Cayey, Puerto Rico

Cayey (ka-YAI) is a mountain town in central Puerto Rico located on the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Salinas; and west of San Lorenzo Cayey is spread over 21 wards and Cayey Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

Cayey is notable for its colorful wooden houses and surrounding mountains. The town grew in the 1990s, evidenced by a Wal-Mart store, and the building of a new coliseum and hospital facilities. Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble have manufacturing facilities in Cayey. The famous musical ensemble named "La Tuna de Cayey" was established here in 1964.

Near Cayey, there is the highest structure of Puerto Rico, the Pegasus Broadcasting Tower Cayey.

[edit] History

Cayey was founded on August 17, 1773 by Juan Mata Vázquez, who became its first mayor. It is said that Cayey derives its name from the Taino Indian word for "a place of waters". Its original name was "Cayey de Muesas".

During 1880, a fire that later acquired legendary status happened in Cayey's Mirador Echevarria area. The fire broke out on the property of a timber company near Charca Del Pato. Many people and dogs died, and legend has it that the dogs' barking can still be heard, and sometimes, at night, the screams of the men who burned to death can still be heard too.

[edit] Flag

The flag derives its design and colors from the Coat of Arms, which is in the center of the flag encirled by a solid black ring. The centered Coat of Arms and has four triangles pointing to it, two white and two red.

[edit] Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms has a three tip mountain, a red bull, and a waving blue stripe representing the abundant water in the zone and also in reverence to the primitive Matron of the town of Cayey. The shield is topped with the silver lamb symbol of San Juan of Puerto Rico, and a red book.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)

Beatriz
Cayey Pueblo
Cedro
Cercadillo
Culebras Altas
Culebras Bajas
Farallón
Guavate

Jájome Alto
Jájome Bajo
Lapa
Matón Abajo
Matón Arriba
Monte Llano
Pasto Viejo
Pedro Avila

Piedras
Polvorin
Quebrada Arriba
Rincón
Sumido
Toita
Vegas

[edit] Geo/Topography

The Carite Forest Reserve
Rivers are: Grande de Loíza, Guavate, Jajome, La Plata and Maton.

[edit] Anthem

Alma Boricua By Clodomiro Rodríguez

Dejé en los campos de la patria mía
un paraíso, un verdadero edén.
Encuentro al mundo un campo frío y desierto
al compararlo con mi borinquén.

¡Viva mi patria, mi bello país!
¡Viva por siempre glorioso y feliz!

Yo veo riquezas en esta tierra extraña.
Yo veo bellezas muy dignas de admirar;
pero hace falta no-sé-qué de encanto
que solo tiene mi terruño ideal.

Dejé al salir de aquellas playas níveas
mi hogar querido, el nido de mi amor.
Dejé dos ojos que me lloran siempre,
dos ojos claros, limpios como el sol.

Yo soy boricua. Mi amor es Puerto Rico.
Para mi islita no encuentro parangón.
Nací en los montes del centro de mi tierra.
¡Yo soy boricua de sangre y corazón!

[edit] Economic

[edit] Agriculture

Sugar, tobacco

[edit] Business

Poultry

[edit] Industrial

Cigars and clothing.

[edit] Tourism

Cayey's famous tourist attractions, apart from the mountains, include The Statue Of The Jibarito and Las Tetas De Cayey, also known as "Las Tetas De Doña Fela", which are two mountain tops nicknamed for their similarity to female breasts. The Statue of the Jibarito is an homage to the Jibaro people, the first settlers in the area.

[edit] Landmarks and places of interest

Comsat Station
Guavate
Ramón Frade Museum
Sismograph

[edit] Festivals and events

Regional Fair - April
Torito Olympics - April
Matron Festivities Nuestra Señora de Asunción - August

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Education

Cayey is home of the Cayey University College (1967), a branch of the University of Puerto Rico.

[edit] Sports

Cayey also has a Puerto Rican National Superior Basketball League team, los Toritos De Cayey.

[edit] Notable "Cayeyanos"

Agustín Fernández Colón
Modesto Cartagena
Baltazar Mendoza Martínez
Dalymar Rivera - child prodigy
Don Miguel de Muesas
Dr. Luis Santos, only Pediatric Gastroenterologist in El Paso, TX and in the region between San Antonio, TX and Tucson, AZ
Don Juan Mata Vázquez
Emérita León Candelas
Eugenio Fernández Méndez
Félix Lucas Benet
Luis Guzmán - Actor
José Ortiz - basketball player and a former member of the NBA's Utah Jazz;
Julio César López
Miguel Meléndez Muñoz
Pedro Montanez- boxer
Wisin & Yandel reggaeton duo
Alexis y Fido reggaeton duo

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] Books about Cayey

[edit] Additional Information

[edit] Photo gallery

Notables cayeyanos: Juan Angel Nogueras - Founder Tuna de Cayey Baseball Players: Ramon Vazquez-MLB BASEBALL Alexis y Fido-Regueton Singer

[edit] External links

La Tuna de Cayey (Official Web site)
Map of Cayey Puerto Rico

	Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Topics	Culture \| Geography \| Government \| History \| Economy
Capital	San Juan
Cities	Adjuntas \| Aguada \| Aguadilla \| Aguas Buenas \| Aibonito \| Añasco \| Arecibo \| Arroyo \| Barceloneta \| Barranquitas \| Bayamón \| Cabo Rojo \| Caguas \| Camuy \| Canóvanas \| Carolina \| Cataño \| Cayey \| Ceiba \| Ciales \| Cidra \| Coamo \| Comerío \| Corozal \| Culebra \| Dorado \| Fajardo \| Florida \| Guánica \| Guayama \| Guayanilla \| Guaynabo \| Gurabo \| Hatillo \| Hormigueros \| Humacao \| Isabela \| Jayuya \| Juana Díaz \| Juncos \| Lajas \| Lares \| Las Marías \| Las Piedras \| Loíza \| Luquillo \| Manatí \| Maricao \| Maunabo \| Mayagüez \| Moca \| Morovis \| Nagüabo \| Naranjito \| Orocovis \| Patillas \| Peñuelas \| Ponce \| Quebradillas \| Rincón \| Río Grande \| Sabana Grande \| Salinas \| San Germán \| San Juan \| San Lorenzo \| San Sebastián \| Santa Isabel \| Toa Alta \| Toa Baja \| Trujillo Alto \| Utuado \| Vega Alta \| Vega Baja \| Vieques \| Villalba \| Yabucoa \| Yauco
Islands	Culebra \| Mona \| Puerto Rico \| Vieques

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Category: Municipalities of Puerto Rico