Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Pork Ring City

Bayamón (bah-yah-MON) is known as the “Pork Rind City.” Its patron saint is the Holy Cross, and the town festival is celebrated from late April to early May. The municipality’s economy is mainly based on commerce, manufacturing, and services, making it an important urban center in the San Juan metropolitan area.

The municipality is located in the north-central region of Puerto Rico and borders Toa Baja and Cataño to the north, Aguas Buenas and Comerío to the south, Guaynabo to the east, and Naranjito, Toa Alta, and Toa Baja to the west.

Bayamón has a network of important rivers, including the Bayamón, Minillas, La Plata, Cuesta Arriba, and Hondo rivers, which have historically been vital for agriculture, commerce, and urban development.

Environment and Recognition

Bayamón has been recognized for its environmental protection policies and sustainable development projects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has highlighted the municipality for its environmental achievements. Among its notable initiatives is an “eco-friendly” golf course developed on the site of the former municipal landfill, aimed at serving low-income communities and promoting responsible land use and environmental education.

Foundation and History

Bayamón was founded in 1772 by Mario A. Rodríguez León. Before its streets were urbanized, communication with San Juan was carried out via the river, using small boats (yolas) that traveled from the pier to the bay via Palo Seco and returned through the San Fernando canal in Cataño, disembarking at Hacienda Santa Ana.

In 1791, Commander Ignacio Mascró y Homar, a military engineer, created the town’s first official plan. By 1831, Bayamón was divided into barrios such as Hato Tejas, Pájaros, Palo Seco, Buena Vista, Pastel, Cerro Gordo, Juan Ascencio, Guaraguao, Santa Olaya, and Minillas.

In 1878, significant changes occurred: the barrio Ascencio became part of Aguas Buenas, while Palo Seco was incorporated into Toa Baja. That same year, Bayamón included barrios such as Palmas, Cataño, Juan Sánchez, Hato Tejas, Pájaros, Santa Olaya, Buena Vista, Barrio Nuevo, Dajaos, Guaraguao Arriba, Guaraguao Abajo, Minillas, Cerro Gordo, Guaynabo, Pueblo Viejo, Santa Rosa, Camarones, Sonadora, and Guaraguao.

By 1912, the barrios of Guaraguao, Pueblo Viejo, Santa Rosa, and Sonadora were transferred to the municipality of Guaynabo. Bayamón thus emerged as an organized town during key moments in the formation of modern Puerto Rican history.

Location and Geography

Bayamón is situated in the hills of north-central Puerto Rico, with mostly flat terrain due to its location in the Northern Coastal Plain, though elevations such as Cerro La Peña (552 meters) and Cerro Vergaras (270 meters) stand out.

Area

115 km² / 44.4 square miles

Population:

203,499 inhabitants (2020 Census)
Bayamón has experienced a decrease compared to the 2000 Census (224,044 inhabitants), reflecting trends of migration to the United States and other Puerto Rican municipalities, along with lower birth rates in recent decades.

Population Density:

1,780 inhabitants per km²

Demonym

Bayamoneses

Bayamón is also known as:

El Pueblo del Chicharrón (The Pork Rind City)

Wards: Bayamon, Puerto RIco

Bayamón is divided into 12 main barrios. The most populated include Hato Tejas, Minillas, and Cerro Gordo, while barrios such as Guaraguao Arriba and Nuevo have lower population density.

Census 2000: Population by Wards - Bayamón	Habitants
Bayamón (City)	5,500
Buena Vista	14,900
Cerro Gordo	33,800
Dajaos	2,600
Guaraguao Abajo	8,200
Guaraguao Arriba	1,700
Hato Tejas	45,500
Juan Sánchez	25,300
Minillas	41,900
Nuevo	2,400
Pájaros	32,300
Santa Olaya	5,500
Total	203,499

Información: Negociado del Censo de los EE.UU. Censo 2020

Recent Trends

Over the past two decades, Bayamón has experienced slight population aging, with an increase in residents over 65 years old. Population density remains high in central urban barrios such as Hato Tejas and Minillas, which concentrate much of the municipality’s commercial and residential activity. Despite a general population decline, Bayamón continues to be a key urban center in the metropolitan area, with ongoing expansion in infrastructure, commerce, and public services.

Topography

Bayamón’s territory is mostly part of the Northern Coastal Plain, with predominantly flat terrain. Notable elevations include Cerro La Peña (552 m / 1,811 ft) and Cerro Vergaras (270 m / 886 ft).

Topography

The municipality has several important rivers, including the Bayamón, Minillas, La Plata, Cuesta Arriba, and Hondo rivers. The Bayamón River is one of the longest in Puerto Rico and has been essential for the urban and industrial development of the municipality.

Main Industries

Commerce, manufacturing, services, and logistics.

Flag:

On March 29, 1977, the Bayamón Municipal Assembly officially approved the municipality’s flag, correcting previous errors in the coat of arms, according to Resolution No. 59 of April 8, 1971. The flag consists of a white field and was embroidered by Mrs. Gloria M. León. It maintains the same colors and symbolism as the municipal coat of arms, representing Bayamón’s identity, history, and values.

Coat Of Arms:

The coat of arms of Bayamón symbolizes the town’s history and values. The blue and silver enamel represent the waters of the Bayamón River, where Puerto Rico’s first hydraulic sugar mill was established in 1549. The Holy Cross, the patron of the main church and the former sugar mill, reflects the historical origins of the city. Guajana flowers symbolize sugarcane, a key crop in the municipality’s social and economic development.

The mural crown with five towers, exceptional for city coats of arms, highlights Bayamón’s urban development, population size, and religious significance. The motto IN HOC SIGNO VINCES refers to Emperor Constantine, who in the 4th century had a vision of the cross on his banner, promising victory if adopted in the name of Christianity.

Events:

• Marathon of the Holy Cross – May
• Christmas Lighting – November
• Walk for Diabetes- November
• José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday – July

Places of Interest:

• Dra. Pilar Barbosa Library – Opened in 2000, the municipal library of Bayamón, dedicated to Puerto Rico’s official historian. It has multiple rooms for educational, cultural, and recreational activities.
• Café Teatro Carmen Delia Dipiní – Opened in 1997, dedicated to the immortal singer, presenting artistic performances to the community.
• Angel Rivera Rodríguez City Hall – Opened in 1980, the first high-rise building in the Caribbean, located along Highway 2.
• Onofre Carballeira Sports Complex – Includes the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum, Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Miguel J. Frau Public Gym, Alberto Santiago Central Park, Guadarrama Walk sculptures, and the Emergency Management Unit.
• School of Fine Arts – Founded in 2001 to complement academic studies with arts education.
• Hacienda Santa Ana – Founded in the late 18th century by Captain Fernando Fernández for sugarcane production.
• Church of the Holy Cross
• Monuments: José Celso Barbosa, Trovadores
• Museums: Bayamón Historical Archive and Museum, Francisco Oller Art Museum, Doll Museum
• Parks: Alberto Santiago Central Park, Children’s Central Park (2007), Luis A. Ferré Science Park, Forest Park (1990), Robert Junghanns Park
• Promenades: Artists’ Walk, José Celso Barbosa Walk, Río Hondo/Bayamón Linear Park
• Recreation: Bayamón Golf Course, Plaza de Recreo, Braulio Castillo Theater (1984), Francisco Oller Theater (1938)
• José Celso Barbosa House Museum

Notable People from Bayamón:

• José Celso Barbosa Alcalá (1857–1921) – Physician, politician, Republican Party pioneer
• Lucecita Benítez (1942–2023)z – Singer. She has been called the “voice of the nation” thanks to her talent and charisma as a singer.
• Braulio Castillo Cintrón (1933–2013) – Adopted son of Bayamón. He was a renowned dramatic and musical actor.
• José Antonio Dávila (1898–1941) – Physician, translator and poet. The author of Vendimia (1940), Almacén de baratijas (1942), and Motivos de Tristán (1957). He wrote the biography of the musician and composer Mariano Feliu Balseiro, a native of Bayamón.
• Virgilio Dávila (1869–1943) – Poet and political figure. He was born in Toa Baja and became an adopted son of Bayamón. He was mayor from 1905 to 1910. The town hall, today the Francisco Oller Museum, was built under his administration
• Pedro Dávila Ortiz (Davilita, 1918–1986) – musician. He devoted body and soul to the dissemination of Puerto Rican music.
• Braulio Dueño Colón (1854–1919) – musician and composer. He wrote both classical and popular music. His compositions include “La amistad,” “Noche de Otoño,” “La aurora,” “Soledad,” and others.
• Isabel Gutiérrez del Arroyo (1923–2010) – Historian. The author of El reformismo ilustrado en Puerto Rico (1953) and numerous articles published in local and overseas journals. She was full professor at the history department of the University of Puerto Rico until 1987.
• Francisco Manrique Cabrera (1910–1973) – Educator and poet. He is the author of Poemas de mi tierra (1936), Huella, sombra and cantar (1943), Antología de poesía infantil, Notas sobre la novela puertorriqueña de los últimos veinticinco años (1955), Manuel Zeno Gandía, poeta del novelar isleño (1955) and his best-known work, Historia de la literatura puertorriqueña (1956). He is known as one of the best writers in the Neo-criollo style.
• Francisco Oller y Cestero – Adopted son of Bayamón, an illustrious painter, whose works include “El velorio,” (The Wake), among many others.
• Santiago Polanco Abreu (1920–1980) – Representative (1949 – 1964) and President of that body (1963 – 1964); Resident Commissioner in Washington, D.C. (1965 – 1968).
• esús Sánchez Erazo “Chuíto, el de Bayamón” (1930–1990) – Folksinger of Puerto Rican music.

Contemporary Figures:

• María de Lourdes Santiago (1953–present) – Senator and civil rights advocate
• Rafael “Rafy” Castro (1970–present) – Entrepreneur and cultural promoter
• Valentina “Valen” Ortiz (1988–present) – Olympic athlete
• Luis “Nicky” Hernández (1995–present) – Urban singer and music producer

Nombre	Grado	Teléfono	Dirección
NIVEL ELEMENTAL
ARTURO SOMOHANO	K-6	(787) 787-0938	PO BOX 3065, P.R. 00959-3065
AURELIO PEREZ MARTINEZ	K-6	(787) 787-1132	URB SANTA ELENA BH 200 CALLE 6, P.R. 00957-0000
BRAULIO DUEÑO COLON	K-6	(787) 785-0246	CALLE BRAULIO DUEÑO, P.R. 00961-0000
DOLORES ALVAREZ	K-6	(787) 797-2010	PO BOX 4158, P.R. 00958-1158
DR HIRAM GONZALEZ	K-6	(787) 785-2536	PO BOX 265, P.R. 00957-0000
DR. SANTOS J. SEPULVEDA	K-6	(787) 786-7625	PO BOX 3065, P.R. 00959-3065
EPIFANIO FERNANDEZ VANGA	K-6	(787) 786-7625	PO BOX 8774, P.R. 00960-8774
FAUSTINO SANTIAGO	PK-6	(787) 787-3251	URB JARDINES DE CAPARRA, P.R. 00959-0000
JOSE DAVILA SEMPRIT	PK-6	(787) 786-8820	PO BOX 6075 SUITE 1, P.R. 00960-0000
JOSE JULIAN TAPIA	K-6	(787) 787-8969	RIO PLANTATION CALLE 2, P.R. 00961-0000
JUAN MORELL CAMPOS	K-6	(787) 786-5520	URB VILLA RICA, P.R. 00959-0000
LUDOVICO COSTOSO	EE	(787) 787-9792	CARR 2 STE 15 DRIVE IN PLAZA HATO TEJAS, P.R. 00959-5259
MARTA VELEZ DE FAJARDO	K-6	(787) 797-1775	URB CANA 100 CALLE 11, P.R. 00957-0000
NOEL ESTRADA	K-6	(787) 797-3795	URB MIRAFLORES CALLE 25FINALPR 00957-0000
PAJAROS AMERICANOS	K-6	(787) 797-3832	PO BOX 265, P.R. 00960-0000
RAFAEL HERNANDEZ	K-6	(787) 797-2848	PO BOX 117, P.R. 00961-0000
RAFAEL MARTINEZ NADAL	K-6	(787) 785-1150	PO BOX 107061, P.R. 00960-7061
RAMON MORALES PEÑA	K-6	(787) 798-3773	URB RIVERVIEW, P.R. 00959-0000
REXVILLE ELEMENTAL	PK-6	(787) 797-5004	URB REXVILLE, P.R. 00957-0000
TOMAS CARRION MADURO	PK-6	(787) 785-3292	PO BOX 475, P.R. 00960-0000
VAN SCOY	K-6	(787) 797-7335	PARCELAS VAN SCOY, P.R. 00957-0000
VIRGILIO DAVILA	K-6	787) 785-2378	CARR 2 SUITE 15, P.R. 00959-5259
NIVEL INTERMEDIO
INTERMEDIA CACIQUE AGÜEYBANA	7-9	(787) 780-9906	PO BOX 607061, P.R. 00960-7061
JUAN RAMON JIMENEZ	7-9	(787) 798-5428	DISTRITO ESCOLAR I, P.R. 00961-0000
MARIA VAZQUEZ DE UMPIERRE	7-9	(787) 797-5360	CARR 167 KM 15 HM 3, BO BUENA VISTA,P.R. 00957-0000
PABLO CASALS	7-9	(787) 797-1215	PO BOX 607071 SUITE 12, P.R. 00960-7071
REXVILLE INTERMEDIA	7-9	(787) 797-3340	PO BOX 333, P.R. 00960-0333
WILLIAM RIVERA PONCE	7-9	(787) 780-3119	PO BOX 265, P.R. 00960-0000
NIVEL PS - OTROS
ACADEMIA DE ADULTOS	1-12	(787) 785-3584	BOX 6695, P.R. 00960-6695
NIVEL SECUNDARIO
PAPA JUAN XXIII	7-12	(787) 785-3449	URB VILLA RICA, P.R. 00956-0000
NIVEL SEGUNDA UNIDAD
SU CACIQUE MAJAGUA	K-9	(787) 797-5480	PO BOX 1995, P.R. 00956-9611
NIVEL SUPERIOR
FRANCISCO GAZTAMBIDE VEGA	10-12	(787) 799-0563	RR 5 BOX 7943, P.R. 00956-9718
PEDRO P CASABLANCA	10-12	(787) 782-1562	JARDINES DE CAPARRA, P.R. 00959-0000
REXVILLE SUPERIOR	10-12	(787) 797-1850	URB REXVILLE CALLE 41 FINAL, P.R. 00957-0000
SUPERIOR CACIQUE AGUEYBANA	10-12	(787) 780-9709	PO BOX 607061 BMS 598, P.R. 00960-7061

Nombre	Grado	Teléfono	Dirección
NIVEL ELEMENTAL
ÁNGEL MISLAN HUERTAS	K-6	(787) 787-3726	Calle39, P.R. 00956-0000
BERNARDO HUYKE	K-6	(787) 786-5275	PO Box 2831, P.R. 00960-2831
CARLOS ORAMA PADILLA	K-3	(787) 785-5630	PO Box 1468, P.R. 00960-0000
CARMEN GÓMEZ TEJERA	PK-6	(787) 785-1364	PO Box 9466, P.R. 00960-0000
CRISTÓBAL COLON	K-6	(787) 785-1190	C39 SANTA JUANITA MAIL STATION SANTA JUANITA, P.R. 00956
DIEGO TORRES VARGAS	K-6	(787) 786-3075	Urb. MAGNOLIA GARDENS V1 Calle 20, P.R. 00956-0000
FRANCISCO OLLER	PK- 4-6	(787) 785-6393	Urb. MAGNOLIA GARDENS VI Calle 20, P.R. 00956-0000
GUARAGUAO CARRETERA	1-6	(787) 787-9774	PO Box 4314, P.R. 00958-1314
INÉS MARIA MENDOZA	K-6	(787) 780-8232	PO Box 916, P.R. 00960-0000
JOSÉ ANDINO Y AMEZQUITA	K-6	(787) 798-1265	PO Box 8417, P.R. 00960--0000
JOSÉ CAMPECHE	K-6, EE	(787) 786-1580	Urb. SANTA JUANITA CALLE ROBLE SECC 11, P.R. 00956-0000
JOSEFINA BARCELÓ	K-6	(787) 798-0405	RIGEL SECC 12 IRLANDA HEIGHTS, P.R. 00956-0000
JOSEFITA MONSERRATE DE SELLES	K-6	(787) 785-2238	PO Box 138, P.R. 00956-0138
JULIO RESSY	K-6	(787) 799-4950	BOX 8418 Suite 67, P.R. 00956
RAFAEL COLON SALGADO	K-6	(787) 799-0333	PO Box 1244, P.R. 00960-0000
RAÚL JULIA (FLAMBOYAN GARDENS)	K-6	(787) 785-9140	PO Box 8150, P.R. 00959-0000
MARÍA E BAS DE VÁZQUEZ	K-6	(787) 786-5586	PO Box 1221, P.R. 00960-1221
NIVEL INTERMEDIO
DR. JOSÉ PATÍN	EE	(787) 785-0010	Urb. LOMAS VERDES CALLE JACINTO Esq. DRAGON, P.R. 00956-0000
JESÚS SÁNCHEZ ERAZO	7-9	(787) 787-4831	Urb. SANTA JUANITA CALLE MARTIZ SECC 9, P.R. 00956-0000
JOSÉ ANTONIO DÁVILA	7-9	(787) 785-2292	PO Box 132, P.R. 00960-0000
MARIA E RODRÍGUEZ	7-9	(787) 798-4970	PO Box 6850, P.R. 00960-0000
MARIANO FELIU BALSEIRO	7-9	(787) 785-9185	Urb. LOMAS VERDES Carr. 831, P.R. 00956-0000
PADRE RUFO M FERNÁNDEZ	7-8	(787) 786-3794	PO Box 104, P.R. 00956-0000
NIVEL PS - OTROS
TROQUELERIA Y HERRAMENTAJE	13-14	(787) 786-1834	Urb. INDUSTRIAL MINILLAS, P.R. 00959-0000
NIVEL SECUNDARIO
LUIS PALES MATOS	7-12	(787) 786-4275	Urb. SANTA ROSA 100 Calle11, P.R. 00959-0000
MIGUEL MELÉNDEZ MUÑOZ	9-12	(787) 799-7300	PO Box 3169, P.R. 00960-3169
NIVEL SEGUNDA UNIDAD
ANDRÉS C GONZÁLEZ	K-9	(787) 797-6580	RR 8 BOX 1995 MSC 223, P.R. 00956-0000
JOSE M TORRES	K-9	(787) 730-0090	PO Box 1995 MSC 156, P.R. 00956-1995
NUEVA ESCUELA SU DE	K-9	(787) 730-5613	RR 5 BOX 5829 Suite 6, P.R. 00956-5829
NIVEL SUPERIOR
AGUSTÍN STAHL	10-12	(787) 785-1279	Calle PARQUE Esq. BETANCES BOX 425, P.R. 00956-0000
MIGUEL DE CERVANTES SAAVEDRA	10-12	(787) 785-4065	PO Box 2728, P.R. 00960-2728
TOMAS CONGAY	10-12	(787) 785-3414	APARTADO 254, P.R. 00956-0000

Himno:

Por: Ramón Luis Rivera