Guayama barrio-pueblo Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Guayama barrio-pueblo Pueblo de Guayama
Municipality Seat
City Hall in Guayama
Location of Guayama barrio-pueblo within the municipality of Guayama shown in red
Guayama barrio-pueblo Location in Caribbean
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	Guayama
Area
• Total	2.47 sq mi (6.4 km²)
• Land	2.46 sq mi (6.4 km²)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km²)
Elevation	128 ft (39 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	16,891
• Density	6,866.3/sq mi (2,651.1/km²)
	Source: 2010 Census
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Code	00784

Guayama barrio-pueblo is a special neighborhood in Guayama. It's like the main downtown area or the "heart" of the city. This is where the local government buildings are, like the city hall. In 2010, about 16,891 people lived here.

Just like in Spain, many towns in Puerto Rico have a central area called a pueblo. This area usually has a main square, the city's important buildings, and a Catholic church. Every year, fun patron saint festivals, called Fiestas patronales, take place in this central square.

Plaza Colón in Guayama barrio-pueblo

A Look Back: Guayama's History
- Becoming Part of the United States
- Early Population Count
The Heart of the Town: Plaza and Church
Gallery
See also

A Look Back: Guayama's History

Becoming Part of the United States

After the Spanish–American War, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the United States. This happened because of a special agreement called the Treaty of Paris of 1898. Puerto Rico then became an unincorporated territory of the United States. This means it's a part of the U.S. but doesn't have all the same rights as a state.

Early Population Count

In 1899, the United States Department of War did a count of all the people in Puerto Rico. This count is called a census. They found that 5,334 people lived in Guayama Pueblo at that time.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	5,334	—
1980	18,488	—
1990	18,022	−2.5%
2000	17,111	−5.1%
2010	16,891	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1899 (shown as 1900) 1910-1930 1930-1950 1980-2000 2010

The Heart of the Town: Plaza and Church

The Central Plaza

The main square in Guayama is called the plaza de recreo. It's a busy place where people gather for fun events and to socialize. It's open from morning until night. Old Spanish laws, called the Laws of the Indies, said that these plazas should be big enough for all the people in the town. They also said the plaza should be a good place for celebrations and festivals. The laws also made sure nearby streets had covered walkways to protect people from the sun and rain.

Patron Saint Festival

Every June, Guayama barrio-pueblo celebrates its patron saint festival. This festival honors Saint Anthony of Padua. It takes place in the Plaza de recreo Cristóbal Colón, the main square. It's a time for music, food, and fun for everyone.

The San Antonio de Padua Church

Right across from the central plaza is the Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua. This is a Roman Catholic church. An older church building in this spot was in ruins by 1823. A new church was opened in 1872. However, parts of it were damaged by the 1899 San Ciriaco hurricane in 1899. The church was rebuilt in the 1920s, making it strong again.