Mayagüez metropolitan area Área metropolitana de Mayagüez | ||
|---|---|---|
 Mayagüez metropolitan area in southwesternPuerto Rico | ||
 Map of Puerto Rico with urban areas demarcated in orange to yellow | ||
 Statistical areas in Puerto Rico
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| Country |  United States | |
| Territory |  Puerto Rico | |
| Principal cities | ||
| Population (2023) | ||
• Total | 207,877 | |
| Time zone | UTC−4 | |
| • Summer (DST) | AST | |
TheMayagüez metropolitan area (Spanish:área metropolitana de Mayagüez), is the fourth largestmetropolitan statistical area (MSA) inPuerto Rico, comprising the municipalities ofMayagüez,Cabo Rojo,San Germán,Lajas,Sabana Grande, andHormigueros between thecoastal plains and theCordillera Central mountain subrange in the southwestern region of themain island. One of6 metropolitan statistical areas in Puerto Rico, it lies within the Mayagüez–Aguadillacombined statistical area (CSA), which is one of3 primary statistical areas in the main island as defined by theUnited States Census Bureau. As of 2023, census estimates place the population of the Mayagüez metropolitan area at 207,877.[1][2][3]
With an estimated population of 207,877 as of 2023, the Mayagüez metropolitan area (MSA) is the fourth populous inPuerto Rico, covering 6 of 78municipalities in the southwestern region of themain island. Mayagüez is considered to be itsprincipal city.[3] The Mayagüez metropolitan area is the223rd most populated in theUnited States between theLexington Park, MD MSA and theChico, CA MSA.
TheSan Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan Metropolitan Statistical Area was formerly a separate area in Puerto Rico, but this area was dissolved, and its municipalities were added to the Mayagüez metropolitan area in 2023.[5]
Comprising Mayagüez, Cabo Rojo, San Germán, Lajas, Sabana Grande, and Hormigueros, the Mayagüez metropolitan area is situated between the western and southerncoastal plains, theAñasco Valley, theLajas Valley, theGuanajibo Valley, and theCordillera Central mountain subrange in the southwestern region of themain island of Puerto Rico.
All municipalities have an urbanized, densely populated downtown area and administrative center, categorized as abarrio and known as apueblo, and concentrated urbanized residential areas with large populations, especially along the coastlines ofMayagüez,Cabo Rojo, andLajas. All municipales have rural areas, particularly those that lie on mountainous terrain likeSan Germán,Sabana Grande, andHormigueros.
The Mayagüez–Aguadillacombined statistical area (CSA) is divided into twometropolitan statistical areas (MSA), the Mayagüez MSA and Aguadilla MSA, covering 13 of 78municipalities inPuerto Rico.
In 2009, the Mayagüez–Aguadilla combined statistical area comprised 6.5% of total population in Puerto Rico. The2010 census placed the population at 519,331, a 51.61% increase over the2000 census figure of 251,260.[6][7] The2020 census placed the population at 467,599, a 9.96% decrease over the2010 census figure of 519,331.
With an estimated population of 458,312 as of 2023, the Mayagüez–Aguadilla combined statistical area is the2nd most populous CSA in Puerto Rico and the93rd most populous CSA in theUnited States between theKalamazoo–Battle Creek–Portage, MI CSA and theCedar Rapids–Iowa City, IA CSA.
