City Hall

Foundation: Caguas (KAH-gwahs) was founded in 1775. In 1820 it received the title of Villa and in 1894 the title of City. Originally known as San Sebastián del Piñal de Caguax. The name is derived from the Indian Chief Caguax, a legendary Indian chief who reigned in these lands during the decline of the Taino civilization and faced the Spanish conquerors with brave resistance. Soon after he turned to Christianity.

Location: Caguas is located at the eastern end of the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central) surrounded by the Cayey Sierra. It is bordered by: Guaynabo, San Juan and Trujillo Alto on the north, Cayey and San Lorenzo on the south, Aguas Buenas, Cidra and Cayey on the west, and Gurabo and San Lorenzo on the east.

Area: 147.1 sq km / 58.6 sq mi

Population: 140,502 (census 2000)

Population Density: 955.1 per sq km / 2,397.6 per sq mi

People are known as: Cagüeños

Caguas is also known as:

La Ciudad del Turabo (City of The Turabo) El Corazón de Boriquén (Boriquén's Heart) La Ciudad Criolla (The Criole City)

Wards:

• Senatorial District # 7 Humacao represented by Hon. José L. Dalmau (PPD)
  and Hon. Sixto Hernández Serrano (PPD).
  
  
• Representative District # 31 & 32 represented by Hon. Sylvia Rodríguez de Corujo (31) (PPD)
  and Hon. Conny Varela (32) (PPD).

Patron:

Dulce Nombre de Jesús Dulce Nombre de Jesús Cathedral Apartado 967 Caguas, P.R. 00726 Tel. (787) 743-4311 Fundation: March 1915 Mass Schedule: Daily: 6:15am, 7:00am & 6:30pm Saturdays: 7:3Opm Sundays: 7:30am & 10:00am

Topography: Its territory extends thru the Valley of Caguas or El Turabo, between the Sierra de Cayey and ramparts of the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central). The highest elevations are the Lucero at 2,887 feet, Alto de la Mesa at 1,210 feet, and the Los Altos de San Luis at 886 feet.

Hydrography: The Grande de Loíza river divides this municipality from Gurabo. The Turabo, Cagüitas, Cañaboncito, Bairoa and Cañas rivers also form part of its hydrography.

Economy: The economic activities of the city include: diamond cutting, tobacco, manufacture of leather products, crystal and plastic, electronic equipment and clothing.

Average Salary: $292.01 weekly (1998)

Flag: The flag was adopted in 1960. The colors are blue and yellow. The cross stands for the Cross of San Sebastián, for this was the first Christian village that settled in the Caguas Valley together with the hermitage of San Sebastián del Barrero.

Caguas is the first Municipality to have an official flag for ten of its "Barrios" or rural communities. The flag was designed following the same blueprint as the city flag, but white instead of dark blue. The Bairoa Coat of Arms replaces Caguas Coat of Arms. It reads: "Bairoa, Clear River Water, 1842".

This flag was with its original white field. It was recently changed to light peach. The shield was designed by Wilma Román Torres based on the history of the Bairoa sector. The symbols and their meanings are as follows:

• 1842 - year of the first document identifying Bairoa as a "Barrio" · Bairoa - means "clear river water"
• Mountains - represents the mountains that surround the valley
• Cemí (Indian idol) - represents our Taíno roots and the fertility of the valley
• Carmelite Shield - represents the arrival at the sector of the Catholic faith on 1869
• River - represents the Bairoa river that gives origin to its name
• Tobacco plant - represents the major produce in the barrio
• Sugar Cane - represents the produce of muscovado sugar and rum of the barrio.

The flag was designed by Carlos I. Fernández Velázquez and its background color is "seafoam", a kind of light turquoise or blue green. Six sectors make up the barrio and are represented in its symbology:

• Bees - stands for Las Abejas sector, where many beehives could once be found
• Pana fruit - stands for Los Panes sector, a very abundant produce
• Mango tree - stands for La Jurado or El Mangó sector. Jurado was the last name of the first inhabitants; a mango tree has been for many generations at the barrio entrance
• House - stands for Luis Munoz Grillo sector, who donated his house for the still operating school
• Pineapples - stands for Las Pinas sector, which also was once a major produce
• Crossroad - stands for Las Cruces sector that divides the road to Caguas, Cayey and Cidra municipalities

The flag was designed by the student Armando Sosa Flores and its background color is "blue flower", a kind of very light blue. Its simple symbology is as follows:

• Cemí (Indian idol) - represents the same object found at the El Algodón Farm near the Turabo riverbank
• Indian hamlets - represents the "Yucayeque" or main indian settlement that is believed existed in this place

The flag was designed by the student Carlos E. Acevedo Rivera and its background color is light peach. Its symbology is as follows: Forming a circle, the symbols that stand for the historic come about of Canabón barrio appear in the center of the shield. A small Caguas city shield (crossed arrows with pineapples) appears over the main circle.

• Broken chain - the abolition of black slavery in 1873
• Cemí - in the background appearing as a mountain (it is de facto believed that the designed of these stone idols was inspired by the actual form of our mountains), meaning the native indian contribution to the area development. In the present, the development as a botanic garden of the area known as Las Casitas is been considered
• Chimney - the right side one represents the San José Sugar Mill and the left side one represents the Santa Catalina Sugar Mill. Both of them are surrounded by a sugar cane plantation and the birth of the Cagüitas river.

The flag was designed by Norma I. Villafane Semidey and its background color is "buff", a kind of yellow cream color. Its symbology is described as follows:

• The blue, red and gold colors - represents the City of Caguas
• Crown - represents the "Cacique" or chief Caguax
• Pineapple - represents the Settlement of El Pinal, as the city was first known
• Rectangle - stands also for the city of Caguas
• Arrows - our native weapons
• Three sugar canes - stands for "good sugar cane" that gives name to the barrio
• Map - geographic depiction of the barrio
• Cow - represents the live stock industry
• Tobacco leaf - represents the tobacco industry
• Church - represents Christianity and brotherhood

The flag was designed by Lydia Milano Albino and its background color is light peach. Its symbology is as follows:

• Blue, green and earthen colors - associated with nature
• Sugar Mill - symbolizes the center of the main economic activity
• Sugar cane - meant once the worker's sustenance and dedication
• River - its waters represent the symbol that gives its name to the barrio, due to the abundance in the zone of bodies of water
• Pineapple - makes us remember the origins of our city of Caguas, the city of the Turabo (river), when the Settlement of San Sebastián del Pinal (place of pineapples) was founded in 1750

The flag was designed by the student Katerina B. Torres Figueroa and its background color is "blue flower", a kind of very light blue. Its symbology is very simple:

• The brilliant blue and gold colors - stand for the sky and the countryside, respectively
• The crown, pineapple and Indian (with crossed arrows) - are the elements present in the coat of arms of Caguas and stand for the same meaning

The flag was designed by the student Milaniza Montalvo García and its background color is light peach. Its symbology is as follows:

• Blue background - the pluvial resources that exist and the fresh water to drink
• The river, sky and mountains - suggest Paradise, because this barrio keeps its natural resources away from the destruction that comes from cement building and technology
• Plantain or banana trees - stand for the abundance of these produce
• Olive leaves garland - stands for peace, which is abundant in the barrio, and for hope of better days

This is the flag of the rural community or "barrio" of Tomás de Castro, Caguas, Puerto Rico. This was the second community to have its own official flag after Bairoa.

Blas Delgado, 11 July 2000

This is the new official flag of Barrio Turabo, Caguas, Puerto Rico approved by the Assembly and the Municipality of Caguas. The background color of the flag is a ligth blue with the original Turabo flag centered in a shield over crossed with the Taino's arrows, same as the Caguas flag.

Description: The orange color of the first triangle on the flag represents the "clay" of the valley of Turabo in Caguas, Puerto Rico and symbolizes the original name of the first settlement "San Sebasti'an del Barrero"

• The arrow tip of the white triangle symbolizes the "Cacique Caguax" (Taíno Indian Chief) of the valley of Turabo, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
• The wide yellow band represents the light of the sun, the industry and the urban zone of the ward.
• The narrow blue band symbolizes the Turabo River (and also represents the blue field of the Caguas flag).
• The wide green band represent the mountains and the rural zone of the community, and the hope in the future.
• The yellow and white colors symbolize the faith and the harmony of the inhabitants of the "barrio" (ward) community.

Juan Colón De Jesús, 22 March 2001

Events:

Rosario Cantado a los Reyes - 4 January Three Kings Festival - 5 January Criolla Beatriz - February Criolla Borinquen Fair - March Criolla Cañabón Fair - April Felipe "La Voz'' Rodríguez' Birthday - 8 May Cross Festival - 23 - 31 May Typical Criole Festival - 1 - 2 June

Places To Visit:

Cable Car Hacienda Cofresí Hacienda Country Club Caguas Historical Museum Hacienda Catalina Ruins Turabo Park Coquí Villa

Distinguished Citizens:

Luis Felipe (La Voz) Rodríguez Quiñones (1926-1996) - Singer (biography) José Gautier Benítez (1851-1879) - Poet (biography) Concha Meléndez (1895-1983) - Educator (biography) Abelardo Díaz Alfaro (1919-1999) - Story teller (biography) Margot Arce de Vázquez (1904-1990) - Writer & educator (biography) Flor Morales (Ramito) Ramos (1915- 1990) - Trovador (biography) Herman Badillo (1929- ) - First puertorrican congressman (biografía)

Mayor:

Hon. William Miranda Marín P.O. Box 907 Caguas, P.R. 00726-0907 (787) 743-3400 http://www.caguas.gov.pr/

2004 General Election Results Municipality of Caguas Party Candidate Votes Percent   WILLIE MIRANDA MARIN 46,485 63.05% BLANCA G. TRINIDAD 24,643 33.43% LUIS DOMENECH SEPULVEDA 1,913 2.59% *OTHERS 683 0.93% Total 73,724   Breakdown of Others   Reported Voting Centers Participation Direct Nomination 23   Registered Voters 92,942 Blank 389   Votes 73,724 Null 271   Participation Percent 79.32% Reported Voting Centers: 281 out of 281 for 100.00%   Total Registered 92,942

Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico