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Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Borinquén
Municipality
Flag of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Flag
Coat of arms of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): "La Sultana del Oeste", "La Ciudad de las Aguas Puras", "El Pueblo del Mangó"
Anthem: "Mi patria es un oasis"
Location of Mayagüez in Puerto Rico
Location of Mayagüez in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°12′04″N 67°08′23″W / 18.20111°N 67.13972°W / 18.20111; -67.13972Coordinates: 18°12′04″N 67°08′23″W / 18.20111°N 67.13972°W / 18.20111; -67.13972
Country  United States
Territory  Puerto Rico
Founded September 18, 1760
Founded by Faustino Martínez de Matos
Juan de Silva
Juan de Aponte
Government
 • Mayor José Guillermo Rodríguez (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist. Mayagüez
 • Representative dist. 18 and 19
Area
 • Municipality 274.09 sq mi (709.89 km2)
 • Land 77.63 sq mi (201.07 km2)
 • Water 196.46 sq mi (508.82 km2)
Highest elevation 1,577 ft (480.6 m)
Lowest elevation 0 ft (0 m)
Population (2010)
 • Municipality 89,080
 • Density 330/sq mi (130/km2)
 • Metro 115,048
 • CSA 251,260
Demonym(s) Mayagüezanos
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 00680, 00681, 00682
Area code 787, 939
FIPS code 72-52431
GNIS feature ID 1611495
Website www.mayaguezpr.gov

Mayagüez (Spanish pronunciation: [maʝaˈɣwes]) is the eighth-largestmunicipality of Puerto Rico. It was founded as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, and is also known as La Sultana del Oeste (The Sultaness of the West), Ciudad de las Aguas Puras (City of Pure Waters), or Ciudad del Mangó (City of the Mango). On April 6, 1894, the Spanish crown gave it the formal title of Excelente Ciudad de Mayagüez (Excellent City of Mayaquez). Mayagüez is located in the center of the western coast on the island of Puerto Rico. It is a principal city of the Mayagüez Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area.

The Mayagüez Metro Area (and part of Añasco) lies today on two former Taíno Cacicazgos (chiefdoms): Yaguex and Yagüeca, a region noted for its record of colonial resistance (i.e., Urayoán and Legend of Diego Salcedo). The Tainos constituted the majority of the island's inhabitants at the time of contact with Europeans in 1493 and called it Borikén or Borinquen, which means: "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord" or "land of the great lords." Today, this appellation and its variations continue to designate the Island of Puerto Rico and its people. These Taínos came from South American branches of Arawakan speakers, more specifically from Venezuela, and lived in small villages, organized their society in clans and named their chiefs Cacique. They were farmers who domesticated crops as pineapples, cassava, and sweet potatoes supplemented by fish and seafood.


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