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Pozo Hondo (Puerto Rico)

Guayama, Puerto Rico
Municipality
Autonomous Municipality of Guayama
Municipio Autónomo de Guayama
Plaza Colón de Guayama
Plaza Colón de Guayama
Flag of Guayama, Puerto Rico
Flag
Coat of arms of Guayama, Puerto Rico
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):
"La ciudad del Guamaní"
Spanish for "The City of the Guamaní"
"El pueblo de los brujos"
Spanish for "The Witch City"
Location in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Location in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 17°58′27″N 66°06′36″W / 17.97417°N 66.11000°W / 17.97417; -66.11000Coordinates: 17°58′27″N 66°06′36″W / 17.97417°N 66.11000°W / 17.97417; -66.11000
Country United States
Territory Puerto Rico
Founded January 29, 1736
Wards
Government
 • Mayor Eduardo Cintrón (PDP)
Area
 • Municipality 106.8 sq mi (277 km2)
 • Land 65.0 sq mi (168 km2)
 • Water 41.8 sq mi (108 km2)
Elevation 239 ft (73 m)
Population (2010)
 • Municipality 45,362
 • Rank 22nd, PR
 • Density 698.0/sq mi (269.5/km2)
 • Urban 80,155
 • Metro 84,214
Demonym(s) Guayameses
Time zone Atlantic (AST) (UTC-4)
ZIP code(s) 00784, 00785
Area code(s) 787 and 939
FIPS code 72-32221
GNIS feature ID 1610860
Website www.viveelencanto.com

Guayama (Spanish: [ɡwaˈʝama]), officially the Autonomous Municipality of Guayama (Spanish: Municipio Autónomo de Guayama) is a city and municipality on the Caribbean coast of Puerto Rico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 45,362. It is the center of the Guayama metropolitan area, which was home to 84,214 in 2010.

During the early years of the Spanish colonization, the region known today as Guayama was inhabited by Taíno Indians. The indigenous population in this area decreased due to slavery and migration to the Lesser Antilles. The following centuries, the region was under attack from the Taíno rebellion, Caribs and pirates. The town was founded on January 29, 1736 as San Antonio de Padua de Guayama by then Spanish Governor Matías de Abadía, although there is knowledge of it being populated by native Indians as early as 1567. Guayama took its name from an Indian leader, or cacique who governed the Southeastern region of the Island, the Guamaní cacique and the Guayama cacique. The meaning of the Indian name is "Great Place" (in Spanish Sitio Grande). It was Governor Don Tomás de Abadía who officially declared Guayama a "pueblo" (town) with the name of San Antonio de Padua de Guayama. That same year the Catholic Church in town, San Antonio de Padua, was declared a Parish. In 1776, Guayama had 200 houses, the church and a central plaza and the total population was approximately 5,000 villagers. Construction on Guayama's Parroquial church of San Antonio de Padua began in 1827 and was completed 40 years later. In 1828 the construction of the King's House (Casa del Rey) was completed and the church was rebuilt as well. Earlier that year, Guayama was hit by a terrible fire that destroyed 57 houses and 9 huts. Guayama territorial order was altered at different times through the years. Some of the most populated neighborhoods were segregated to form new towns. Patillas was established in 1811 as an independent municipality. In 1831, the territory comprised the neighborhoods: Algarrobos, Ancones, Arroyo, Carreras, Guayama Pueblo, Guamaní, Jobos, Machete, and Yaurel. Later, Arroyo was divided into Arroyo Este and Arroyo Oeste and neighborhoods emerged: Pozo Hondo, Palmas de Aguamanil, Caimital, Pitajayas, Cuatro Calles, Sabana Eneas, Palmas, and Salinas. The later had been segregated from Coamo.


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