cayey
• Monumento a Los Tres Reyes Magos
• Carite Forest
• Lago Carite
• Escuela de Bellas Artes
• El Salón de La Fama del Deporte
• El Faro del Saber
• University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
• Museo de Arte Pio López
• Pedro Montañez Municipal Stadium
• Teatro Municipal
• Banda Municipal de Cayey
• Tuna de Cayey
• Casino Real{{Cite web|url=http://caribya.com/cayey/attractions/|title=Cayey Attractions {{!}} Caribya!|last=IIWINC|website=caribya|access-date=May 6, 2016|archive-date=May 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513091753/http://caribya.com/cayey/attractions/|url-status=dead}}

Cayey celebrates its patron saint festival in August. The {{lang|es|Fiestas Patronales Nuestra Señora de Asunción}} is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.{{cite web | title=Puerto Rico Festivales, Eventos y Actividades en Puerto Rico | website=Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores | url=https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades | language=es | access-date=July 17, 2020 | archive-date=February 26, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226163727/https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades | url-status=dead }} The festival has featured live performances by well-known artists such as Grupo Mania, Sonora Ponceña, José Alberto "El Canario", Lalo Rodriguez, Ednita Nazario, and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.{{cite web |title=Fiestas Patronales Ciudad Autónoma Cayey 2013 |url=https://sondeaquiprnet.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/1150786_10152084783773906_488943224_n.jpg |website=sondeaquiprnet |publisher=El Gobierno Municipal de Cayey |access-date=14 August 2023}}

Other festivals and events celebrated in Cayey include:

• Regional Fair – April
• Torito Olympics – April

{{US Census population

| 1900= 14442

| 1910= 17711

| 1920= 23618

| 1930= 28797

| 1940= 31391

| 1950= 36656

| 1960= 38061

| 1970= 38432

| 1980= 41099

| 1990= 46553

| 2000= 47370

| 2010= 48119

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2016/PEPANNRES/0500000US72005|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213114938/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2016/PEPANNRES/0500000US72005|archive-date=February 13, 2020}}
1899 (shown as 1900){{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/reportoncensusof00unitiala#page/n245/mode/2up|title=Report of the Census of Porto Rico 1899|publisher=War Department Office Director Census of Porto Rico|access-date=September 21, 2017}} 1910–1930{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00476569ch4.pdf|title=Table 3-Population of Municipalities: 1930 1920 and 1910|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017}}
1930–1950{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch12.pdf|title=Table 4-Area and Population of Municipalities Urban and Rural: 1930 to 1950|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2014}} 1960–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-3-53-eng.pdf|title= Table 2 Population and Housing Units: 1960 to 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2017}} 2010{{cite book|title=Puerto Rico:2010:population and housing unit counts.pdf | url = https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf|year=2010|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau}}

2020{{Cite web|title=PUERTO RICO: 2020 Census|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/puerto-rico-population-change-between-census-decade.html|access-date=August 25, 2021|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US}}|2020=41652}}

{{main|Mayoralty in Puerto Rico}}

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Cayey is Rolando Ortíz, of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). He was elected at the 1996 general elections and has remained in office through all intervening elections since.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district VI, which is represented by two Senators. In 2024, Rafael Santos Ortiz and Wilmer Reyes Berríos were elected as District Senators.[https://elecciones2024.ceepur.org/Escrutinio_General_121/index.html#es/default/SENADORES_POR_DISTRITO_Guayama_VI.xml Elecciones Generales 2024: Escrutinio General] {{webarchive|url= https://elecciones2024.ceepur.org/Escrutinio_General_121/index.html#es/default/SENADORES_POR_DISTRITO_Guayama_VI.xml |date=2024-12-30 }} on CEEPUR

The {{lang|es|municipio}} has an official flag and coat of arms.{{cite web | title=Ley Núm. 70 de 2006 -Ley para disponer la oficialidad de la bandera y el escudo de los setenta y ocho (78) municipios. | website=LexJuris de Puerto Rico | url=https://www.lexjuris.com/LEXLEX/Leyes2006/lexl2006070.htm | language=es | access-date=June 15, 2021}}

The flag derives its design and colors from the coat of arms, which is in the center of the flag encircled by a solid black ring. The centered coat of arms and has four triangles pointing to it, two white and two red.{{cite web | title=CAYEY | website=LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico | date=February 19, 2020 | url=http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/CAYEY.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219000535/http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/CAYEY.html | archive-date=February 19, 2020 | url-status=live | language=es | access-date=September 16, 2020}}

The coat of arms has a three tip mountain, a red bull, and a waving blue stripe representing the abundant water in the zone and also in reverence to the primitive matron of the town of Cayey. The shield is topped with the silver lamb symbol of San Juan of Puerto Rico, and a red book.

Image:Map of PR-52.svg in red.]]

Cayey has direct access to Puerto Rico Highway 52 and its downtown/business area is served by Puerto Rico Highway 14, which grants access to Aibonito to the west and is the main route to the University of Puerto Rico in town, and by Puerto Rico Highway 15 which grants access to south Cayey and Guayama. Puerto Rico Highway 1 Bypass runs through the town's business area. The municipality has good paved roads and is easily accessible from San Juan, being only {{convert|25|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} away, as well as from Ponce, being only {{convert|38|mi|abbr=on}} away. Due to its proximity to Caguas and easy access via PR-52, Cayey has seen significant growth in the last years.

There are 82 bridges in Cayey many of which travel over Rio de la Plata.{{cite web |title=Cayey Bridges|url=http://bridgereports.com/pr/cayey/ |website=National Bridge Inventory Data |publisher=US Dept. of Transportation|access-date=February 20, 2019}}

File:Twelve-Room School in Cayey, Puerto Rico (1920) - photograph - page 157.jpg

The following schools are in Cayey:{{cite web |title=Search For Schools and Colleges | website=National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a part of the U.S. Department of Education | url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=7200030 | access-date=October 3, 2020}}

• Benigno Carrion grades: K – 5
• Benigno Fernandez Garcia Middle School grades: 6 – 8
• Benjamin Harrison High School grades: 9 – 12
• Centro Adiest. Vocacional Gabriel Bibiloni
• Dr. Ramon Emeterio Betances grades: 6 – 8
• Emerita Leon Elemental grades: PK – 6
• Especializada de Bellas Artes grades: 7 – 12
• Miguel Melendez Muñoz grades: 9 – 12
• Salvador Brau Elemental grades: K – 5
• Su Certenejas II grades: K – 8
• Su Eugenio Maria de Hostos grades: K – 8
• Su Gerardo Selles Sola grades: K – 8
• Virginia Vazquez Mendoza grades: K – 5

• University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
• University of Turabo at Cayey
• Instituto de Banca y Comercio (satellite campus at Cayey)
• Liberty Technical College

• Hospital Menonita de Cayey
• Hospital Municipal de Cayey

• Alexis y Fido
• Ricardo Aponte, Brigadier General
• Raymond Arrieta, comedian
• Hiram Burgos, pro baseball player, retired pitcher Milwaukee Brewers
• Christian Colón, pro baseball player, the hit that won the 2015 World Series
• Ramón Frade, visual artist/painter
• Luis Guzmán, actor
• Jorge López, birthplace of star Baltimore Orioles pitcher
• Alberto Mercado, boxer, resides in Cayey
• Pedro Montañez, professional boxer
• Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz, psychologist, Recipient of the APA International Humanitarian Award 2008Am Psychol. 2008 Nov;63(8):818-20
• Amazing Red, pro wrestler
• Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006, Miss Universe 2006
• Marcelino Sánchez, actor
• Wisin & Yandel, reggaeton group
• José Ortiz Puerto Rican Basketball Legend, Former NBA Player
• Lionel Fernández Méndez, Attorney at Law, Juris Doctor Georgetown University, Washington DC, Member Delegate of Cayey and the District of Guayama to the Puerto Rico Constitutional Assembly, Politician and Senator of Cayey and the District of Guayama, UPR ( University of Puerto Rico) Cayey founding member-claiming as Senator for education the land that was the Henry Barracks Army Camp of Cayey. Son of Lcdo. Benigno Fernández García.

• Middletown, Connecticut
• Melilli, Sicily, Italy{{Cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/forum/city-vs-city/1176495-cities-sister-cities-how-many.html|title=Cities: Sister Cities (How many?) (rates, places, America, Los Angeles) – City vs. City – City-Data Forum|website=City Data|access-date=May 6, 2016}}

CAYEY ESTE - panoramio.jpg|Eastern side of Cayey

Cultivating tobacco at the vicinity of Cayey, Puerto Rico.jpg|Cultivating tobacco in Cayey in 1941

Cayey landscape from PR-52.JPG|Cayey landscape from PR-52

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cayey, Puerto Rico

{{Portal|Puerto Rico|Geography}}

• History of Puerto Rico
• List of Puerto Ricans

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |year=1955 |title=Mapa de municipios y barrios - Cayey - Memoria Núm. 42 |url=https://rcm1.rcm.upr.edu/demografia/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2020/04/Memoria_42_Cayey-1955.pdf |location=University of Puerto Rico |publisher=Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, Oficina del Gobernador, Junta de Planificacion, Santurce, Puerto Rico}}

• {{Facebook|/cayey.ciudadverde/}}
• [http://cayey.upr.edu/ University of Puerto Rico, (UPR) Cayey] {{in lang|es}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5a2W6VarLE Cayey, Puerto Rico], a musical slideshow (YouTube) {{in lang|es}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150209080545/http://places.eyetour.com/whereToEat/cayey/24/guavate Guavate Cayey, PR] Guide to open market {{in lang|en}}

{{Adjacent communities

|Centre = Cayey

|North = Cidra

|Northeast = Caguas

|East = San Lorenzo, Patillas

|Southeast =

|South = Guayama

|Southwest = Salinas

|West = Aibonito

|Northwest =

}}

{{Porta Cordillera}}

{{Puerto Rico subdivisions}}

{{Subject bar|auto=y|s=1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Cayey|d=y}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Municipalities of Puerto Rico

Category:San Juan–Caguas–Guaynabo metropolitan area

Category:Populated places established in 1773

Category:1773 establishments in North America

Category:1770s establishments in Puerto Rico

Category:1773 establishments in the Spanish Empire