Bayamón, Puerto Rico

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Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Aerial view of Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): "La Ciudad del Chicharrón" (The Porkrind City), "La Ciudad de los Vaqueros" (The Cowboys City)
Motto: In Hoc Signo Vinces (Latin for: "With this as your standard you shall have victory"
Anthem: "Bayamón, ciudad hermosa"
Location of Bayamón in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°23′00″N 66°09′00″W / 18.3833333°N 66.15°W / 18.3833333; -66.15Coordinates: 18°23′00″N 66°09′00″W / 18.3833333°N 66.15°W / 18.3833333; -66.15
Country United States
Territory Puerto Rico
Founded May 22, 1772
Government
 • Mayor Ramón Luis Rivera, Jr. (PNP)
 • Senatorial dist. 2 - Bayamón
 • 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)
Population (2010)
 • Total 208,116
 • Density 4,700/sq mi (1,800/km2)
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
Zip code 00956, 00957, 00959, 00961, 00960, 00958
Website municipiodebayamon.com

Bayamón (Spanish pronunciation: [baʝaˈmon]) 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.

Contents

[edit] History

Bayamón is sometimes called "El Pueblo del Chicharrón" (Pork Rind Town) and "Ciudad del Tapón" (City of the Traffic Jams) because of the constant traffic jams that plague the city. Juan Ramírez de Arrellano established Bayamón as a town on May 22, 1772. It derives its name from the local Indian chief Bahamon or from the Taíno word Bayamongo, which is the name of the main river that crosses the city.

In 1821, Marcos Xiorro a slave owned by Vicente Andino, a Militia Captain who owned a sugar plantation in Bayamón, planned and conspired to lead a slave revolt against the sugar plantation owners and the Spanish Colonial government in Puerto Rico. Even though the conspiracy was unsuccessful, he achieved legendary status among the slaves and is part of Puerto Rico's folklore.[1]

Bayamón is Puerto Rico's second largest city, 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 capital.

[edit] Geography

The Municipality of Bayamón sits on the Northern Coastal Plain region of Puerto Rico. It is bordered by the municipalities of Toa Baja, Cataño, Comerío, Aguas Buenas, Toa Baja, Naranjito, and Guaynabo. Bayamón has a surface area of 43.5 square miles (113.1 km2). The terrain is mostly plain, but some peaks present in it are La Peña and Vergaras.

[edit] Water features

Some of the rivers that pass through Bayamón are: Río Bayamón, Río Hondo, Río Minillas, Río Bucarabones and Río Cuesta Arriba.

[edit] Cityscape

[edit] Barrios

Bayamón is divided into twelve barrios, each with the following population.

[edit] Tourism

House where Dr. Barbosa was born

Bayamón is the site of several notable Puerto Rican landmarks and places of interest. Bayamón Central Park is a public park where people can gather and relax. There's also Braulio Castillo Theater, the Francisco Oller Museum, and the José Celso Barbosa Monument. Also, the Bayamón City Hall building is notable because it hovers above 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.[citation needed]

One of the most popular attractions in Bayamón is the Parque de las Ciencias. It is a science-themed park with various exhibitions. It is the only place, outside of the United States, where you can find an exhibition of NASA rockets and parts. It is located in the middle of carcic hills. From an observation building on one of the hills is a view of the metropolitan area. The building also hosts antennas for government and civil communication.

El parque del tren was 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. However, this park 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.

There's also a suspension bridge in Bayamón, which is a pedestrian only bridge, believed to be one of only 3 of its kind in all of Puerto Rico.[citation needed]

[edit] Culture

[edit] Festivals and events

Bayamón is the site of several annual festivities. The festivities in honor of Santa Cruz, the town's patron saint, are held in May. Also, José Celso Barbosa's birthday is celebrated in July. There's also an artisans festival celebrated that month. Known as La Ciudad del Chicharrón, there's a festival dedicated to it in July as well.

[edit] Sports

The Mayor watching the Puerto Rico Islanders at Juan Ramon Loubriel

There are several professional and amateur sports team based in Bayamón. The Vaqueros de Bayamón are the local basketball team that plays at the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league. They are currently the team with the most championships in the history of the league with 14, the last of which was achieved in 2009. The team played at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez.

The city also has a female volleyball team, called the Vaqueras de Bayamón, which playes for the Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino.

Recently, Bayamón has become popular for being the hometown of the Puerto Rico Islanders of the North American Soccer League. The team plays at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón. Another team, Bayamón FC, started playing in the stadium in the Puerto Rico Soccer League in the 2009 season. Sevilla Bayamón 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.

The famous boxing fight between Alexis Argüello and Alfredo Escalera (their first; their equally legendary rematch was held in Rimini, Italy) was held in Bayamón in 1978. Also, professional boxers Luis Del Valle, Wilfredo Vazquez and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. are from Bayamón.

Bayamón professional sports teams
Club Sport League Venue League Championships
Vaqueros de Bayamón Basketball Baloncesto Superior Nacional Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum BSN Championships (14)
Vaqueras de Bayamón Volleyball Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum

[edit] Economy

[edit] Agriculture

Some of the products grown in Bayamón are coffee, grapefruit, sugar, tobacco and vegetables. Bayamón was also the site where the first hydraulic sugar mill on the island was built in about 1548.[citation needed]

[edit] Business

Due to its location within the San Juan Metropolitan area and its airport and port, Bayamón is one of the most viable places for commerce. It is also 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 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
  • Bayamon Centro
  • Ciudad Jardin Shopping Center

[edit] Demographics

Race - Bayamón, Puerto Rico - 2010 Census[2]
Race Population  % of Total
White 162,893 78.3%
Black/Afro-Puerto Rican 21,373 10.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1,183 0.6%
Asian 482 0.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 24 0.0%
Some other race 15,189 7.3%
Two or more races 6,972 3.4%
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[edit] Government

Main article: Mayoralty in Puerto Rico

All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years. The current mayor of Bayamón is Ramón Luis Rivera, Jr., of the New Progressive Party (PNP). He was elected at the 2000 general elections, succeeding his father, Ramón Luis Rivera, after 23 years.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district II, which is represented by two Senators. In 2008, Migdalia Padilla and Carmelo Ríos Santiago were elected as District Senators.[3]

[edit] Symbols

[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 4th century had the vision in which the victory was promised to him if it accepted the Cross of Christianity as his banner.

[edit] Education

Bayamón has many public and private schools. Like all muncipalities, public education is administered by Puerto Rico Department of Education. Bayamón also has many higher-learning institutions such as the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón, the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and its School of Optometry, Bayamón Central University, American University, Universidad Central del Caribe, and some community colleges.

[edit] Transportation

Tren Urbano at Bayamón Station

Bayamón is the final stop for the Tren Urbano. Three of its stop are located within the city.

[edit] Diplomacy

Bayamón serves as the host city for foreign consular representation in Puerto Rico for the following nations:

[edit] Notable natives and residents

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bayamón, Puerto Rico

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Slave revolts in Puerto Rico: conspiracies and uprisings, 1795-1873"; by: Guillermo A. Baralt; Publisher Markus Wiener Publishers; ISBN 1558764631, 9781558764637
  2. ^ Ethnicity 2010 census
  3. ^ Elecciones Generales 2008: Escrutinio General on CEEPUR
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