Bayamón Municipio Autónomo de Bayamón | |
|---|---|
City andMunicipality | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Nicknames: "La Ciudad del Chicharrón" (The Porkrind City), "La Ciudad de Vaqueros" (The City of Cowboys), La Ciudad de las Ciencias ("The City of Science"), "La Ciudad del Tapón" (The City of Traffic Jams) | |
| Motto: In Hoc Signo Vinces (Latin for:"By this sign you will conquer") | |
| Anthem:"Bayamón, ciudad hermosa" | |
 Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Bayamón Municipality | |
 Interactive map of Bayamón | |
| Coordinates:18°22′48″N66°09′48″W / 18.38000°N 66.16333°W /18.38000; -66.16333 | |
| Sovereign state |  United States |
| Commonwealth |  Puerto Rico |
| Settled | 16th century |
| Founded | May 22, 1772 |
| Founded by | Don Juan Ramírez de Arellano |
| Barrios | |
| Government | |
| • Body | Bayamon Municipal Legislatures |
| • Mayor | Ramón Luis Rivera Jr. (PNP) |
| • Senator | Carmelo Rios Santiago |
| • Senator | Migdalia Padilla Alvelo |
| • Representative dist. | 7, 8, 9 |
| Area | |
• Total | 44.53 sq mi (115.34 km2) |
| • Land | 44.38 sq mi (114.95 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.39 km2) |
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
• Total | 185,187 |
| • Rank | 2nd in Puerto Rico |
| • Density | 4,172.5/sq mi (1,611.0/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Bayamonese (neutral) Bayamonés (masculine) Bayamonesa (feminine) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
| ZIP Codes | 00956, 00957, 00959, 00961, 00960, 00958 |
| Area code | 787/939 |
| Major routes |             |
| Website | municipiodebayamon.com |
Bayamón (Spanish pronunciation:[baʝaˈmon],locally[baʝaˈmoŋ]) is acity andmunicipality inPuerto Rico. Located on the northeasterncoastal plain, it is bounded byGuaynabo to the east,Toa Alta andNaranjito to the west,Toa Baja andCataño to the north, andAguas Buenas andComerío to the south. Part of theSan Juan metropolitan area, Bayamón is spread over 11barrios and thedowntown area andadministrative center ofBayamón Pueblo. With a population of 185,187 as of the2020 census, it is the second most populated municipality in thearchipelago and island after the capital ofSan Juan.
Two theories exist about the origin of the name Bayamón. According to one, it was named after the localcacique,Bahamon. The other theory states the name was derived from theTaino wordBayamongo, which is the native name of theriver that runs across this region, implying that Bayamón is the area around this main river, which later on became the center of the city's development.[2]
Bayamón is nicknamed "City of theChicharrón" or "Pork Rind City" (Ciudad del Chicharrón) after the popular fried dish, locally known aschicharrón volao,[3] that is often sold as street food.[4] Other nicknames include "City of Cowboys" (Ciudad de Vaqueros), after thelocal sports team, "City of the Sciences" (Ciudad de las Ciencias) after thepopular tourist educational attraction, and, more recently,Ciudad del Tapón, due to the high amounts of roadtraffic congestion there.[2][4][5]
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TheTaino, the indigenous peoples who encountered European explorers and settlers, were the long-time settlers in this area. Before the foundation of the municipality, Hacienda Santa Cruz was established near the Bayamón River in 1750. TheSpanish colonist Juan Ramírez de Arellano formally establishedBayamón as aSpanish settlement on May 22, 1772, on a hill known asAlto del Embarcadero.[6] The establishment ofits current parish church on that same spot also dates to this year.[7]
In 1821,Marcos Xiorro, anAfricanslave, planned to lead a revolt against thesugarcaneplantation owners and the Spanish colonial government in Puerto Rico. The slave conspiracy was revealed and suppressed, but Xiorro became a hero among the slaves. He is part of Puerto Rico's folklore. Marco Xiorro was owned by Vicente Andino, a militia captain who owned asugarcane plantation in Bayamón.[8] Anearthquake in 1867 caused damages in Bayamón, particularly to its parish church.[9]
Puerto Rico was ceded bySpain in the aftermath of theSpanish–American War under the terms of theTreaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States. In 1899, theUnited States Department of War conducted acensus of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Bayamón was 19,940.[10]
The city grew considerably during the start of the 20th century. The area became home to numerous factories specializing in textiles, fertilizer, aluminum between 1901 and 1920. During this time the city also became home to financial institutions such as the Puerto Rico Commercial Bank (Banco Comercial de Puerto Rico), the American Colonial Bank, theFirst National City Bank of New York, theChase Manhattan Bank and theBanco Popular de Puerto Rico. This developed and strengthened Bayamón's economy and turned it into both an industrial and commercial hub. The city's infrastructure also developed with the establishment of a bigger sewer system.[11] The city was also host to some of the events of theVIII Pan American Games in 1979.
Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, causing large-scale damage and destruction to infrastructure. Numerous landslides occurred in Bayamón as a result of the hurricane's significant amount of rainfall.[12][13] In Bayamón, around 300 homes were destroyed, and two people were killed by Hurricane María. Many municipal buildings, and theGoya Foods factory in Bayamón sustained significant damage.[14]
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Bayamón lies on the northern coastal plain region andNorthern Karst Belt in northeastern Puerto Rico. It is bordered by the municipalities ofToa Baja,Cataño,Comerío,Aguas Buenas,Toa Alta,Naranjito, andGuaynabo. Bayamón has a surface area of 43.5 square miles (113.1 km2). The terrain is mostly flat, but it does include some large hills such as La Peña and Vergaras.[15]
Bayamón is Puerto Rico's second-most populous municipality and is part of the largemetropolitan area centered aroundSan Juan. Other cities included in the metropolitan area areGuaynabo,Cataño,Toa Baja,Canóvanas,Carolina andTrujillo Alto. Bayamón is served by theLuis Muñoz Marín International Airport. Despite the city's size, it has no weather station.
The rivers that pass through Bayamón include theRío Bayamón,Río Hondo,Río Minillas,Río Bucarabones andRío Cuesta Arriba.
Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Bayamón is subdivided intobarrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a small barrio referred to as"el pueblo".[16][17][18]
Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable tominor civil divisions)[19] and subbarrios,[20][21][22] are further subdivided into smaller areas calledsectores (sectors in English). The types ofsectores may vary, from normallysector tourbanización toreparto tobarriada toresidencial, among others.[23][24][25]
Comunidades Especiales de Puerto Rico (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount ofsocial 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 Bayamón: Abra Estrecha, Barriada Vista Alegre, Juan Sánchez, Nuevo, Bda. Cedeño in Pájaros, Collores in Santa Olaya, Corea, Dajaos, El Chícharo, Sector Gandul, El Volcán, La Cambija, La Caridad, La Morenita, Los Viejitos, Papito, Sergio Reyes, Parcelas Sabanas, and Punta Brava.[26]
Bayamón is the site of several notable Puerto Rican landmarks and places of interest. Bayamón Central Park is a public park where people gather and relax. Bayamon also hosts theBraulio Castillo Theater, theFrancisco Oller Museum, and theJosé Celso Barbosa Monument. TheBayamón City Hall building is notable by being built across a major divided highway. While walking through a connecting corridor, right above the road, pedestrians can see passing cars underneath. It is believed to be the only building of its class in the world.[27]
One of the most popular attractions in Bayamón is theParque de las Ciencias. It is a science-themed park with various exhibitions and attractions. It is located in the middle ofkarstic hills. An observation building on one of the hills provides a good view of the metropolitan area. The building hosts antennas for government and civil communication.
El parque del tren was a park featuring what was thenPuerto Rico's only working train. It featured aDC-3, which had been used byUnited Airlines. In 2001, the park was dismantled and destroyed in the course of major road construction. What is left of the park is a small plaza for activities and an area for jogging and passive entertainment. The area is now known as "Parque del Nino" or "Children's Park".
Shopping is a major tourist activity in Bayamón.Plaza del Sol andPlaza Rio Hondo are large commercial centers in the city.
Also, many American restaurant franchises such asDave and Buster's,Famous Dave's (replaced byRed Lobster in 2018), andOlive Garden are first established in Bayamon before expanding to other communities in Puerto Rico.
Asuspension bridge in Bayamón is a pedestrian-only bridge, at the time it was built, it was believed to be one of only three of its kind in Puerto Rico.[28]
To stimulate local tourism during theCOVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico, thePuerto Rico Tourism Company launched theVoy Turistiendo (I'm Touring) campaign in 2021. The campaign featured a passport book with a page for each municipality. TheVoy Turisteando Bayamón passport page listsCentro de Conservación de Manatíes,Paseo Lineal over the Bayamón River, andRon Del Barrilito in theHacienda Santa Ana, as places of interest.[29]
Ron del Barrilito located in the Hacienda Santa Ana is the oldest rum distillery in Puerto Rico.[30] The hacienda features anature trail.[31]
Bayamón celebrates itspatron saint festival in May. TheFestival de la Santa Cruz is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.[32]
Other festivals and events celebrated in Bayamón include:
There are several professional and amateur sports team based in Bayamón. TheVaqueros de Bayamón are the local basketball team that plays at theBaloncesto Superior Nacional league. They are currently the leaders as the team with the most championships in the history of the league (15), the last of which was achieved in 2020. The team's host venue is theColiseo Rubén Rodríguez.
The Vaqueros de Bayamón was alsothe name of the baseball club which played from 1974 through 2003 in theProfessional Baseball League of Puerto Rico, and played its home games atJuan Ramón Loubriel Stadium.
The city also has a femalevolleyball team, named theVaqueras de Bayamón, which plays for theLiga de Voleibol Superior Femenino.
Bayamón was the home of thePuerto Rico Islanders andPuerto Rico FC of theNorth American Soccer League. The teams played atJuan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón. The city's main soccer team,Bayamón FC, was founded in 1999, and play at matches atBayamón Soccer Complex.
The famousboxing fight betweenAlexis Argüello andAlfredo Escalera dubbedThe Bloody Battle of Bayamon (their first; their equally legendary rematch was held in Rimini, Italy) was held in Bayamón in 1978. Also, professional boxersLuis Del Valle,Wilfredo Vazquez and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. are from Bayamón.International Boxing Hall of Fame memberHector Camacho was born in Bayamon. Current boxing prospect Jean "Chapito" Rivera is from the Bayamon.
The municipal government of Bayamón manages a wide variety of recreational programs and recreational facilities for public use. The Onofre Carballeira Sports Complex consists of theJuan Ramón Loubriel Soccer Stadium, home of Puerto Rico's only professional soccer team, theRuben Rodríguez Coliseum, home of the city's male basketball team and female volleyball team, and theMiguel J. Frau Gymnasium. The Rafael Martínez Nadal Sports Complex's main feature is the Pepín Cestero indoor court, where much of the city's minor league basketball and volleyball major events take place. Also, the Efraín Calcaño Alicea Sports Complex located in the Lomas Verdes community is home to much of the track and field and swimming events in the region. The Honda Tennis Center, inaugurated in 2002, is composed of 16 tennis courts and is used by local tennis clubs as well as visitors.
A pioneer in the development of soccer in Puerto Rico, mayorRamón Luis Rivera Jr. inaugurated the Bayamón Soccer Complex in 2011, which consists of three professional soccer fields located off thePR-5 Highway.
The Paseo del Rio (Paseo Lineal) near theBayamón River is a 6-mile stretch shared by joggers, walkers and cyclists. It is divided in two lanes, one for the bicycles and the other for running or walking. The Rio Bayamón Golf Course is located near one of the endpoints of the trail and is home to most golf activity in the region.
Julio Enrique Monagas Park has trails used by mountain bikers to train and compete. It also has cliffs whererappelling enthusiasts can practice. Monagas, as the locals refer to it, hastrails for mountain bike riders of all skill levels. Unpaved roads for beginners, single tracks and very technical single tracks, some of them with downhills. AfterHurricane Maria, the tracks were lost, yet by 2019, most of them had been repaired and reopened.
The city also has many smaller baseball parks, open basketball courts, soccer fields, gymnasiums, and communal centers available to the community.
The founding of the town of Bayamón is closely tied to the cultivation ofsugarcane. The products currently grown in Bayamón includecoffee,grapefruit, sugarcane,tobacco and vegetables. Bayamón was also the site where the first hydraulicsugar mill on the island was built in 1549.[33]
Notable malls are:
Goya Foods has its Puerto Rico offices in Bayamón.[34]
Puerto Rico was ceded bySpain in the aftermath of theSpanish–American War under the terms of theTreaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of theUnited States. In 1899, the United States conducted its firstcensus of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Bayamón was 19,940.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 19,940 | — | |
| 1910 | 29,986 | 50.4% | |
| 1920 | 30,739 | 2.5% | |
| 1930 | 29,524 | −4.0% | |
| 1940 | 37,190 | 26.0% | |
| 1950 | 48,000 | 29.1% | |
| 1960 | 72,221 | 50.5% | |
| 1970 | 156,192 | 116.3% | |
| 1980 | 196,206 | 25.6% | |
| 1990 | 220,262 | 12.3% | |
| 2000 | 224,044 | 1.7% | |
| 2010 | 208,116 | −7.1% | |
| 2020 | 185,187 | −11.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[35] 1899 (shown as 1900)[36] 1910–1930[37] 1930–1950[38] 1960–2000[39] 2010[17]2020[40] | |||
| Race – Bayamón, Puerto Rico – 2020 Census | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race | Population | % of Total |
| White | 33,084 | 17.9% |
| Black/Afro-Puerto Rican | 30,159 | 16.3% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 5,470 | 3.0% |
| Asian | 555 | 0.3% |
| Two or more races/Some other race | 115,919 | 62.5% |
All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by amayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Bayamón isRamón Luis Rivera Jr., of theNew Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected at the2000 general elections, succeeding his father,Ramón Luis Rivera, after 23 years. For a list of all the mayors of Bayamón see "External Links".
The city belongs to thePuerto Rico Senatorial district II, which is represented by two Senators.Migdalia Padilla andCarmelo Ríos Santiago have served as District Senators since 2005.[42]
Themunicipio has an official flag and coat of arms.[43]
The current flag of Bayamón features theNordic cross found in manyNorthern European flags and is colored in blue and yellow over a white field. It was embroidered by Gloria M. León and maintains the design and colors of its coat of arms.
This shield is a symbol and synthesis of the history and the values which distinguish the city of Bayamón. The main colors of the shield are blue and silver, representing the waters of theBayamón River and recalling that it was on these banks that the first hydraulic sugarcane refinery of Puerto Rico was established in 1549. The center contains theHoly Cross (Santa Cruz), patron of the first church of the municipality and the name of the old sugarcane refinery "Santa Cruz", which was the historical origin of the town of Bayamón. The sugarcane flowers (guajana) allude directly to the sugarcane industry that is of social and economic importance to the origin and development of Bayamón.[44]
The five-tower crown, which is used for cities, was assigned to Bayamón as an exception for its extraordinary urban development, the magnitude of its population and for its religious dignity, which will possibly be raised to become Episcopal seat. The motto "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES" makes reference to EmperorConstantine when in the 4th century had the vision in which the victory was promised to him if it accepted thecross of Christianity as his banner.
Like all municipalities, public education is administered byPuerto Rico Department of Education. Due to its population and location within theSan Juan metropolitan region, Bayamón is home to many public and private schools. During the 2014–2015 academic year, over 150 public schools ranging from elementary school to high school were located in the Bayamón school region. On the other hand, the city is also home to numerous private schools of which most have a religious affiliation. Some of the better known religious private schools includeColegio De La Salle, Academia Santo Tomás de Aquino, Academia Santa Rosa, Colegio Beato Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, and Academia Discípulos de Cristo (non-Catholic). Non-religious schools in the city include Bayamón Military Academy and the American School.
Bayamón also has many higher-learning institutions such as theUniversity of Puerto Rico at Bayamón, which is one of the eleven campuses that comprise theUniversity of Puerto Rico public university system. Furthermore, the city is also home to some of the most recognized private universities in the island, such as theInteramerican University of Puerto Rico and its School of Optometry,Bayamón Central University,American University of Puerto Rico,Universidad Central del Caribe, and some community colleges. In addition, theMetropolitan University (Universidad Metropolitana), better known as UMET, has a campus in downtown Bayamón.
The lone line of theTren Urbano of theSan Juan metropolitan area ends atBayamón station, and three of its stops are located within the city. TheDeportivo station, located off thePR-2 Highway, is near theSanta Rosa Mall, the Bayamón Court of First Instance, and the Onofre Carballeira Sports Complex which contains theJuan Ramón Loubriel Stadium and theRuben Rodríguez Coliseum.
The city also has a trolley service with regular routes withinDowntown Bayamón.
There are 77 bridges in Bayamón.[45]
Bayamón serves as the host city for foreign consular representation in Puerto Rico for the following nations:
Places adjacent to Bayamón, Puerto Rico | |
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Media from Commons
Travel guides from Wikivoyage
Data from Wikidata| International | |
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