Mayagüez barrio-pueblo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayagüez barrio-pueblo Pueblo de Mayagüez
Municipality Seat
Plaza Colón in Mayagüez
Location of Mayagüez barrio-pueblo within the municipality of Mayagüez shown in red
Mayagüez barrio-pueblo Location in Caribbean
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	Mayagüez
Area
• Total	2.98 sq mi (7.7 km2)
• Land	2.58 sq mi (6.7 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	26,903
• Density	10,550.2/sq mi (4,073.5/km2)
	Source: 2010 Census
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)

Mayagüez barrio-pueblo is a special area in Mayagüez. It's like the downtown part of the city. This area is the main administrative center for the whole municipality. In 2010, about 26,903 people lived here.

Just like in Spain, many towns in Puerto Rico have a central area called a pueblo. This pueblo usually has a main plaza (a public square), the city hall, and a Catholic church. Every year, special festivals called Fiestas patronales are held in the central plaza. These festivals celebrate the town's patron saint.

Discovering Mayagüez's Central Plaza

The central plaza, or town square, is a lively spot in Mayagüez. It's a place where people gather for fun events and to socialize. You can find people there from morning until night. In the early 1800s, Spanish laws called the Laws of the Indies guided how towns in Puerto Rico were built. These laws said the plaza should be big enough for celebrations. They also suggested that nearby streets should have covered walkways. These walkways would protect people from the sun and rain.

The Historic Church of Mayagüez

Right across from the central plaza in Mayagüez barrio-pueblo stands the beautiful Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. This Roman Catholic church opened its doors in 1836. Before this church, there were others on the same spot. The very first one was made of wood in 1763. Later, in 1780, a church built with stone and rubble was constructed.

The church you see today was designed by Vicente Piera in 1836. However, a big earthquake in 1918, called the 1918 San Fermín earthquake, damaged its towers and structure. After the earthquake, the front of the church was redesigned in 1922 by Luis Perocier. The current look of the church's front was finished in 2004. It was designed by Carlos J. Ralat. The columns on the church remind us of how churches looked in Puerto Rico during the 1800s.

Gallery

• Places in Mayagüez barrio-pueblo
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  Plaza in Mayagüez

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  Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

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  Detail on the door of Mayagüez City Hall

See also

In Spanish: Mayagüez (Mayagüez) para niños

• List of communities in Puerto Rico