Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Guaynabo (Template:IPA, Template:IPA) is a city and municipality on the northeastern coastal plain of Puerto Rico. Located west of the capital San Juan, east of Bayamón, south of Cataño and San Juan Bay, and north of Aguas Buenas, Guaynabo is spread over 9 barrios and the downtown area and administrative center of Guaynabo Pueblo. With a land area of Template:Convert and a population of 89,780 as of the 2020 census, it is part of the San Juan metropolitan area. The studios of WAPA-TV, the most watched television station in Puerto Rico, are located in Guaynabo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The first European settlement in Puerto Rico, Caparra, was founded in 1508 by Juan Ponce de León in land that is today part of Guaynabo. Ponce de León resided there as first Spanish governor of Puerto Rico. This settlement was abandoned in 1521 in favor of San Juan. The ruins of Caparra remain and are a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The Museum of the Conquest and Colonization of Puerto Rico, which features artifacts from the site and others in Puerto Rico, is located on the grounds.

The municipality of Guaynabo was founded in 1769 by Pedro R. Dávila (P.R.), after a struggle for division from the municipality of Bayamón. Previously, the municipality was known as Buinabo, a name that it is popularly said to mean in Taíno "Here is another place of fresh water." Irish officer Thomas O'Daly and fellow Irishman Miguel Kirwan settled the area in the late 18th century and developed a farm and sugarcane plantation he named Hacienda San Patricio. The plantation no longer exists but the land on which it was located is now the central business district of Guaynabo and the San Patricio Plaza shopping mall.

On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico. In Guaynabo, where 26.9% of the population live below the poverty level, 2800 homes were destroyed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The hurricane triggered numerous landslides in Guaynabo.<ref name="USGS_Maria_Landslides">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="USGS_Maria_Landslides map">Template:Cite web</ref> Then president Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump visited Guaynabo.<ref name="NPR.org 2017">Template:Cite web</ref> Due to the municipality's fiscal difficulties, it was not until April 2, 2019, over a year and half later, that the overtime pay owed to municipal workers was paid.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After 24 years as mayor, Héctor O'Neill García resigned in 2017 when allegations surfaced of sexual harassment toward a female municipal employee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was replaced in a run-off election by Angel Pérez Otero, who in turn was forced out due to his arrest for Federal corruption allegations in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Héctor O'Neill's son Edward O'Neill Rosa won the following run-off election to succeed him as mayor in January 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Guaynabo is on the northern side.<ref name="PR_Ency">Template:Cite web</ref>

Barrios

Barrios of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico locator map
Barrios of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico locator map

Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Guaynabo is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a smaller barrio referred to as Template:Lang, located near the center of the municipality.<ref name="Pico_1969">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Law2015">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="US2010Census" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col

  1. Camarones
  2. Frailes
  3. Guaraguao
  4. Guaynabo barrio-pueblo
  5. Hato Nuevo
  6. Mamey
  7. Pueblo Viejo
  8. Río
  9. Santa Rosa
  10. Sonadora

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Guaynabo's town square in Guaynabo barrio-pueblo

Sectors

Template:Further Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions)<ref name="Barrio-Pueblo">Template:Cite web</ref> are further subdivided into smaller areas called Template:Lang (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="Law 1-2001">Template:Cite web</ref>

Special Communities

Template:See also Template:Lang (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social 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 Guaynabo: Amelia, Buen Samaritano, Camarones barrio, Corea, El Polvorín, Honduras, Jerusalén, Los Filtros, Sector El Laberinto, Sector La Pajilla, Sector Los Ratones (Camino Feliciano), Sector San Miguel, Trujillo, Sector Tomé, Vietnam,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Villa Isleña.<ref name="wordpress.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population

Tourism

To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Guaynabo page lists Template:Lang, Template:Lang, and Template:Lang, as places of interest.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Landmarks and places of interest

San Patricio Plaza shopping mall
Scenic lookout at mirador Gavillan

Economy

Several businesses have their headquarters or local Puerto Rican branches in Guaynabo. El Nuevo Día,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chrysler, Santander Securities, Puerto Rico Telephone, and many sales offices for large US and international firms (such as Total, Microsoft, Toshiba, Puma Energy and others) have their Puerto Rican headquarters in Guaynabo. WAPA-TV (Televicentro) and Univision Puerto Rico have their main studios in Guaynabo.

Iberia's San Juan-area offices are in Guaynabo.<ref>"Iberia Around the WorldTemplate:Dead link." Iberia. Accessed September 11, 2008. "In the rest of the world - Puerto Rico" - "San Juan de Puerto Rico. City office - Metro Office Park Calle 1 Lote 3 Oficina 102 Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968."</ref>

Crime

Carjackings have been an ongoing problem in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in 2023 the FBI indicted a group of criminals involved in carjackings.<ref name="k086">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

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Culture

Festivals and events

Guaynabo celebrates its patron saint festival in April. The Template:Lang is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment.<ref name="PR_Ency" /><ref name="J.D. 2006">Template:Cite web</ref>

Other festivals and events celebrated in Guaynabo include:

  • Three Kings Festival – January
  • Mabó Carnival – February
  • Mothers’ Day celebration – May
  • National Salsa Day – June
  • Fine Arts camp and recreation and sports camp – June
  • Bomba and Plena (folkloric music and dance) Festival – October
  • Official lighting of Christmas Lights – November

Sports

Guaynabo's old BSN team, the Guaynabo Mets, won national championships in 1980, 1982 and 1989, commanded by the player whom the Mario Morales Coliseum was named after, Mario "Quijote" Morales. The Conquistadores de Guaynabo, or Guaynabo Conquistadores, are the Guaynabo Mets replacement and still play in the Mario Morales Coliseum. The Mets de Guaynabo are the local women's volleyball team that play in the Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino (LVSF), winning three titles in 1978, 1993–94 and 1995. They also play in the Mario Morales Coliseum. Guaynabo Fluminense FC is Guaynabo's professional soccer team that plays in the Puerto Rico Soccer League. The league started in 2008 and Guaynabo's current position in the league is 4th place. Guaynabo Fluminense FC play their matches at the Jose Bonano Stadium that was originally made for baseball, but became a soccer arena after the Puerto Rico Baseball League was cancelled for the 2008 season. It was at the same year that the Puerto Rico Soccer League was starting to take place. In the 2009 season, Guaynabo Fluminense FC moved to the Sixto Escobar Stadium.

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates two post offices, Guaynabo and Caparra Heights, in Guaynabo.<ref>"Post Office Location - GUAYNABO Template:Webarchive." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 19, 2010.</ref><ref>"Post Office Location - CAPARRA HEIGHTS Template:Webarchive." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 19, 2010.</ref>

The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates the Metropolitan Detention Center, Guaynabo in Guaynabo.<ref>"MDC Guaynabo Contact Information Template:Webarchive." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on January 12, 2010.</ref>

Some regions of the city belong to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district I while others belong to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district II. Both of the Districts are represented by two Senators. In 2024, Nitza Morán and Juan Oscar Morales were elected as Senators for District I, while Migdalia Padilla and Carmelo Ríos have been serving as Senators for District II since being elected in 2004.<ref>Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General Template:Webarchive on CEEPUR</ref>

Mayors

Mayors of Guaynabo from 1969 to present

Mayor Term Party
Ebenezer Rivera 1969–1979 New Progressive Party
Alejandro Cruz Ortiz 1979–1993 New Progressive Party
Héctor O'Neill García 1993–2017 New Progressive Party
Angel Pérez Otero 2017–2021 New Progressive Party
Edward O'Neill Rosa 2022–Present New Progressive Party

Mayors of Guaynabo from 1782 to 1969

Term Name
1782 Cayetano de la Sarna
1800 Pedro Dávila
1812 Dionisio Cátala
1816 Angel Umpierre
1818 Juan José González
1821 Joaquín Goyena
1822 José María Prosis
1823 Simón Hinonio
1825 José R. Ramírez
1827 Antonio Guzmán
1828 Genaro Oller
1836 Andrés Degal
1836 Agustín Rosario
1840 Francisco Hiques
1844 Martínez Díaz
1848 Tomás Cátla
1849 Andrés Vega
1852 Justo García
1856 José Tomás Sagarra
1857 Manuel Manzano
1859 Juan Floret
1859 José Francisco Chiques
1862 Segundo de Echeverte
1862 José de Murgas
1869 Juan J. Caro
1873 Benito Gómez
1874 Manuel Millones
1876 José Otero
1891 Juan Díaz de Barrio
1914 José Ramón
1914 José Carazo
1919 Narciso Vall-llobera Feliú
1924 Zenón Díaz Valcárcel
1936 Dolores Valdivieso
1944 Augosto Rivera
1948 Jorge Gavillán Fuentes
1956 Juan Román
1964 José Rosario Reyes

Symbols

The Template:Lang has an official flag and coat of arms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Flag

This municipality has a flag.<ref name="LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico 2020">Template:Cite web</ref>

Coat of arms

This municipality has a coat of arms.<ref name="LexJuris (Leyes y Jurisprudencia) de Puerto Rico 2020" />

Health facilities

Professional Hospital Guaynabo located on Felisa Rincón Avenue (formerly Las Cumbres Avenue), is the newest hospital infrastructure built in Puerto Rico. Guaynabo is the only city in Puerto Rico to have a hospital specialized in advanced vascular surgery.<ref>"New hospital and medical building developing in Guaynabo" Caribbean Business Newspaper, Issued : 06/12/2008, By : LISA NIDO NYLUND</ref> Some of the first and newest procedures performed in Puerto Rico during 2009 were done in Professional Hospital Guaynabo, including the first AxiaLIF surgery for lumbar fusion.<ref>"Avanza la cirugía de la columna" Primera Hora Newspaper, Alejandra M. Jover Tovarra - 10/02/2009</ref>

Transportation

The Tren Urbano has only one station in the municipality, Torrimar Station. Guaynabo has a bus network called “Guaynabo City Transport”. There are 63 bridges in Guaynabo.<ref name="bridge">Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

Education

Template:Expand section Guaynabo is home to Atlantic University, which specializes in new media art.

The Japanese Language School of Puerto Rico (プエルトリコ補習授業校 Puerutoriko Hoshū Jugyō Kō), a weekend Japanese school, previously held its classes in Guaynabo.<ref name=OldNAHoshuko>"北米の補習授業校一覧" (). MEXT. January 2, 2003. Retrieved on April 6, 2015. (Puerto Rico) "（学校所在地） CALLEDELFOS #2119 ALTO APOLO GUAYNABO P.R 00969,U.S.A."</ref> It closed in March 2006.<ref name=Doha>"関係機関へのリンク" (Archive). The Japan School of Doha. Retrieved on March 31, 2015. "ポート・モレスビー補習授業校（2009年8月休校）" and "（ニューメキシコ）アルバカーキ補習授業校（休校）" and "（プエルトリコ）プエルトリコ補習授業校（2006年3月閉校）"</ref>

International relations

Guaynabo serves as a host city to four foreign consulates with business in Puerto Rico:

See also

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References

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