Guayama, Puerto Rico

The original name of the city is San Antonio de Padua de Guayama, named after the saint Anthony of Padua; as with other settlement names in Puerto Rico, the name was eventually shortened to Guayama. Guayama comes from the name of a Taíno cacique (chief), who was leader of the tribes in the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico. The Taíno word Guayama (wayama) is said to mean "great place" or "big open space".{{Cite web|title=Guayama|url=http://www.salonhogar.com/est_soc/pr/pueblos/guayama/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=www.salonhogar.com}} Another legend tells that the name of the town comes from the name of a woman called Juana Guayama who is said to have been an early owner of the land around Guayama and granter of the land in modern-day Machete where the town was later founded.{{Cite web|title=Historia de Guayama {{!}} Brujos de Guayama {{!}} Guayama Puerto Rico|url=http://www.guayamapr.com/historiadeguayamapr.htm|access-date=2021-10-09|website=www.guayamapr.com}}

The first nickname of the city was Ciudad del Guamaní ("city of the Guamaní [River]") after the river that crosses the municipality. The name of this river might be related to the name Guayama, and it has been important to the city since its early founding.{{Cite web|title=Guayama|url=http://nuestropuertorico.com/municipios/guayama/|access-date=2021-10-09|language=es}} A more modern and more popular nickname for the city is Pueblo de los brujos ("town of witches" or "town of warlocks") or Pueblo brujo ("witch town"). This nickname traces its origins to a popular story that tells that residents of the city would bring a kind of leaf called hoja bruja ("witch leaf") to baseball games to "scare" the opposing team by pretending to cast spells on them. The town's baseball team then adopted the hoja bruja as their symbol. Another story tells that the nickname comes from a legendary baseball player from the city's local team, Moncho El Brujo, who according to legend owed his success as a pitcher to witchcraft.{{Cite web|title=Guayama Puerto Rico - Ciudad de los Brujos y del Guamaní|url=https://www.nuevaisla.com/guayama.html|access-date=2021-10-09|website=www.nuevaisla.com}} Regardless of the origin of the nickname, residents of Guayama are often called brujos and their basketball team now carries the name Brujos de Guayama ("Guayama Warlocks").{{Cite web|last=Eurobasket|title=Brujos de Guayama basketball, News, Roster, Rumors, Stats, Awards, Transactions, Details-latinbasket|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/index.aspx|access-date=2021-10-09|website=Eurobasket LLC}}

During the early years of the Spanish colonization, the region known today as Guayama was inhabited by Taíno native people. The indigenous population in this area decreased due to slavery and migration to the Lesser Antilles. The following centuries, the region was under attack from the Taíno rebellion, Caribs and pirates. The town was founded on January 29, 1736, as San Antonio de Padua de Guayama by then Spanish Governor Matías de Abadía, although there is knowledge of it being populated by native people as early as 1567. It was Governor Don Tomás de Abadía who officially declared Guayama a "pueblo" (town) with the name of San Antonio de Padua de Guayama. That same year the Catholic church in town, San Antonio de Padua, was declared a Parish. In 1776, Guayama had 200 houses, the church and a central plaza and the total population was approximately 5,000 villagers. Construction on Guayama's Parroquial church of San Antonio de Padua began in 1827 and was completed 40 years later. In 1828 the construction of the King's House (Casa del Rey) was completed and the church was rebuilt as well.

On April 11, 1832. the Guayama Pueblo was destroyed by fire that burned down 57 houses and 9 huts.New York Evening Post, May 11, 1832 p. 2; see also 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. 12 p. 665; Memorias geográficas of Pedro Tomás de Córdova, Vol 6 p. 286; An American Flag in Guayama, by Luis G. Rodriguez y Figueroa, 2015, Kindle version location 1774-1776; Other sources listing the date of the fire as 1828, such as Puerto Rican Geneology Archives (https://hijosdecoamopr.com/) are either incorrect or are referring to an earlier devastating fire, where the pueblo had to be entirely reconstructed between 1824 and 1827; see An Amderican Flag in Guayama, location 919 The reconstruction of the pueblo followed the rules for all Latin American cities found in the “Compilation of Laws of the Indies,” published in 1680. Streets were laid out in a perfect grid, with straight streets oriented north and south, east and west. The central plaza and the blocks to its east and west are rectangular; almost all the other blocks are square.City, architecture and colonization under Spanish rule, Encyclopedia of Puerto Rico https://en.enciclopediapr.org/content/city-architecture-and-colonization-under-spanish-rule/; see also Preserving a Pueblo: A Plan for the Future of Guayama Puerto Rico, by Larisalena Ortic, 2003, p. 42, https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/4433811.pdf

Guayama territorial order was altered at different times through the years. Some of the most populated neighborhoods were segregated to form new towns. Patillas was established in 1811 as an independent municipality. In 1831, the territory comprised the neighborhoods: Algarrobos, Ancones, Arroyo, Carreras, Guayama Pueblo, Guamaní, Jobos, Machete, and Yaurel. Later, Arroyo was divided into Arroyo Este and Arroyo Oeste and neighborhoods emerged: Pozo Hondo, Palmas de Aguamanil, Caimital, Pitajayas, Cuatro Calles, Sabana Eneas, Palmas, and Salinas. The latter had been segregated from Coamo.

In 1855, Arroyo was separated to become an independent municipality, taking the neighborhoods: Ancones, Arroyo, Yaurel, Pitajaya, and Cuatro Calles. By 1878, Guayama was a department head including: Comerío (then Sabana del Palmar), Cidra, Cayey, Salinas, Arroyo, San Lorenzo (then called Hato Grande), Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Gurabo, and Juncos. The development continued with the construction of the town cemetery in 1844, the slaughterhouse and meat market in 1851, and a wooden theater of two levels in 1878. By then Guayama had fourteen sugar plantations operating with steam engines and three with ox mills. Also practiced in this municipality was the exploitation of lead mines by the company "La Estrella", owned by Miguel Planellas, as well as the mineral galena, by the company "La Rosita", owned by Antonio Aponte. In 1881, Guayama is declared a Villa (First Order Municipality).

During the Spanish–American War, American forces under General Nelson A. Miles landed at Guánica near Ponce on July 25, 1898. The landing surprised the United States War Department no less than the Spanish, as Miles had been instructed to land near San Juan (the War Department learned of the landing through an Associated Press release.) However, en route to Puerto Rico Miles concluded that a San Juan landing was vulnerable to attack by small boats, and so changed plans. Ponce, said at the time to be the largest city in Puerto Rico, was connected with San Juan by a {{convert|70|mi|order=flip|adj=on}} military road, well defended by the Spanish at Coamo and Aibonito. In order to flank this position, American Major General John R. Brooke landed at Arroyo, just east of Guayama, intending to move on Cayey, which is northwest of Guayama, along the road from Ponce to San Juan. General Brooke occupied Guayama August 5, 1898, after slight opposition, in the Battle of Guayama. On August 9, the Battle of Guamaní took place north of Guayama. A more significant battle, the Battle of Aibonito Pass, was halted on the morning of August 13 upon notification of the armistice between the United States and Spain.

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 Guayama was 12,749.{{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/reportoncensusof00unitiala/page/160/mode/2up |year=1900|publisher=Washington: Govt. print. off.|page=160}}

After the Spanish–American War, Guayama continued to develop. The Bernardini Theater built by engineer Manuel Texidor y Alcalá del Olmo opened in 1913. The venue, property of attorney Thomas Bernardini, was the scene for artists of international fame. By that time, Guayama was considered one of the most important cities on the island's social scene.

File:Front view of the Guayama Convention Center.jpg

In the early twentieth century, there were selected societies such as the 'Coliseo Derkes' and 'Grupo Primavera', which endowed performing arts as well as scientific events. By the mid-twentieth century, Guayama achieved great industrial development, especially with the establishment of Univis Optical Corp., Angela Manufacturing Company and a petrochemical complex of the Phillips Petroleum Company. In 1968, the company started production of paraffin, benzene, synthetic fibers, nylon, plastic anhydrous, a {{convert|1,000,000|USgal|l impgal usgal|order=out}} of gasoline a day, and many other products. During that same decade agriculture began to decline as a result of land loss, industrialization and the construction of multiple housing developments. The urban growth affected the sugar cane industry. However, in 1974, 155,595 tons of sugar cane was harvested in the Municipality producing 12,655 tons of refined sugar.{{cite web |last1=Medina-Carrillo |first1=Norma |title=Hacienda Esperanza, Molino Vives, Guayama Puerto Rico |url=http://aperpuertorico.com/ensayos/Hacienda%20Vives.pdf |website=aperpuertorico.com |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=25 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325150820/http://aperpuertorico.com/ensayos/Hacienda%20Vives.pdf |url-status=live }}

In November 2002, AES Puerto Rico opened its coal power plant in Guayama. The company transmits and distributes electricity through a 25-year contract with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. The 2012 National Puerto Rican Day Parade was dedicated to the Municipality of Guayama and its people.

On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico. In Guayama, the hurricane triggered numerous landslides and caused major destruction with an estimated 2000 homes losing their roof. The river caused major flooding and people were left with no power.{{cite news | title=María, un nombre que no vamos a olvidar. El huracán María molió la costa y el campo de Guayama| trans-title=Maria, a name we will never forget. Hurricane Maria mowed down the coast and the Guayama countryside|newspaper=El Nuevo Día| date=2019-06-13 | url=https://huracanmaria.elnuevodia.com/2017/municipio/guayama/| language=es | access-date=2022-09-11}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/landslide-hazards/science/preliminary-locations-landslide-impacts-hurricane-maria|title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico|date=October 27, 2017|website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program|publisher=USGS|access-date=February 17, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf|title=Preliminary Locations of Landslide Impacts from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico|website=USGS Landslide Hazards Program|publisher=USGS|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303143147/https://landslides.usgs.gov/research/featured/2017/maria-pr/images/PR_Maria_LS_density_map.pdf|archive-date=2019-03-03|access-date=2019-03-03}} After Hurricane Maria, the people of Guayama resorted to collecting spring water for their drinking water.{{cite news |last1=Baez |first1=Alvin |title=The search for water in Puerto Rico |url=https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/the-search-for-water-in-puerto-rico-idUSRTS1H0TR |access-date=15 January 2019 |work=Reuters |date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115234453/https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/the-search-for-water-in-puerto-rico-idUSRTS1H0TR |archive-date=15 January 2019 |url-status=live }}

File:Cordillera Central, Guayama, Puerto Rico.jpg

Guayama is located at {{Coord|17.974241|-66.110034|type:city_region:US-PR|format=dms|display=inline}}.{{cite web|url=https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/guayama-municipality/|title=Guayama Municipality|website=Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico|publisher=Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501062510/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/guayama-municipality/|archive-date=2019-05-01|access-date=2019-03-20}}

The Municipality of Guayama is located on the Southern Coastal Valley region, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Cayey; east of Salinas; and west of Patillas and Arroyo. Guayama's municipal territory reaches the central mountain range to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. The mountain systems Sierra de Jájome (2,395 feet or 730 meters) and Sierra de Cayey cover some of the municipality area. The highest points are the Cerro de la Tabla (2,834 feet or 863 meters) and Cerro Tumbado (2,450 feet or 746 meters), which are part of the Sierra de Cayey mountain system. Other elevations are the mountains Garau, Charcas and Peña Hendida. Parts of the Guavate-Carite Forest and the Aguirre State Forest are in Guayama. The Guavate-Carite Forest, a {{convert|6,000|acre|order=flip|adj=on}} nature reserve is inhabited by 50 species of birds, making this spot a recognized area for birding and has a reserve with a dwarf forest that was produced by the region's high humidity and moist soil. The Aguirre Forest includes: mangroves, tidal flats, bird rookeries, research lakes & large manatee population. The Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve was established in 1987. The reserve is located between the coasts of Salinas and Guayama, approximately {{convert|2,883|acres|order=flip}} of mangrove forest and freshwater wetlands. The two main components: Mar Negro mangrove forest, which consists of a mangrove forest and a complex system of lagoons and channels interspersed with salt and mud flats; and Cayos Caribe Islets, which are surrounded by coral reefs and seagrass beds, with small beach deposits and upland areas.

• Islands include Cayo Caribes, Isla Morrillito and Mata Redonda.
• Carite Dam
• Gorges; Barros, Branderí, Cimarrona, Corazón, Culebra, Palmas Bajas, and Salada.
• Lakes: Melania Lake, Carite Lake
• Las Mareas Lagoon
• Rivers: Río Chiquito, Río Guamaní, Río de la Plata and Río Seco.

The annual precipitation is approximately {{convert|52|in|order=flip}} and the average temperature is {{convert|81|F|order=flip}}.

{{Weather box

|location = Guayama, Puerto Rico (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1914–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 94

|Feb record high F = 94

|Mar record high F = 95

|Apr record high F = 96

|May record high F = 96

|Jun record high F = 95

|Jul record high F = 99

|Aug record high F = 99

|Sep record high F = 98

|Oct record high F = 97

|Nov record high F = 97

|Dec record high F = 95

|year record high F = 99

|Jan high F = 85.4

|Feb high F = 85.5

|Mar high F = 85.9

|Apr high F = 86.9

|May high F = 87.9

|Jun high F = 88.8

|Jul high F = 89.7

|Aug high F = 90.0

|Sep high F = 90.0

|Oct high F = 89.3

|Nov high F = 88.1

|Dec high F = 86.5

|year high F = 87.8

|Jan mean F = 78.7

|Feb mean F = 78.6

|Mar mean F = 78.9

|Apr mean F = 80.3

|May mean F = 81.8

|Jun mean F = 83.0

|Jul mean F = 83.6

|Aug mean F = 83.7

|Sep mean F = 83.4

|Oct mean F = 82.6

|Nov mean F = 81.3

|Dec mean F = 79.8

|year mean F = 81.3

|Jan low F = 71.9

|Feb low F = 71.7

|Mar low F = 71.9

|Apr low F = 73.7

|May low F = 75.7

|Jun low F = 77.2

|Jul low F = 77.5

|Aug low F = 77.4

|Sep low F = 76.8

|Oct low F = 76.0

|Nov low F = 74.6

|Dec low F = 73.0

|year low F = 74.8

|Jan record low F = 60

|Feb record low F = 60

|Mar record low F = 61

|Apr record low F = 60

|May record low F = 62

|Jun record low F = 64

|Jul record low F = 65

|Aug record low F = 67

|Sep record low F = 65

|Oct record low F = 63

|Nov record low F = 62

|Dec record low F = 62

|year record low F = 60

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.42

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.70

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.90

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.84

|May precipitation inch = 5.26

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.58

|Jul precipitation inch = 5.46

|Aug precipitation inch = 7.08

|Sep precipitation inch = 7.30

|Oct precipitation inch = 7.22

|Nov precipitation inch = 5.85

|Dec precipitation inch = 2.79

|year precipitation inch = 54.40

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 14.5

|Feb precipitation days = 13.1

|Mar precipitation days = 12.0

|Apr precipitation days = 12.5

|May precipitation days = 15.9

|Jun precipitation days = 16.6

|Jul precipitation days = 17.2

|Aug precipitation days = 18.5

|Sep precipitation days = 16.0

|Oct precipitation days = 17.5

|Nov precipitation days = 16.2

|Dec precipitation days = 15.1

|year precipitation days = 185.1

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sju

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 17, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=RQC00664193&format=pdf

| title = Station: Guayama 2E, PR PQ

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 17, 2021}}

}}

File:Guayama, Puerto Rico locator map.png

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Guayama 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"}}.{{cite book |last1=Picó |first1=Rafael |last2=Buitrago de Santiago |first2=Zayda |last3=Berrios |first3=Hector H. |title=Nueva geografía de Puerto Rico: física, económica, y social, por Rafael Picó. Con la colaboración de Zayda Buitrago de Santiago y Héctor H. Berrios. |url=https://archive.org/details/nuevageografad00pic/page/247 |publisher=San Juan Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico,1969 |access-date=2019-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226171916/https://archive.org/details/nuevageografad00pic/page/247 |archive-date=2018-12-26 |url-status=live }}{{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=25 December 2018|date=20 May 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0447-3|page=300}}{{Cite web|url=http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/guayama.pdf|title=Map of Guayama|website=Welcome to Puerto Rico|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324204920/http://welcome.topuertorico.org/maps/guayama.pdf|archive-date=March 24, 2018|access-date=2018-12-29}}

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

1. Algarrobo
2. Caimital
3. Carite
4. Carmen
5. Guamaní
6. Guayama barrio-pueblo{{cite web |title=US Census Barrio-Pueblo definition |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |website=Fact Finder on US Census |publisher=US Census |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513190743/https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |archive-date=13 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}
7. Jobos
8. Machete
9. Palmas
10. Pozo Hondo

{{div col end}}

Population, per 2010 census: Algarrobo 6,959; Caimital 4,124; Carite 1,210; Carmen 619; Guamaní 1,455 ; Guayama Pueblo 16,891; Jobos 8,286; Machete 3,846; Palmas 709; Pozo Hondo 1,263; Total 45,362.

Barrios (which are like 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=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513190743/https://factfinder.census.gov/help/en/barrio.htm |archive-date=13 May 2017 |url-status=dead }} and subbarrios,{{cite web |title=P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD Reference Map (2010 Census): Guayama Municipio, PR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_spanish/c72057_guayama/PL10VTDSP_C72057_001.pdf |website=www2.census.gov |publisher=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=22 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822220339/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st72_spanish/c72057_guayama/PL10VTDSP_C72057_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=28 June 2019|archive-date=28 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628234856/http://www.presupuesto.pr.gov/Presupuesto2015-2016/PresupuestosAgencias/229.htm|url-status=live}}{{Citation | author1=Rivera Quintero, Marcia | title=El vuelo de la esperanza: Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004 | 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=24 June 2020|archive-date=14 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914224408/http://www.lexjuris.com/lexlex/Leyes2001/lex2001001.htm|url-status=live}}

{{See also|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 Guayama: Borinquén, Comunidad Mosquito, Comunidad Puerto de Jobos, Loma del Viento, and Pueblito Del Carmen.{{Cite book|last=Rivera Quintero|first=Marcia|title=El vuelo de la esperanza : el Proyecto de las Comunidades Especiales Puerto Rico, 1997-2004|year=2014|isbn=978-0-9820806-1-0|edition=1st|location=San Juan, Puerto Rico|pages=273|language=es|trans-title=The flight of hope: the Special Communities Project Puerto Rico, 1997-2004|oclc=932293879}}

To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Guayama page lists {{lang|es|Plaza de Recreo Cristobal Colón}}, {{lang|es|Museo Casa Cuatiño}}, and {{lang|es|Molino de Vives}}, as places of interest.{{cite book | title= Pasaporte: Voy Turisteando |publisher=Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico | year=2021| language=es}}

File:Sugar mill ruins in Guayama, Puerto Rico.jpg

File:En la Ruta Gastronómica de Guayama, Puerto Rico.jpg

In 2015, Guayama launched its "grastromic route", with certified restaurants to meet the needs of tourists and locals alike.{{cite web | title=Guayama inaugura la Ruta gastronómica de la Montaña | website=Primera Hora | date=November 21, 2015 | url=https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/notas/guayama-inaugura-la-ruta-gastronomica-de-la-montana/ | language=es | access-date=October 28, 2023}}

According to a news article by Primera Hora, Guayama has 19 beaches including {{lang|es|Playa el Bohío}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/las1200playasdepuertorico-1216285/|title=Las 1,200 playas de Puerto Rico [The 1200 beaches of Puerto Rico]|date=April 14, 2017|website=Primera Hora|language=es|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212200804/https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/las1200playasdepuertorico-1216285/|archive-date=December 12, 2019|url-status=live}}

Other places of interest in Guayama include:

• San Antonio de Padua Church
• Guayama Town Plaza (Plaza pública Cristóbal Colón)
• Molino y Hacienda Azucarera Vives
• Casa Cautiño Museum
• Centro de Bellas Artes
• Teatro Calimano
• First Methodist Church (Built in 1902)
• Guayama Convention Center
• Céntrico Mall{{Cite web|url=https://www.metro.pr/pr/noticias/2019/09/13/plaza-guayama-se-reinventa-y-se-convierte-en-centrico.html|title=Plaza Guayama se reinventa y se convierte en Céntrico|last=Soto|first=Miladys|date=September 13, 2019|website=Metro|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226190220/https://www.metro.pr/pr/noticias/2019/09/13/plaza-guayama-se-reinventa-y-se-convierte-en-centrico.html|archive-date=2019-12-26|access-date=2019-12-26}}
• El Legado Golf Resort
• Mariposario Las Limas Natural Reserve
• Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Guavate-Carite Forest
• Aguirre State Forest
• Carite Lake
• Pozuelo Beach
• Rodeo Beach
• Fishing Club Guayama

Guayama is home to various pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies, such as Pfizer, Baxter, Eli Lilly, and Tapi. A coal power plant operated by AES.

The San Lucas Episcopal Hospital, located on Pedro Albizu Campos Avenue and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico and the Santa Rosa Hospital are the main medical facilities in Guayama. The Veterans Health Administration operates a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (COBC) in the Municipality.

Guayama is the birthplace of numerous artists and musicians who have significantly influenced Puerto Rican culture. During the 20th century, the literary culture of the city was influenced by performers including Afro-Antillano genre poet Luis Palés Matos and his father Vicente Palés Anés. Music composer Catalino "Tite" Curet Alonso who became a composer of over 2,000 salsa songs is also from Guayama, even though he was raised in the Santurce section of San Juan. Other performers born in Guayama include actresses Gilda Galán and Karla Monroig. The Casa Cautiño Museum is administered by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and include works of art, wood carvings, sculptures and furniture built by Puerto Rican cabinetmakers for the Cautiño family. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Guayama celebrates its patron saint festival in June. The {{lang|es|Fiestas Patronales de San Antonio de Padua}} 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=2020-07-17 | archive-date=26 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226163727/https://www.puertoricohotelesparadores.com/festivales-eventos-actividades | url-status=live }}

{{lang|es|Feria Dulce Sueño}} named after a famous Puerto Rican horse is held each March in Guayama. {{lang|es|Dulce Sueño}}, the most influential sire in the modern Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed, was born in Guayama.{{cite web | last= Romero-Barcelo | first= Carlos | title= Puerto Rico's Paso Fino Horse: The Epitome of Elegance in World Horsemanship | website= Library of Congress | url= http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/loc.afc.afc-legacies.200003487/ | access-date= 2021-09-12 | archive-date= 2017-01-10 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170110175926/http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/loc.afc.afc-legacies.200003487/ | url-status= live }}{{cite web | title=El Deporte de Caballos de Paso Fino | website=EnciclopediaPR | date=2020-10-12 | url=https://enciclopediapr.org/content/el-deporte-de-caballos-de-paso-fino/ | language=es | access-date=2021-09-12 | archive-date=2021-02-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227095457/https://enciclopediapr.org/content/el-deporte-de-caballos-de-paso-fino/ | url-status=live }}

Other festivals and events celebrated in Guayama include:

• Witches Carnival – March
• Guayama Carnival – April
• Sweet Dreams Fair – March
• Jíbaro Festival – October
• Puerto Rican Week – December

Guayama had one of the Professional Baseball League founding teams, which won the Championship the first years of the league, 1938–39 and 1939–40. Guayama has a baseball team (Brujos de Guayama) in the Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Puerto Rico that won the national championship in 1987. Guayama also used to have a basketball team in the Puerto Rico's BSN (Brujos de Guayama) that went to the League finals twice back in 1991 and 1994 but lost both times to eventual champions Atleticos de San German, it was announced that the team will return for the league's 2012 season.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120315225333/http://www.brujos2k12.com/ Proximo juego local vs Quebradillas: 22 de abril de 2012]. Accessed on 17 January 2021. The Guayama Convention Center hosted some of the roller skating events for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games that took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico from July 18, 2010, to August 1, 2010. El Legado Golf Resort, a 285 acres, 18 hole golf course founded in 2002 by Puerto Rican golf player Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez. The Guayama Football Club, founded in 1949, plays in the Liga Puerto Rico.

{{US Census population

| 1900= 12749

| 1910= 17379

| 1920= 19192

| 1930= 23624

| 1940= 30511

| 1950= 32807

| 1960= 33678

| 1970= 36249

| 1980= 40183

| 1990= 41588

| 2000= 44301

| 2010= 45362

|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|archive-date=27 December 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}

|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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716033905/https://archive.org/stream/reportoncensusof00unitiala#page/n245/mode/2up|archive-date=July 16, 2017|url-status=live}} 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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817181600/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00476569ch4.pdf|archive-date=August 17, 2017|url-status=live}}
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830033735/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch12.pdf|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live}} 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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724061852/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-3-53-eng.pdf|archive-date=July 24, 2017|url-status=live}} 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|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220183043/https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo35934/cph-2-53.pdf|archive-date=2017-02-20|url-status=live}}

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=2021-08-25|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US}}|2020=36614}}

As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 36,614. It is the center of the Guayama metropolitan area, which was home to 68,442 in 2020.

In terms of race and ethnicity, the 2010 U.S. Census stated the following concerning Guayameses:

• White: 72.8% (33,025)
• Black: 22.9% (10,367)
• American Indian/Indigenous: 1.7% (769)
• Asian: 0.2% (108)
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1% (51)
• Some Other Race: 8.3.% (3,746)

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Guayama is O'brain Vázquez Molina, of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). He was first elected at a special election held on May 7, 2022, and then re-elected at the 2024 general elections.

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=2021-06-15}}

The flag of Guayama is made up of three stripes of different colors: black, yellow, and red from top to bottom. The black stands for the enslaved Africans brought to Puerto Rico, many to Guayama. The yellow represents sugar cane industry in Puerto Rico and the significance of Guayama's sugar plantations. The red symbolizes the blood shed by Taíno Indians in their fight against the Spanish/European colonizers. To the left of the top stripe we can see the Old Mill, which today is known as the Molino de Vives.{{cite web | title=GUAYAMA | website=LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico | date=19 February 2020 | url=http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/GUAYAMA.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219001310/http://www.lexjuris.com/pueblos/pueblos_files/GUAYAMA.html | archive-date=19 February 2020 | url-status=live | language=es | access-date=17 September 2020}}

The shield is divided in four parts and in two of them part of a chessboard appears. The chessboard pattern represents the center of the city, which resembles a chessboard. It has two old mill towers. The laurel trees constitute a representation of the beautiful Recreation Plaza very well known for its trimmed trees. The three silver flowers symbolize San Antonio de Padua, patron of Guayama. The crown represents Cacique Guayama, name of the town. The big crown has four towers.

The education system in Guayama has three public high schools, which are Francisco Garcia Boyrie, Adela Brenes Texidor and Dr. Rafael Lopez Landrón, and one vocational high school, Dra. Maria Socorro Lacot. Guayama also has a campus of the Puerto Rico Institute of Technology and the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Guayama campus (Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Guayama in Spanish) [http://www.guayama.inter.edu/ Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico – Recinto de Guayama]

. It also has several private schools such as Academia San Antonio, Guamaní Private School, Saint Patrick's Bilingual School, Colegio Catòlico San Antonio, Fountain Christian Bilingual School, Escuela Superior and Academia Adventista Tres Angeles and more than 12 other public schools in the elementary and intermediate education levels.{{Cite web|url=http://ww1.linktopr.com/guayama.html|title=Guayama... El Pueblo de los Brujos|last=Delgado|first=Joe|website=Link to Puerto Rico.com|language=es|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222063120/http://www.linktopr.com/guayama.html|archive-date=December 22, 2007}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.linktopr.com/guayama_e.html|title=Guayama... Town Of Wizards|last=Delgado|first=Joe|website=Link to Puerto Rico.com|others=Translated with assistance from George LaMontagne|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214181520/http://www.linktopr.com/guayama_e.html|archive-date=December 14, 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://www.salonhogar.net/Region_Caguas.htm|title=ESCUELAS|website=Salon Hogar|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117182024/http://www.salonhogar.net/Region_Caguas.htm|archive-date=2008-01-17|access-date=2008-01-02}}

Guayama is served by multiple state highways, principally Puerto Rico Highway 54, Puerto Rico Highway 53, PR-3, PR-15, PR-179, PR-744, PR-748, and PR-7710. PR-54 serves as a by-pass route to PR-3 which crosses the pueblo. PR-54 also serves as the main route towards PR-53, connecting Guayama to the neighboring town of Salinas and PR-52, providing expressway access towards Ponce, San Juan, and Caguas. Just north of the Guayama barrio-pueblo is PR-748, which, along with the Conector Dulce Sueño forms a ring around Guayama’s urban area. PR-748 intercepts Olimpo and Caimital, eventually intersecting with the rural PR-15, connecting Guayama with Cayey. PR-179 is born out of PR-15, serving as the main route through barrios Guamaní and Carite until its intersection with PR-184 in Cayey. Just south of Guayama’s main urban area, PR-3 continues on its way to Salinas. It crosses through Jobos, right in front of its parish and continues to Salinas. PR-7710 serves as the only route to the coastal sector of Pozuelo, offering some of the best beaches Guayama has to offer. The Municipality is only {{convert|38|mi|abbr=on}} away from Ponce and {{convert|58|mi|abbr=on}} from San Juan via expressways PR-53 and PR-52. The nearest international airport is the Mercedita Airport in Ponce.

At one time during 1937, Guayama received domestic, commercial airline flights from San Juan on Puerto Rico's national airline, Puertorriqueña de Aviación.{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/anpr.htm|title=Aerovias NPR - Aerovias Nacionales Puerto Rico|last1=Larsson|first1=Björn|last2=Zekira|first2=David|date=January 29, 2015|website=Airline Timetable Images|access-date=February 17, 2020|archive-date=22 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822220341/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/anpr.htm|url-status=live}}

There are 28 bridges in Guayama.{{cite web|title=Guayama Bridges|url=http://bridgereports.com/pr/guayama/|website=National Bridge Inventory Data|publisher=US Dept. of Transportation|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221224302/http://bridgereports.com/pr/guayama/|archive-date=21 February 2019|url-status=live}}

{{See also|Category:People from Guayama, Puerto Rico}}

• Jose C. Aponte Garcia - Puerto Rico Prosecuting Attorney during the Administrations of Luis Munoz Marin, Roberto Sanchez Vilella; Secretary of Justice during Roberto Sanchez Vilella's Administration
• Modesto Cartagena - Purple Heart recipient
• Catalino (Tite) Curet Alonso - composer of over 2,000 salsa songs.
• Diosa Costello - actress, AKA: The Original Latin Bombshell. True Name: Juana de Dios Castrello
• Luis Palés Matos - Puerto Rican poet who is credited with creating the poetry genre known as Afro-Antillano.
• Gilda Galán - Puerto Rican actress, dramaticist, comedian, writer, composer, scriptwriter and poet.{{cite news|last=Rodriguez|first=Jorge|url=http://www.vocero.com/noticia-25170-fallece_primera_actriz_gilda_galn.html|title=Fallece primera actriz Gilda Galán|date=2009-06-23|work=El Vocero de Puerto Rico|access-date=2009-07-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704131534/http://www.vocero.com/noticia-25170-fallece_primera_actriz_gilda_galn.html|archive-date=July 4, 2009|language=es|trans-title=First actress Gilda Galán dies}}
• Rafael Pérez Perry - Businessman and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's radio and television broadcasting industry. In 1954 founded Puerto Rico's television Channel 11 (nowadays Univision Puerto Rico).
• Miguel Poventud - Puerto Rican musician, singer, actor and composer of Boleros.
• Pedro Garcia - Major League Baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and the Toronto Blue Jays
• Karla Monroig - Telenovela actress, model and television host.
• Roger Moret- Former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Juan Laporte -Former WBC featherweight boxing champion (1982–1984)
• Jaime Fuster Berlingeri- Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico and former Resident Commissioner to the U.S. Congress.
• Marcos Crespo - Democratic member of the New York State Assembly representing the 85th Assembly District.
• Carmelo Delgado Delgado - Leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. Is thought to be the first U.S. citizen to die in Spain's civil war.
• Dr.Victor Manuel Blanco PhD - Scientist and astronomer who in 1959 discovered "Blanco 1," a galactic cluster.
• Eddie Rosario - Major League Baseball player for the Atlanta Braves and was the 2021 NLCS MVP.
• Leopoldo Santiago Lavandero (1912-2003) - playwright, theater producer and teacher.
• Plan B - reggaetón duo with multiple songs on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs charts.
• Ricky Sánchez - Former basketball player, drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2005.

Guayama Convention Center.jpg|The Guayama Convention Center

Plaza Guayama Mall Entrada.jpg|Plaza Guayama Mall

Plaza Colón de Guayama.JPG|The central plaza and church of San Antonio de Padua in Guayama

{{Portal|Puerto Rico|Geography}}

• List of Puerto Ricans
• History of Puerto Rico
• Did you know-Puerto Rico?

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.viveelencanto.com/ Official page of the Municipality of Guayama ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812095331/http://viveelencanto.com/ |date=August 12, 2023 }} (In Spanish)
• [http://www.visitaguayama.com Official Tourism Page of Guayama ] (In Spanish)
• [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/prvi/ Historic Places in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, a National Park Service Discover]

{{Adjacent communities

|Centre = Guayama

|North = Cayey

|Northeast = Patillas

|East = Arroyo

|Southeast =

|South = Caribbean Sea

|Southwest =

|West = Salinas

|Northwest =

}}

{{Porta Caribe}}

{{Puerto Rico subdivisions}}

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

{{Authority control}}

*

Category:Municipalities of Puerto Rico

Category:Populated coastal places in Puerto Rico

Category:Populated places established in 1736

Category:Guayama metropolitan area