Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Bayamón (bah-yah-MON) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).

[edit] History

Bayamón is sometimes called "El Pueblo del Chicharrón" (Pork Rind Town). Juan Ramírez de Arrellano established Bayamón as a town on May 22, 1772. It derives its name from a local Indian chief Bahamon; others claim that the name came from the Taíno word Bayamongo, which is the name of one of the rivers that cross the city.

Bayamón is one of Puerto Rico's largest cities, and is situated in what is considered to be the island's metropolitan area. It shares its metropolitan area status with San Juan, Guaynabo, Cataño, Toa Baja, Carolina and Trujillo Alto

Bayamón has always been a progressive city. Unlike Ponce, Aguadilla and Mayagüez, it does not have an airport due to its proximity to San Juan, the nation's capital.

[edit] Flag

The current flag of Bayamón, with a white field, official color of Bayamón, was embroidered by Mrs. Gloria M. León and maintains the design and colors of its Coat of Arms.

[edit] Coat of arms

This shield is symbol and synthesis of the history and the values that distinguish the city of Bayamón. The main colors of the shield are blue and silver representing the waters of the Bayamón river and recalls that it was on these banks where the first hydraulic sugar cane refinery of Puerto Rico was established in 1549. The center contains the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz), patron of the first church of the municipality and the name of the old sugar cane refinery "Santa Cruz", which was the historical origin of the town of Bayamón. The sugar cane flowers (guajanas) allude directly to the sugar cane industry that is of social and economic importance to the origin and development of Bayamón.

The five-tower crown, which is used for cities, was assigned to Bayamón as an exception for its extraordinary urban development, the magnitude of its population and for its religious dignity, which will possibly be raised to become Episcopal seat. The motto "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES" makes reference to Emperor Constantine when in the IV century had the vision in which the victory was promised to him if it accepted the Cross of Christianity as his banner.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)^[1]

Districts	Population
Pueblo de Bayamón	5,336
Buena Vista	15,878
Cerro Gordo	34,161
Dajaos	2,691
Guaraguao Abajo	8,494
Guaraguao Arriba	1,681
Hato Tejas	46,528
Juan Sánchez	25,747
Minillas	42,617
Nuevo	2,394
Pájaros	32,855
Santa Olaya	5,662
Total	224,044

[edit] Geo/Topography

Bayamón rivers include: Bayamón, Hondo, Minillas, Bucarabones and Cuesta Arriba.

[edit] Anthem

Lyrics By: Ramón Luis Rivera

Music By: Rafi Escudero

Bayamón, ciudad hermosa
orgullosa de su ayer
al mirar hacia el futuro
ves un nuevo amanecer.

En tu gente la esperanza
son tus hijos tu primor
porque luchan sin descanso
por triunfar y darte honor.

Bayamón, mi ciudad
mi lugar es aquí
porque quiero luchar
en tu suelo hasta morir.

Bayamón, mi ciudad
orgulloso estoy de ti
de tu amor cantaré,
en un himno al porvenir.

Bayamón, mi ciudad
mi lugar es aquí
porque quiero luchar

en tu suelo hasta morir.

[edit] Economy

[edit] Agriculture

Coffee, grapefruit, sugar, tobacco and vegetables. The first hydraulic sugar mill on the island was built in Bayamón about 1548, and sugar has continued to be a valuable commodity.

[edit] Business

Manufactures have included auto parts, canned foods, clocks, clothing, machinery, precision, tin cans, tobacco products, tools, watches and zippers.

[edit] Industrial

industrial establishments; others are iron foundries, brick yards, ice plants, dairies, and an oil refinery.

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Landmarks and places of interest

Bayamón Central Park
Braulio CastilloTheater
Francisco Oller Museum
José Celso Barbosa Monument
Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
Rubén Rodríguez Stadium
El parque del tren, a park featuring what was until 2001 Puerto Rico's only working train, and an example of a DC-3 that used to fly for United Airlines. (This park, however, was destroyed due to major road construction which is still underway.) What is left of it is now a small plaza for activities and an area for jogging and passive entertainment.
A suspension bridge is a pedestrian only bridge, believed to be one of only 3 of its kind in all of Puerto Rico.
A science-themed park known as Parque De Las Ciencias. It is the only place, outside of the United States, where you can find an exhibition of NASA rockets and rockets parts. It is located in the middle of carcic hills. From an oberservation building on one of the hills is a stuning view of the metropolitan area. The building also hosts antennas for governmental and civil communication.
City Hall- This building crosses over a major road. While walking through a connecting corridor, right above the road, pedestrians can see passing cars underneath. It is believed to be the only building of its class in the world.
Bayamón is also one of the cities to host the Tren Urbano (Urban Transit System commuter train), inaugurated in 2004.

[edit] Festivals and events

Santa Cruz Patron Festivities - May
José Celso Barbosa's Birthday - July
Chicharrón Festival - July
Artesans Festival - July

[edit] Education

Bayamón has many public and private schools. It also has many higher-learning institutions such as UPR Bayamon, InterAmerican University Bayamon, Bayamon Central University and some community colleges.

[edit] Sports

The Vaqueros de Bayamón are the city's BSN representatives and the team with the most championships in history, with 13.

The famous boxing fight between Alexis Arguello and Alfredo Escalera (their first; their equally legendary rematch was held in Rimini, Italy) was held in Bayamón in 1978.

The Puerto Rico Islanders of the United Soccer Leagues First Division play at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón. A new team Sevilla F.C. are to start playing out of the stadium in the Puerto Rico Soccer League in 2008.

[edit] Notable "Bayamoneses"

Braulio Castillo Cintrón (b. 1933), actor
Sonia Noemí González (b. 1941), actress/singer
Daniel Santos - world boxing champion
Francisco Oller - painter
Hector 'Macho' Camacho world boxing champion
Chuito el de Bayamón (1900 - 1979), folk singer/musician
Lucecita Benítez, singer
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, musician
Felipe Lopez, baseball player
Pedro Ortiz Dávila (Davilita), singer
Molina Brothers; Yadier Molina, Bengie Molina, and Jose Molina (major league baseball catchers)
Dr. José Celso Barbosa, physician, journalist, politician & poet
Santiago Polanco Abreu, politician, legislator

Bayamón was the site of the infamous 1988 murder of professional wrestler Frank "Bruiser Brody" Goodish. His murderer, wrestler Jose González, was subsequently acquitted of all charges.^{[citation needed]}