Cayey, Puerto Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Nickname: "Ciudad de las Brumas", "Ciudad del Torito", "Ciudad del Coquí Dorado" | ||||
| Gentilic: "Cayeyanos" | ||||
| Location | ||||
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| Government | ||||
| Founded | August 17, 1773 | |||
| Mayor | Hon. Rolando Ortíz Velázquez | |||
| Political party | PPD | |||
| Senatorial district | 6 - Guayama | |||
| Representative district | 29 | |||
| Geographical characteristics | ||||
| Area | ||||
| Total | 130.01 km² | |||
| Land | 130 km² | |||
| Water | .01 km² | |||
| Population | ||||
| Total (2000) | 47,370 | |||
| Density | 342.6/km² | |||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | |||
| Anthem – "Alma Boricua" | ||||
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 surrounding mountains. The city has been actively growing since the 1990s, evidenced by its designation as a Metropolitan Area by the U.S. Census Bureau. It has experimented a significant growth in commerce, and many major retailers, such as Wal-Mart have opened stores in this city. A new coliseum and hospital facilities have also bieng built. Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble have manufacturing facilities in Cayey. Cayey is host to one of the main campuses of the University of Puerto Rico. The University of Puerto Rico at Cayey is the only liberal arts college in Puerto Rico.
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[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)
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[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 Monumento al Jíbaro Puertorriqueño 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] Notable "Cayeyanos"
- Agustín Fernández Colón
- Ramón "Moncho" Frade - Painter
- 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 - Founder of Cayey (1773)
- Edgardo Rivera Vega - Community leader
- Emérita León Candelas
- Eugenio Fernández Méndez
- Félix Lucas Benet
- Héctor Alvarado Rivera - Dignatary
- Luis Guzmán - Actor
- José "Piculín" Ortiz - basketball player and a former member of the NBA's Utah Jazz;
- Julio César López
- Juan Tapia Ramos
- Miguel Meléndez Muñoz
- Pedro Montañez- boxer
- Wisin & Yandel - reggaeton duo
- Alexis y Fido - reggaeton duo
- Zuleyka Rivera - Miss Universe 2006
[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
- Photos of Cayey at Tom Neuschafer Online
