Bayamón, Puerto Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bayamón, Puerto Rico | |||
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| Nickname(s): "La ciudad del Chicharrón & Science Town" | |||
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| Coordinates: 18°23′00″N 66°09′00″W / 18.383333°N 66.15°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
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| Territory | Puerto Rico | ||
| Founded | May 22, 1772 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Ramón Luis Rivera, Jr. (New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico) | ||
| - Senatorial dist. | 2 - Bayamón | ||
| - Representative dist. | 7, 8, 9 | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 44.5 sq mi (115.34 km2) | ||
| - Land | 44.4 sq mi (114.95 km2) | ||
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.39 km2) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 224,044 | ||
| - Density | 5,048/sq mi (1,949.06/km2) | ||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | ||
| Gentilic | Bayamoneses | ||
| Anthem - "Bayamón, ciudad hermosa" | |||
| Website | http://www.municipiodebayamon.com | ||
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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[edit] History
Bayamón is sometimes called "El Pueblo del Chicharrón" (Pork Rind Town). Juan Ramírez de Arrellano established Bayamón as a town on May 22, 1772. It derives its name from a local Indian chief Bahamon; others claim that the name came from the Taíno word Bayamongo, which is the name of one of the rivers that crosses the city.
Bayamón is one of Puerto Rico's largest cities, and is situated in what is considered to be the island's metropolitan area. It shares its metropolitan area status with San Juan, Guaynabo, Cataño, Toa Baja, Canovanas, Carolina and Trujillo Alto.
Unlike Ponce, Aguadilla and Mayagüez, it does not have an airport due to its proximity to San Juan, the country's capital.
[edit] Flag
The current flag of Bayamón, with a white field, official color of Bayamón, was embroidered by Mrs. Gloria M. León and maintains the design and colors of its Coat of Arms.
[edit] Coat of arms
This shield is symbol and synthesis of the history and the values that distinguish the city of Bayamón. The main colors of the shield are blue and silver representing the waters of the Bayamón river and recalls that it was on these banks where the first hydraulic sugar cane refinery of Puerto Rico was established in 1549. The center contains the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz), patron of the first church of the municipality and the name of the old sugar cane refinery "Santa Cruz", which was the historical origin of the town of Bayamón. The sugar cane flowers (guajanas) allude directly to the sugar cane industry that is of social and economic importance to the origin and development of Bayamón.
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 Emperor Constantine when in the IV century had the vision in which the victory was promised to him if it accepted the Cross of Christianity as his banner.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)[1]
| Districts | Population |
| Pueblo de Bayamón | 5,336 |
| Buena Vista | 15,878 |
| Cerro Gordo | 34,161 |
| Dajaos | 2,691 |
| Guaraguao Abajo | 8,494 |
| Guaraguao Arriba | 1,681 |
| Hato Tejas | 46,528 |
| Juan Sánchez | 25,747 |
| Minillas | 42,617 |
| Nuevo | 2,394 |
| Pájaros | 32,855 |
| Santa Olaya | 5,662 |
| Total | 224,044 |
[edit] Geo/Topography
Bayamón rivers include: Río Bayamón, Río Hondo, Río Minillas, Río Bucarabones and Río Cuesta Arriba.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Agriculture
Coffee, grapefruit, sugar, tobacco and vegetables. The first hydraulic sugar mill on the island was built in Bayamón about 1548, and sugar has continued to be a valuable commodity.
[edit] Business
Commercial offices, Hospitals and Commercial centers are available throughout the city. Bayamón is one of the Puerto Rican cities with most shopping centers per capita. Here are some:
- Plaza Del Sol
- Plaza Río Hondo
- Cantón Mall
- Plazoleta del Cantón
- Drive-in Plaza Shopping Center
- Bayamón Oeste Shopping Center
- Rexville Towne Center
- Rexville Shopping Centerg Center
- Bayamón Norte Shopping Center
- Plaza di-Luna
- Santa Rosa Mall
- Plaza Del Parque Shopping Center
- Plaza Tropical Shopping Center
- Victory Shopping Center
- La Milagrosa Shoppin Center
[edit] Industry
Factories: auto parts, canned foods, clocks, clothing, machinery, tin cans, tobacco products, tools, watches, zippers, iron foundries, brick yards, ice plants, dairies, and an oil refinery. The city has many industrial parks like Luchetti Industrial Park.
Among companies with established factories in the city we can mention: Caribbean Petroleum (Gulf), Goya and ,Coca-Cola Puerto Rico.
[edit] Tourism
[edit] Landmarks and places of interest
- Bayamón Central Park
- Braulio CastilloTheater
- Francisco Oller Museum
- José Celso Barbosa Monument
- Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
- Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez
- El parque del tren, a park featuring what was until 2001 Puerto Rico's only working train, and an example of a DC-3 that used to fly for United Airlines. (This park, however, was destroyed due to major road construction which is still underway.) What is left of it is now a small plaza for activities and an area for jogging and passive entertainment.
- A suspension bridge is a pedestrian only bridge, believed to be one of only 3 of its kind in all of Puerto Rico.
- A science-themed park known as Parque De Las Ciencias. It is the only place, outside of the United States, where you can find an exhibition of NASA rockets and rockets parts. It is located in the middle of carcic hills. From an oberservation building on one of the hills is a stuning view of the metropolitan area. The building also hosts antennas for governmental and civil communication.
- City Hall- This building crosses over a major road. 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.
- Bayamón is also one of the cities to host the Tren Urbano (Urban Transit System commuter train), inaugurated in 2004.
[edit] Festivals and events
- Santa Cruz Patron Festivities - May
- José Celso Barbosa's Birthday - July
- Chicharrón Festival - July
- Artesans Festival - July
[edit] Education
Bayamón has many public and private schools. It also has many higher-learning institutions such as the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamon, the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico's School of Optometry, Bayamon Central University, American University, Universidad Central del Caribe, and some community colleges.
[edit] Sports
The Vaqueros de Bayamón are the city's BSN representatives and the team with the most championships in history, with 13.
Vaqueras de Bayamón is the local representative for the women's volleyball league Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino.
The famous boxing fight between Alexis Arguello and Alfredo Escalera (their first; their equally legendary rematch was held in Rimini, Italy) was held in Bayamón in 1978.
The Puerto Rico Islanders of the United Soccer Leagues First Division play at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón. A new team, Bayamon FC, are to start playing in the stadium in the Puerto Rico Soccer League in the 2009 season. Sevilla Bayamon FC, now called Sevilla-FC Juncos, used to play in the stadium. Until they moved to the town of Juncos due to ownership and financial problems.
Luis Del Valle Boxing
Former Rank #1 in USA Amateurs Rankings at 125 lbs/57 kg ,Former USA Elite Team Member ,2007 USA Team Pan Am Member (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) [2] ,Former 2004 National Golden Gloves Champion at 125 Lbs [3] ,Former 3 Times NY Golden Gloves Champion at 125 lbs[4] ,2006 International Tournament Jose "Cheo" Aponte Gold Medalist In Caguas,Puerto Rico ,2006 Ken Goff Memorial Boxing Classic Champion In Regina,Canada ,2006 Six Nation Cup Gold Medalist in Porto Torres, Italy ,2006 USA World Cup Team Member (Azerbaijan) ,2005 USA Under 19 National Champion 125 Lbs Weight Class
2005 International Tammer Tournament Bronze Medalist In Tampere,Finland
Attend the 2004 Under 19 World Championship Tournament in Jeju City,Korea representing his country Puerto Rico. 2004 Under 19 Puerto Rico National Champion at 125 lbs
[edit] Diplomacy
Bayamón serves as the host city for foreign consular representation in Puerto Rico for the following nations:
[edit] See also
- Puerto Rico Islanders USL soccer
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Bayamón and its barrios, United States Census Bureau
- City of Bayamón
- Bayamón site on Puerto Rico portal
[edit] Colleges / Schools / Universities
- American University of Puerto Rico
- Bayamón Central University
- Caribbean University
- Inter-American University of Puerto Rico - Bayamón Campus
- Universidad Central del Caribe
- University of Puerto Rico in Bayamón
