Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Pork Ring City

Bayamón (bah-yah-MON) is known as the “pork rind city”. The patron saint’s festival is dedicated to the Holy Cross, and it is held late in April and the beginning of May. The city’s economy is based on commerce and manufacturing.

The municipality is located in the north central area of Puerto Rico and is bordered on the north by Toa Baja and Cataño, on the south by Aguas Buenas and Comerío, to the east by Guaynabo and to the west by Naranjito, Toa Alta, and Toa Baja.

There are five rivers in the municipal territory: Bayamón, Minillas, La Plata, Cuesta Arriba, and Hondo.

Bayamón has won awards for its advanced environmental and community projects and policies. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the municipality as a community with significant environmental achievements in Puerto Rico, which include an ecologically responsible golf course, established on a former landfill site. It is the only golf course in Puerto Rico that serves low-income communities as a priority.

Foundation:

Bayamón belonged to San Juan before being founded. A legend exists that its name is derived from a Indian chief called Bayamón, who dominated the region. Bayamón was founded in the year 1772, by don Mario A. Rodríguez León. Before Bayamón had streets, communication with San Juan was by river. One boarded a boat at the wharf, traveled through Palo Seco Bay to San Juan. Then one returned from San Juan through the channel of San Fernando, Cataño, and disembarked at the end of the Santa Ana Hacienda’s property. The first plans for the establishment of the town were drawn in 1791 by the military engineer, commander Don Ignacio Mascró y Homar. Bayamón rises into history as an organized town at the precise moment that Puerto Rico begins to have it’s own modern history.

The first plans for the town were drawn in 1791 by the military engineer, commander Don Ignacio Mascró y Homar. In 1831, Bayamón was divided into the following districts: Hato Tejas, Pajaros, Palo Seco, Buena Vista, Pastel, Cerro Gordo, Juan Ascencio, Guaraguao, Santa Oyala and Minillas.

During 1878, extensive changes took place with its municipal organization: the Ascencio district became part of Aguas Buenas and the district of Palo Seco became part of Toa Baja.

During the same year, Bayamón was made up of the following districts: Palmas; Cataño; Juan Sánchez; Hato Tejas; Pájaro; Santa Oyala; Buena Vista; Barrio Nuevo; Dajaos; Guaraguao Arriba; Guaraguao Abajo; Minillas; Cerro Gordo; Guaynabo; Pueblo Viejo; Santa Rosa; Camarones; Sonadora and Guaraguao.

By 1912, the Guaraguao barrios, (Guaynabo), Pueblo Viejo, Santa Rosa y Sonadora, were taken away and annexed to form part of the Municipality of Guaynabo.

Location:

The municipality of Bayamón is located in hills of the northern central part of the island. It is bordered by: borders with Toa Baja and Cataño on the north, Comerio and Aguas Buenas on the south, Toa Baja, Toa Alta, and Naranjito on the west, and Guaynabo on the east.

Area:

113.1 sq km / 43.5 sq mi

Population:

224,044 (census 2000)

Population Density:

1,980.9 per sq km / 5,610.2 per sq mi

People are known as:

Bayamoneses

Bayamón is also known as:

El Pueblo del Chicharrón (Pork Ring City)

Wards: Bayamon, Puerto RIco

Información: Negociado del Censo de los EE.UU. Censo 2000

Topography:

Because of its location in the Northern Coastal Valley, its territory is mainly flat. Nevertheless, the following hills can be mentioned: the 1,811 foot La Peña, and the 866 foot Vergaras hill.

Hydrography:

The Bayamón river, which is one of the six longest of Puerto Rico, Hondo, Minillas, Bucarabones and Cuesta Arriba rivers.

Economy:

Commerce & manufacture

Average Salary:

$291.37 weekly (1998)

Flag:

On March 29, 1977, the Municipal Assembly of Bayamón officially approved the flag and corrected the errors which existed in the city code following Resolution No. 59 dated April 8, 1971.

The current flag of Bayamón, with a white field, official color of Bayamón, was embroidered by Mrs. Gloria M. León and maintains the design and colors of its Coat of Arms.

Coat Of Arms:

This shield is symbol and synthesis of the history and the values that distinguish the city of Bayamón. The main colors of the shield are blue and silver representing the waters of the Bayamón river and recalls that it was on these banks where the first hydraulic sugar cane refinery of Puerto Rico was established in 1549. The center contains the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz), patron of the first church of the municipality and the name of the old sugar cane refinery “Santa Cruz”, which was the historical origin of the town of Bayamón. The sugar cane flowers (guajanas) allude directly to the sugar cane industry that is of social and economic importance to the origin and development of Bayamón.

The five-tower crown, which is used for cities, was assigned to Bayamón as an exception for its extraordinary urban development, the magnitude of its population and for its religious dignity, which will possibly be raised to become Episcopal seat. The motto “IN HOC SIGNO VINCES” makes reference to Emperor Constantine when in the IV century had the vision in which the victory was promised to him if it accepted the Cross of Christianity as his banner.

Events:

• Marathon of the Holy Cross – May
• Tree Lighting Ceremony – November
• Caminata por la diabetes- November
• José Celso Barbosa Birthday Conmemoration – July

Places of Interest:

• Dr. Pilar Barbosa Library– inaugurated in 2000, this is the Bayamón municipal library, honoring the memory of the first official historian of Puerto Rico. The building has several rooms for educational, cultural, and recreational activities.
• Carmen Delia Dipiní Theater and Coffeehouse – inaugurated in 1997, honoring the memory of this immortal singer. The space is used by the community for theatrical and musical productions.
• Angel Rivera Rodríguez City Hall– inaugurated in 1980. It was the first so-called aerial building in the Caribbean, spanning a main highway, Route Number 2.
• Tennis Center –the public has had use of these facilities since 2002.
• Children’s City
• Onofre Carballeira Sports Center – comprises the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum, the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, the Miguel J. Frau Public Gymnasium, Alberto Santiago Central Park, and sculptures on the Guadarrama Walk and the Emergency Management Unit.
• Fine Arts School – created in 2001 to complement academic training and cultivation of the Arts.
• Hacienda Santa Ana – founded at the end of the 18th century by ship captain Fernando Fernández. It was dedicated to sugar cane production.
• Church of the Holy Cross
• Monument to José Celso Barbosa
• Monument to Traditional Folksingers
• Bayamón Museum and Historic Archives- Dioramas and photographs that show the history of Bayamón from the 16th century to the present. The archives contain historical documentation for the municipality.
• Francisco Oller Art Museum- exhibitions of works by Francisco Oller, Tomás Batista, Juan Santos, and Angel Luis Rivera Feliciano. The museum has two areas devoted to carved wood saints by different artists and two temporary exhibition halls.
• Doll Museum – holds the 952 pieces collected by Catalina Hernández, to whom the museum is dedicated. It was opened in December 2000.
• Alberto Santiago Central Park– a large, centrally located area for outdoor recreation. It is located in the Onofre Carballeira Complex facing City Hall.
• Children`s Central Park – inaugurated in 2007, this park is dedicated to children and recreation.
• Luis A. Ferré Science Park – facilities include a planetarium, and aerospace museum, the Electric Power Authority museum, the art reproductions museum, the archeological museum, the transportation museum, the natural sciences museum, the telephone museum, the marine ecosystems museum, the health pavilion, and the zoo.
• Botanical Garden – inaugurated in 1990 and located on PR Route 167, Sabana sector of Buena Vista Ward.
• Robert Junghanns Park – located on land left by the agronomist Robert Junghanns on PR Route 167. There are facilities where activities can be held.
• Performers’ Walk – located between the City Hall and the Church of the Holy Cross.
• José Celso Barbosa Walk
• Río Hondo or Río Bayamón Lineal Park – located on the banks of the Bayamón River, it runs for 9 kilometers, about 5.5 miles.
• Town Square – located in the town center of Bayamón.
• Río Bayamón Golf Course and Driving Range – modern golfing facilities along the Bayamón River at the intersection of PR Route 177 and PR Route 891.
• Braulio Castillo Theater – inaugurated in 1984; it honors the famous actor from Bayamon. The theater seats 376 and has hosted many theatrical events and shows.
• Francisco Oller Theater- the building dates from 1938 and seats 662. One of its halls is dedicated to the music of Felipe “La Voz” Rodríguez.
• José Celso Barbosa House-Museum

Ilustres:

• José Celso Barbosa Alcalá – Physician, journalist, political figure (member of the Puerto Rico Senate 1917 – 1921) and poet.
• Lucecita Benítez – Singer. She has been called the “voice of the nation” thanks to her talent and charisma as a singer.
• Braulio Castillo Cintrón – Adopted son of Bayamón. He was a renowned dramatic and musical actor.
• José Antonio Dávila – 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 – 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) – musician. He devoted body and soul to the dissemination of Puerto Rican music.
• Braulio Dueño Colón – 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 – 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 – 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 – Representative (1949 – 1964) and President of that body (1963 – 1964); Resident Commissioner in Washington, D.C. (1965 – 1968).
• Jesús Sánchez Erazo “Chuíto, el de Bayamón” – Folksinger of Puerto Rican music.

Himno:

Por: Ramón Luis Rivera