Caguas, Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Caguas
City and municipality
Municipio Autónomo de Caguas
Caguas City Hall Old City Hall Caguas Cathedral Santiago Palmer Public Square Caguas from Altos de San Luis
Flag Coat of arms
Nicknames:  "El Valle del Turabo" (Turabo Valley), "La Ciudad Criolla" (Creole City), "La Cuna de los Trovadores" (Cradle of Trovadores)
Anthem: "Centro y Corazón de Puerto Rico"
Map of Puerto Rico highlighting Caguas Municipality
Sovereign state	United States
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Indigenous settlement	100 BCE – 600 CE
European settlement	mid-16th century
Founded	January 1, 1775
Founded by	Don Juan Mateo Delgado de Fonseca
Named for	Caguax
Barrios	11 barrios Caguas barrio-pueblo Bairoa Beatriz Borinquen Cañabon Cañaboncito Río Cañas San Antonio San Salvador Tomás de Castro Turabo
Area
• City and municipality	59.07 sq mi (153.00 km2)
• Land	58.68 sq mi (151.97 km2)
• Water	0.39 sq mi (1.03 km2)  0.006%
• Urban	11 sq mi (28.49 km2)
• Rural	48.07 sq mi (124.51 km2)
Dimensions
• Length	13.68 mi (22.02 km)
• Width	7.89 mi (12.7 km)
Elevation	210.96 ft (64.3 m)
Highest elevation	2,903.54 ft (885 m)
Lowest elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (2020)
• City and municipality	127,244
• Rank	5th in Puerto Rico
• Density	2,154.12/sq mi (831.660/km2)
Demonym(s)	Cagüeño (masculine) Cagüeña (feminine)
Ethnicity (2000 Census)
• White	78.2%
• Black	7.42%
• American Indian/AN	0.1%
• Asian	0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/PI	14%
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
ZIP Codes	00725, 00726, 00727
Area code(s)	787/939
Major routes
Website	caguas.gov.pr

Caguas is a vibrant city and municipality located in the central-eastern part of Puerto Rico. It sits in the beautiful Caguas Valley, surrounded by mountains like the Sierra de Cayey and Sierra de Luquillo. Caguas is bordered by several other towns, making it a central hub.

With a population of over 127,000 people (as of 2020), Caguas is the fifth most populated municipality in Puerto Rico. It's also a major city within the larger San Juan metropolitan area. Since 2009, Caguas has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, showing its commitment to nature.

Discover Caguas: Names and Nicknames

Caguas was first known as San Sebastián del Piñal de Caguax. It gets its name from Caguax, a local Taíno chief. He was a leader in the Turabo region when the Spanish arrived in 1493. The name Caguax might even be linked to the Taíno word for snail or slug, which is 'cagua'.

What are Caguas's Nicknames?

Caguas has many cool nicknames! It's called "Valley of the Turabo" (Valle del Turabo). This name refers to the old area led by Chief Caguax. The Turabo River is also named after this important place.

Other nicknames include "the Criollo city" (La Ciudad Criolla). Criollo refers to people of Spanish descent born in the Americas. It's also known as "the Cradle of Trovadores" (La Cuna de los Trovadores). Trovadores are traditional singers who create songs on the spot. Because of its central location, Caguas is often called the "center and heart of Puerto Rico." One of its official songs even shares this name!

A Journey Through Caguas's History

The Caguas Valley was first settled by the ancient Saladoid culture. These people came from South America around 100 BCE to 600 CE. Later, other groups lived here and started farming. They grew cassava and hunted animals like hutias.

Spanish Arrival and Growth

When the Spanish arrived, the Taíno people were the main group living in the valley. Spanish explorers developed farming and looked for gold, silver, and copper. Many Taínos were forced to leave or became slaves. The valley was cleared for cattle farms.

Caguas was officially founded on January 1, 1775. Its original name was San Sebastián del Piñal de Caguax. The city's downtown area and main square date back to 1779. In 1820, Caguas became a "Villa," which is like a town. It gained city rights in 1894.

Sugarcane was a very important crop during this time. Large sugarcane farms and factories operated here. The Carretera Central was built in the late 1800s. This was the first paved road to cross Puerto Rico. It connected San Juan to Ponce, making Caguas easier to reach. This helped the town grow a lot.

Postcard from 1912 showing a typical street in Caguas at the beginning of the 20th century.

Modern Caguas

After the Spanish–American War in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States. A census in 1899 showed Caguas had a population of 19,857.

Caguas grew a lot in the 1970s. It became a popular place for people who worked in San Juan to live. The area also became a big center for making medicines. Many pharmaceutical companies came to Puerto Rico.

Caguas is part of the San Juan metropolitan area. This means many people who live in Caguas travel to San Juan for work. The average travel time for residents is about 30 minutes. Caguas is the fourth largest city in the San Juan area. It is also the largest city in Puerto Rico that is not on the coast.

On August 7, 2002, an airplane accident happened in Caguas. In 2017, Hurricane Maria caused a lot of damage. The strong winds and rain led to many landslides and floods. Homes and buildings were destroyed, and the city faced about $90 million in damages.

Exploring Caguas's Geography

Caguas from the Sierra de Cayey.

Caguas is about 30 minutes from the coastlines to the east and north. It is surrounded by other towns. These include Aguas Buenas, Cidra, Cayey, San Juan, Gurabo, and Trujillo Alto. Caguas also shares a border with Guayama and Patillas at the top of Cerro La Santa. This is the highest point of the Sierra de Cayey mountains.

The Beautiful Caguas Valley

The city is located in one of Puerto Rico's largest valleys, called the Valle de Caguas or Caguas Valley. It's also known as Valle del Turabo. Because it's in a valley, Caguas is mostly flat. Mountains surround the valley on all sides.

The valley is fed by the Grande de Loíza River, a major river in Puerto Rico. Many smaller rivers flow into it, like the Cagüitas. The city of Caguas was built along the Cagüitas River. The Turabo River also flows into the valley, giving Caguas its nickname. The Gurabo River is another important river here.

Like other parts of Puerto Rico, Caguas can experience earthquakes. The area is near a fault line. There have been moderate earthquakes in the region in the past, like in 1990 and 2010.

Rivers and Waterways

• The Río Grande de Loíza separates Caguas from Gurabo.
• Other important rivers include the Río Turabo, Río Cagüitas, Río Cañaboncito, Río Bairoa, and Río Cañas.

Caguas's Climate

Restoring the electrical grid in Caguas, post Hurricane Maria.

Caguas has a tropical monsoon climate. This means the temperature stays warm all year, usually above 64.4°F (18°C). It has clear wet and dry seasons. Rain is common for most of the year, but less so than in coastal areas. The land is very fertile and good for farming.

Barrios and Communities

Subdivisions of Caguas.

Caguas is divided into smaller areas called barrios. These are like neighborhoods or districts. There are 11 barrios in Caguas:

These barrios are further divided into even smaller areas called sectores. These can be different types of communities, like urbanización (urbanization) or barriada (neighborhood).

Some communities in Caguas are part of the "Special Communities of Puerto Rico" program. These are areas that get extra help to improve living conditions.

Fun Things to Do in Caguas

Caguas offers many interesting places to visit and fun activities.

Landmarks and Places of Interest

Plaza Palmer, Caguas's main town square, during Christmas.

Several places in Caguas are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites in the United States. Some of these include:

• Caguas City Hall (the city hall building)
• Primera Iglesia Bautista de Caguas (First Baptist Church)
• Gautier Benítez High School
• Puente No. 6 or Puente La Concepción (a historic bridge)
• Carretera Central (the old main road)

Other cool places to check out are:

• Caguas Museum of Art
• Caguas Museum of Folk Arts
• Caguas Museum of History
• Caguas Tobacco Museum
• Dulce Nombre de Jesús Cathedral (Caguas Cathedral)
• The old city hall and other historic buildings around Plaza Palmer, the main town square.
• Hacienda Catalina Ruins, near Las Catalinas Mall.
• La Casa del Ajedrez (The House of Chess).

Parks and Natural Areas

Lotus flower in the Jardín Botánico y Cultural William Miranda Marín

Caguas has many beautiful parks and natural areas. These are protected by different government groups.

• Aguas Buenas Cave and Caverns System Nature Reserve: A large cave system partly in Caguas.
• Bairoa River Natural Protected Area: A protected forest along the Bairoa River.
• Caguas Real Nature Reserve: 60 acres of protected forest along the Turabo River.
• Carite State Forest and Reserve: One of Puerto Rico's state forests, partly in Caguas.
• Jardín Botánico y Cultural William Miranda Marín: A botanical garden with historical ruins and Taíno archaeological sites.

Voy Turistiendo Campaign

To encourage people to explore Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company started the Voy Turistiendo (I'm Touring) campaign. It gives out a passport book with pages for each municipality. The Caguas page suggests visiting the Jardín Botánico William Miranda Marin, the Catedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús, the Plaza de Recreo Santiago R. Palmer, and the Museo de Artes Populares.

Caguas's Culture and Fun Events

Caguas is a city rich in culture, with many festivals and events throughout the year.

Festivals and Events

Caguas celebrates its patron saint festival in July. This is called the Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Sra. del Carmen. It's a religious and cultural celebration with parades, games, local crafts, rides, food, and live music.

Other fun festivals and events include:

• Rosario Cantado a los Reyes – January 4
• Three Kings Festival – January 5
• Criolla Beatriz – February
• Criolla Borinquen Fair – March
• Criolla Cañabón Fair – April
• Felipe "La Voz" Rodríguez' Birthday – May 8
• Al Fresco – Every last Friday of each month
• Cross Festival – May 23–31
• Typical Criole Festival – June 1–2

Sports in Caguas

Caguas is famous for its sports teams!

The Criollos de Caguas baseball team is one of the best in Latin America. They have won 18 national Puerto Rico titles and 5 Caribbean World Series titles. Many famous baseball players have played for the Criollos.

The Criollos de Caguas basketball team was founded in 1968. In 2006, they won their first national basketball championship!

Caguas is also home to the Bairoa Gym. This is a very important boxing gym in Puerto Rico. Many local and famous boxers have trained here, like Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto.

The Criollas de Caguas women's volleyball team is also very successful. They have won 9 national Puerto Rico titles.

The Criollos de Caguas FC soccer team is one of the most successful soccer clubs on the island. They won the National League Title in 2015.

Caguas's Economy and Shopping

Caguas is an important economic center in Puerto Rico.

Business and Shopping

Many businesses and important buildings have opened in Caguas since the 1970s. These include the tall Caguas Tower apartment building and the 10-floor Menonita Hospital.

Caguas also has several shopping centers where you can find many stores:

• Plaza del Carmen Mall
• Plaza Centro Mall
• Las Catalinas Mall
• Los Prados Mall
• Bairoa Shopping Center
• Villa Blanca Mall
• Angora Shopping Center
• Plaza Degetau
• Plaza Caguitas
• Del Rio Shopping Center
• Metro Plaza (Caguas, Puerto Rico)

Caguas's Population

In 1899, the first census by the United States found that Caguas had 19,857 people.

In 2020, Caguas had a population of 127,244. This was a decrease from 142,893 people in 2010. The population density in 2020 was about 2,200 people per square mile. Most of the people in Caguas are of Hispanic or Latino background, making up 98.4% of the population. There are also communities of people from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Colombia.

Symbols of Caguas

The municipality of Caguas has its own official flag and coat of arms.

Flag and Coat of Arms

The colors blue and gold are important for Caguas. They are used on the city's shield. The symbols on the shield show both the city's indigenous (native) and Christian roots.

The coat of arms has a blue background. On it are two sets of three golden arrows that form a cross. Above the cross is a crown, which stands for Caguax, the Taíno chief. The arrows remind us of the first Christian church in the area, which was dedicated to St. Sebastian. There are also pineapples, showing the native agriculture. A wall with towers on top of the shield means that the city was officially recognized as a municipality by the Spanish Crown.

The flag of Caguas has a blue background. The shield is placed on top of it, and the cross of arrows design is repeated.

Getting Around Caguas

Defunct double gauge rail line of the former railway in Caguas.

Caguas Municipal Trolley in the Town Square

Public transportation in Caguas is mostly done by small "guaguas públicas" (mini-buses). You can find inexpensive service to and from San Juan and Rio Piedras. Some buses and taxis also serve the town. Most people (over 91%) use their own cars or carpool to get around.

There were plans for a light rail system to connect Caguas to San Juan, but it didn't happen due to a lack of money.

Major Roads

Caguas has several important roads:

• Puerto Rico Highway 30 connects Caguas to the eastern part of the island.
• Puerto Rico Highway 52 is a toll road that connects Caguas to the north (San Juan) and south (Cayey, Ponce).
• Puerto Rico Highway 1 is another route to San Juan and Guaynabo.

There are 86 bridges in Caguas. The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is about 35 minutes away by car.

Learning in Caguas

Caguas has many schools for all ages.

High Schools

• Colegio Católico Notre Dame
• Elohim Christian Academy
• New Generation Christian Academy
• Caguas Military Academy
• Colegio Bautista
• Colegio Católico San Juan Apóstol
• Academia Cristo de los Milagros
• Dr. Juan José Osuna High School
• José Gautier Benítez High School
• Escuela Libre de Música - Antonio S. Paoli
• Manuela Toro Morice High School
• Republic of Costa Rica Vocacional High School of Caguas
• Eloisa Pascual "Bairoa III" High School
• Rio Cañas High School
• Santa Rosa Superior School
• Thomas Alva Edison School
• Colegio San José Superior
• Escuela Secundaria Especializada en Ciencias, Matemáticas y Tecnología (CIMATEC)
• Caguas Private School (CPS)
• Academia Adventista Caguas
• BYPA
• Nuestra Escuela
• Caguas Learning Academy (CLA)
• Gerardo Sellés Solá High School

Colleges and Universities

Caguas also has several colleges and universities for higher education:

• San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
• Huertas Junior College
• Instituto EDIC
• Columbia College
• Turabo University at Gurabo (in Gurabo, nearby)
• Automeca Technical College
• Mech-Tech College
• NUC University
• Universidad Interamericana - Recinto de Caguas
• PPG Technical College
• Ivaem College
• EDP University
• FIT College
• Cambridge Technical Institute
• Liceo de Arte, Diseño y Comercio
• Servicio de Extensión Agrícola Caguas

Caguas Around the World

Caguas has special connections with other cities.

Twin Towns and Sister Cities

Caguas is also twinned with Hartford, Connecticut and Southbridge, Massachusetts in the United States.

Famous People from Caguas

Many notable people have come from Caguas! Here are a few:

• Margot Arce de Vázquez: A writer and co-founder of the Puerto Rican Academy of the Spanish Language.
• Herman Badillo: A lawyer and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Alex Cora: A baseball player and manager for the Boston Red Sox.
• Miguel Cotto: A professional boxer and the first Puerto Rican to win four world titles.
• Francisco Lindor: A Major League Baseball player for the New York Mets.
• Wilnelia Merced: A former model and actress who was crowned Miss World 1975.
• Johnny Lozada: An actor, singer, and TV host, famous for being part of the group Menudo.
• Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago: The first Puerto Rican layperson to be beatified (recognized as blessed by the Catholic Church).
• Felipe Rodríguez: A popular singer known as La Voz (The Voice).
• Jessica Wild: A drag queen and makeup artist who appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race.

Images for kids

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  Museo de Arte de Caguas

• 

  The José Ignacio Quintón Center for Criollo Music, located at the corner of Calle Ruiz Belvis and Calle Intendente Ramírez in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The center occupies the historic First Baptist Church of Caguas (built 1907–1909), and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

• 

  Carousel in Plaza de Caguas

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  Caguas cathedral 'Dulce Nombre de Jesús' founded in 1729. On the facade hangs an image of native son Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, whose body rests in the cathedral.

• 

  Entrance to the Botanical and Cultural Gardens in Caguas

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  Main square for recreation, Plaza de Recreo Santiago R. Palmer in Caguas barrio-pueblo

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  The Walmart in Caguas, Puerto Rico is one of five Walmart facilities on the island equipped with solar panels.

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  Chimney at former sugar producing Hacienda Santa Catalina

See also

In Spanish: Caguas para niños