City Hall Foundation: Caguas (KAH-gwahs) was founded in 1775. In 1820 it received the title of Villa and in 1894 the title of City. Originally known as San Sebastián del Piñal de Caguax. The name is derived from the Indian Chief Caguax, a legendary Indian chief who reigned in these lands during the decline of the Taino civilization and faced the Spanish conquerors with brave resistance. Soon after he turned to Christianity. Location: Caguas is located at the eastern end of the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central) surrounded by the Cayey Sierra. It is bordered by: Guaynabo, San Juan and Trujillo Alto on the north, Cayey and San Lorenzo on the south, Aguas Buenas, Cidra and Cayey on the west, and Gurabo and San Lorenzo on the east. Area: 147.1 sq km / 58.6 sq mi Population: 140,502 (census 2000) Population Density: 955.1 per sq km / 2,397.6 per sq mi People are known as: Cagüeños Caguas is also known as: La Ciudad del Turabo (City of The Turabo) El Corazón de Boriquén (Boriquén's Heart) La Ciudad Criolla (The Criole City) Wards: Census 2000: Population by Wards - Caguas Habitants Bairoa 19,201 Beatriz 4,467 Borinquen 6,522 Caguas (city) 24,023 Cañabón 6,070 Cañaboncito 28,669 Río Cañas 10,982 San Antonio 2,395 San Salvador 3,272 Tomás de Castro 19,301 Turabo 15,600 Total 140,502 Source: Census 2000 Political Division - Administrative: Senatorial District # 7 Humacao represented by Hon. José L. Dalmau (PPD) and Hon. Sixto Hernández Serrano (PPD). Representative District # 31 & 32 represented by Hon. Sylvia Rodríguez de Corujo (31) (PPD) and Hon. Conny Varela (32) (PPD). Patron: Dulce Nombre de Jesús Dulce Nombre de Jesús Cathedral Apartado 967 Caguas, P.R. 00726 Tel. (787) 743-4311 Fundation: March 1915 Mass Schedule: Daily: 6:15am, 7:00am & 6:30pm Saturdays: 7:3Opm Sundays: 7:30am & 10:00am Topography: Its territory extends thru the Valley of Caguas or El Turabo, between the Sierra de Cayey and ramparts of the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central). The highest elevations are the Lucero at 2,887 feet, Alto de la Mesa at 1,210 feet, and the Los Altos de San Luis at 886 feet. Hydrography: The Grande de Loíza river divides this municipality from Gurabo. The Turabo, Cagüitas, Cañaboncito, Bairoa and Cañas rivers also form part of its hydrography. Economy: The economic activities of the city include: diamond cutting, tobacco, manufacture of leather products, crystal and plastic, electronic equipment and clothing. Average Salary: $292.01 weekly (1998) Flag: The flag was adopted in 1960. The colors are blue and yellow. The cross stands for the Cross of San Sebastián, for this was the first Christian village that settled in the Caguas Valley together with the hermitage of San Sebastián del Barrero. Caguas is the first Municipality to have an official flag for ten of its "Barrios" or rural communities. The flag was designed following the same blueprint as the city flag, but white instead of dark blue. The Bairoa Coat of Arms replaces Caguas Coat of Arms. It reads: "Bairoa, Clear River Water, 1842". This flag was with its original white field. It was recently changed to light peach. The shield was designed by Wilma Román Torres based on the history of the Bairoa sector. The symbols and their meanings are as follows: 1842 - year of the first document identifying Bairoa as a "Barrio" · Bairoa - means "clear river water" Mountains - represents the mountains that surround the valley Cemí (Indian idol) - represents our Taíno roots and the fertility of the valley Carmelite Shield - represents the arrival at the sector of the Catholic faith on 1869 River - represents the Bairoa river that gives origin to its name Tobacco plant - represents the major produce in the barrio Sugar Cane - represents the produce of muscovado sugar and rum of the barrio. Blas Delgado, 31 March 2001 The flag was designed by Carlos I. Fernández Velázquez and its background color is "seafoam", a kind of light turquoise or blue green. Six sectors make up the barrio and are represented in its symbology: Bees - stands for Las Abejas sector, where many beehives could once be found Pana fruit - stands for Los Panes sector, a very abundant produce Mango tree - stands for La Jurado or El Mangó sector. Jurado was the last name of the first inhabitants; a mango tree has been for many generations at the barrio entrance House - stands for Luis Munoz Grillo sector, who donated his house for the still operating school Pineapples - stands for Las Pinas sector, which also was once a major produce Crossroad - stands for Las Cruces sector that divides the road to Caguas, Cayey and Cidra municipalities Blas Delgado, 31 March 2001 The flag was designed by the student Armando Sosa Flores and its background color is "blue flower", a kind of very light blue. Its simple symbology is as follows: Cemí (Indian idol) - represents the same object found at the El Algodón Farm near the Turabo riverbank Indian hamlets - represents the "Yucayeque" or main indian settlement that is believed existed in this place Blas Delgado, 31 March 2001 The flag was designed by the student Carlos E. Acevedo Rivera and its background color is light peach. Its symbology is as follows: Forming a circle, the symbols that stand for the historic come about of Canabón barrio appear in the center of the shield. A small Caguas city shield (crossed arrows with pineapples) appears over the main circle. Broken chain - the abolition of black slavery in 1873 Cemí - in the background appearing as a mountain (it is de facto believed that the designed of these stone idols was inspired by the actual form of our mountains), meaning the native indian contribution to the area development. In the present, the development as a botanic garden of the area known as Las Casitas is been considered Chimney - the right side one represents the San José Sugar Mill and the left side one represents the Santa Catalina Sugar Mill. Both of them are surrounded by a sugar cane plantation and the birth of the Cagüitas river. Blas Delgado, 31 March 2001 The flag was designed by Norma I. Villafane Semidey and its background color is "buff", a kind of yellow cream color. Its symbology is described as follows: The blue, red and gold colors - represents the City of Caguas Crown - represents the "Cacique" or chief Caguax Pineapple - represents the Settlement of El Pinal, as the city was first known Rectangle - stands also for the city of Caguas Arrows - our native weapons Three sugar canes - stands for "good sugar cane" that gives name to the barrio Map - geographic depiction of the barrio Cow - represents the live stock industry Tobacco leaf - represents the tobacco industry Church - represents Christianity and brotherhood Blas Delgado, 2 April 2001 The flag was designed by Lydia Milano Albino and its background color is light peach. Its symbology is as follows: Blue, green and earthen colors - associated with nature Sugar Mill - symbolizes the center of the main economic activity Sugar cane - meant once the worker's sustenance and dedication River - its waters represent the symbol that gives its name to the barrio, due to the abundance in the zone of bodies of water Pineapple - makes us remember the origins of our city of Caguas, the city of the Turabo (river), when the Settlement of San Sebastián del Pinal (place of pineapples) was founded in 1750 Blas Delgado, 2 April 2001 The flag was designed by the student Katerina B. Torres Figueroa and its background color is "blue flower", a kind of very light blue. Its symbology is very simple: The brilliant blue and gold colors - stand for the sky and the countryside, respectively The crown, pineapple and Indian (with crossed arrows) - are the elements present in the coat of arms of Caguas and stand for the same meaning Blas Delgado, 2 April 2001 The flag was designed by the student Milaniza Montalvo García and its background color is light peach. Its symbology is as follows: Blue background - the pluvial resources that exist and the fresh water to drink The river, sky and mountains - suggest Paradise, because this barrio keeps its natural resources away from the destruction that comes from cement building and technology Plantain or banana trees - stand for the abundance of these produce Olive leaves garland - stands for peace, which is abundant in the barrio, and for hope of better days Blas Delgado, 3 April 2001 This is the flag of the rural community or "barrio" of Tomás de Castro, Caguas, Puerto Rico. This was the second community to have its own official flag after Bairoa. Blas Delgado, 11 July 2000 This is the new official flag of Barrio Turabo, Caguas, Puerto Rico approved by the Assembly and the Municipality of Caguas. The background color of the flag is a ligth blue with the original Turabo flag centered in a shield over crossed with the Taino's arrows, same as the Caguas flag. Description: The orange color of the first triangle on the flag represents the "clay" of the valley of Turabo in Caguas, Puerto Rico and symbolizes the original name of the first settlement "San Sebasti'an del Barrero" The arrow tip of the white triangle symbolizes the "Cacique Caguax" (Taíno Indian Chief) of the valley of Turabo, Caguas, Puerto Rico. The wide yellow band represents the light of the sun, the industry and the urban zone of the ward. The narrow blue band symbolizes the Turabo River (and also represents the blue field of the Caguas flag). The wide green band represent the mountains and the rural zone of the community, and the hope in the future. The yellow and white colors symbolize the faith and the harmony of the inhabitants of the "barrio" (ward) community. Juan Colón De Jesús, 22 March 2001 Coat Of Arms: The colors blue and gold were chosen for the shield, distinctive of the city of Caguas. The figures symbolize the Indigenous and Christian origins of this city. The crown represents Chief Caguax, Monarch of the Turabo Valley, upon the arrival of the Spanish conquerors. It symbolizes in addition, the Indian village host of the Chief whose name perpetuates the city.     The arrows, offensive arms of the indians, are arranged in vanes or cross of San Andrés remembering the conversion to Christianity of Chief Caguax. The population of Indians under the reign of Chief Caguax lived during the sixteenth century in the western margin of the Río Grande de Loíza and probably constituted the nucleus of the Dulce Nombre de Jesús del Piñal village, second Christian population of the Valley. San Sebastián, patron of the Hermitage del Barrero, is represented by the arrows that were the instruments of his martyrdom.     The pineapples symbolize the Dulce Nombre de Jesús del Piñal village, whose neighbors moved from the place that they occupied in the eastern margin of the Río Grande de Loíza, founding the "village" of Caguas in 1775. It was constituted as a town in 1779, a named village in 1820, and given the title of city in 1894. Public Schools sorted by educational levels. Updated: 08/07/2003 Caguas Region Caguas I District Name Level Telephone Address Elementary ABELARDO DÍAZ MORALES K-6 (787) 743-9056 CALL BOX 4952 SUITE 353, P.R. 00726-4952 AMALIA H MANGUAL K-6 (787) 747-1311 PO Box 4956, P.R. 00726-4956 ANDRÉS GONZÁLEZ K-6 (787) 747-7282 HC 2 BOX 30830, P.R. 00726-0000 ANTONIO LONGO K-3 (787) 747-9190 PO Box 49552 CONSOLIDATED MALL, P.R. 00726-4952 BENITA GONZÁLEZ QUIÑÓNEZ K-6 (787) 743-4467 PO Box 9177, P.R. 00726-9177 DIEGO VÁZQUEZ K-6 (787) 743-3695 PO Box 4956 SUITE 1271, P.R. 00726-4956 FRANCISCO VALDES K-6 (787) 747-9464 PO Box 4956, P.R. 00726-4956 JARDINES DE CAGUAS EE (787) 745-4110 PO Box 4961 SUITE 149, P.R. 00726-4961 JESÚS T PIÑERO K-6 (787) 747-1992 PO Box 1542, P.R. 00726-1542 LUIS CARTAGENA NIEVES PK-6 (787) 744-6961 PO Box 4960, P.R. 00726-4960 MARIA MONTAÑEZ GÓMEZ K-6 (787) 747-8080 PO Box 5475, P.R. 00726-5475 MIGUEL F CHIQUES K-6 (787) 743-2460 URB MARIOLGA SUITE 32281 S1 AVE LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍNPR 00725-0000 NEREIDA ALICEA CRUZ K-6 (787) 743-3736 URB VILLA CRIOLLO CALLE GUAMA F-1A, P.R. 00725-0000 PEDRO MILLÁN RIVERA K-6 (787) 744-4777 PO Box 4956, P.R. 00726-4956 PEPITA ARENAS K-6 (787) 746-4262 PO Box 4961 SUITE 140, P.R. 00726-0000 PEPITA GARRIGA K-6 (787) 743-3633 PO Box 5759, P.R. 00726-0000 Intermediate FELIPE RIVERA CENTENO 7-9 (787) 746-5660 PO Box 1177, P.R. 00726-0000 NICOLÁS AGUAYO ALDEA 7-9 (787) 743-5065 PO Box 5759, P.R. 00726-0000 RAFAEL QUIÑONES VIDAL 7-9 (787) 744-5666 PO Box 4953, P.R. 00726-4953 Secondary ANTONIO DOMÍNGUEZ NIEVES 7-12 (787) 747-2026 PO Box 9718, P.R. 00726-0000 High School ELOISA PASCUAL 10-12 (787) 746-5506 PO Box 4953, P.R. 00726-4953 MANUELA TORO MORICE 10-12 (787) 744-2111 PO Box 5759, P.R. 00726-0000 REPÚBLICA DE COSTA RICA 10-12 (787) 746-7565 BOX 880, P.R. 00726-0000 All Levels ANTONIO S PAOLI (MÚSICA) 1-12, ADULTOS (787) 746-6644 PO Box 4956, P.R. 00726-4956 Caguas Region Caguas II District Name Level Telephone Address Elementary BUNKER K-6 (787) 744-7868 PO Box 4961 SUITE 158, P.R. 00726-4961 CHARLES E MINER K-6 (787) 744-7779 URB. VILLA NUEVA CALLE 25, P.R. 00725-0000 CIPRIANO MANRIQUE K-6 (787) 747-3600 PO Box 5591, P.R. 00726-0000 CONCEPCIÓN MÉNDEZ CANO K-6 (787) 744-1735 PO Box 9808, P.R. 00726-9808 CORNELIO AYALA K-6 (787) 747-4500 PO Box 8681, P.R. 00726-0000 INÉS MARIA MENDOZA PK-6 (787) 744-6447 SEC.1 AVE LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN, P.R. 00725-0000 JOSÉ DE DIEGO K-6 (787) 743-5830 PO Box 7714, P.R. 00726-0000 JOSÉ MERCADO K-6 (787) 746-7858 URB. MARIOLGA AVE LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN, P.R. 00726-6160 JUAN NAVARRO K-6 (787) 747-6600 PO Box 4952, P.R. 00726-4952 JUSTINA VÁZQUEZ MENDOZA K-6 (787) 743-6069 PO Box 5838, P.R. 00726-5838 LUIS MUÑOZ GRILLO K-6 (787) 747-5566 PO Box 4956, P.R. 00726-4956 LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN K-6 (787) 745-4870 PO Box 8463, P.R. 00726-0000 LUIS MUÑOZ RIVERA K-6 (787) 743-2303 PO Box 4961 SUITE 314, P.R. 00726-4961 MYRNA M FUENTES PK-6 (787) 744-2231 PO Box 4952 SUITE 77, P.R. 00726-4952 PAULA MOJICA K-6 (787) 743-2498 PO Box 4952, P.R. 00726-4952 RAMÓN BRUGUERAS K-6 (787) 744-5114 PO Box 6135, P.R. 00726-0000 ROSA C. BENÍTEZ K-6 (787) 743-8446 URB. VILLA DEL REY CALLE WINDSOR, P.R. 00725-0000 SALVADOR RODRÍGUEZ K-6 (787) 747-6900 PO Box 8436, P.R. 00726-0000 Intermediate ANTONIO S PEDREIRA 7-9 (787) 743-4868 URB. VILLA CARMEN 300 CALLE GUAYAMA, P.R. 00725-0000 GERARDO SELLES SOLA 7-9 (787) 743-3276 PO Box 669, P.R. 00726-000 HAYDEE CABALLERO 7-9 (787) 744-4575 PO Box 7285, P.R. 00726-7285 JOHN F KENNEDY 7-9 (787) 743-5191 URB. VILLA DEL REY, P.R. 00725-0000 LUIS RAMOS GONZÁLEZ 7-9 (787) 743-9194 URB. MARIOLGA AVE LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN, P.R. 00726-0000 Secondary SU MERCEDES PALMA K-9 (787) 747-4025 HC 04 BOX 44374, P.R. 00725-9606 SU SANDALIO MARCANO K-9 (787) 747-3110 PO Box 4956, P.R. 00726-4956 High School DR. JUAN JOSÉ OSUNA 10-12 (787) 747-8629 PO Box 9173, P.R. 00726-9173 JOSÉ GAUTIER BENÍTEZ 10-12 (787) 743-4211 PO Box 5536, P.R. 00726-0000 All Levels CENTRO DE SERVICIOS EDUCATIVOS K-12 (787) 746-5685 CALLE PADIAL, P.R. 00725-0000 Source: Departamento De Educación Hymn: By Efraín García Caguas, Caguas, Caguas, ciudad bendita de humilde y gran honor Caguas, Caguas, Caguas, ciudad que canta orgullosa su valor. De Borinquen eres poesía porque tu suelo inspiró su corazón, y son tus hijos bellos cimientos que le dan vida a su patria con amor Caguas, Caguas, Caguas, ciudad bendita de humilde y gran honor Caguas, Caguas, Caguas, ciudad que canta orgullosa su valor. Tierra de encantos, doncella hermosa, del rubio sol, y el alto cielo hoy te contemplo cual flor criolla inspiración de Dios. Events: Rosario Cantado a los Reyes - 4 January Three Kings Festival - 5 January Criolla Beatriz - February Criolla Borinquen Fair - March Criolla Cañabón Fair - April Felipe "La Voz'' Rodríguez' Birthday - 8 May Cross Festival - 23 - 31 May Typical Criole Festival - 1 - 2 June Places To Visit: Cable Car Hacienda Cofresí Hacienda Country Club Caguas Historical Museum Hacienda Catalina Ruins Turabo Park Coquí Villa Distinguished Citizens: Luis Felipe (La Voz) Rodríguez Quiñones (1926-1996) - Singer (biography) José Gautier Benítez (1851-1879) - Poet (biography) Concha Meléndez (1895-1983) - Educator (biography) Abelardo Díaz Alfaro (1919-1999) - Story teller (biography) Margot Arce de Vázquez (1904-1990) - Writer & educator (biography) Flor Morales (Ramito) Ramos (1915- 1990) - Trovador (biography) Herman Badillo (1929- ) - First puertorrican congressman (biografía) Caguas Mayors 1812 - Present Year Mayor Year Mayor 1812-1813 Sebastián Giménez 1867-1869 Joaquín Martorell 1814-1815 José Escolástico Quiñónez 1869-1871 Ramón Hernandez 1816-1817 Sebastián Ximénez 1871-1872 Ventura Barber 1818-1819 Marcos Ximénez 1872-1873 Pedro José Berrios 1820 Vicente Aponte 1874-1875 Pascual Borras 1821 José Acosta Mateo Pérez Alexo de Mercado Pedro Ramírez de Arellano Florencio Ximénez Sebastián Ximénez 1875-1878 Adon Somonte 1822 Juan Francisco Vásquez 1878 Antonio Royer 1823 Juan Guadalupe Colón 1879-1885 José María de la Vega 1824-1825 Manuel Suárez Valdéz 1885-1889 Pedro Pastor Egea 1826 José Paul 1889-1890 Eduardo Vidal y Ríos 1827-1828 José Paul Gerardo Rabassa Juan Alonso Gerardo Rabassa 1890-1893 Rafael Polo 1829-1830 Gerardo Rabassa 1893-1895 Francisco Méndez 1831 Joaquín Goyena 1895 Víctor Fernández 1832 Luis María Veldejully 1895-1897 Arturo Más 1833-1834 Manuel de Lastra 1897-1898 José M. Solís 1835 Manuel Jiménez Córdova 1898 Vicente Muñoz Barrios Celestino Solá Antonio Jiménez Sicardó Gervasio García Díaz Ramón Sotomayor 1836 Gerardo Rabassa 1900-1906 Gervasio García Díaz 1836-1837 Antonio Guadalupe 1907-1908 Gabriel Jiménez Sanjurjo 1838-1839 Marcos Giménez 1909-1910 José Domingo Solá 1840 Vicente Aponte 1911-1913 Gervasio García Díaz 1841 Zoilo de la Cruz 1914-1917 Enrique Moreno 1842 Pedro Sánchez 1918-1924 Juan Jiménez García 1843 Antonio Grillo Ramón Santiago 1924-1927 Domingo Laza Quiñónez 1844-1846 Marcos Giménez 1928-1929 Pablo J. Hereter 1847-1850 Vicente Balseiro 1929-1930 Ildefonso Solá Morales 1850-1852 Joaquín Mariano Polo 1930-1931 Antonio Rojas 1852 Manuel Giménez Córdova Antonio Guadalupe Colón 1932 José Reguero González 1853 Juan Alonso 1933-1936 Juan Jiménez García 1854 Felix O'Neill 1937-1940 Julio Aldrich 1854-1855 Juan González Lafont 1941-1948 Manuel Seoane 1855 Escolástico Fuentes 1949-1952 Cruz C. Muñoz 1855 Pedro Bruno 1952-1968 Ángel Rivera Rodríguez 1855-1856 Bruno Ruiz de Porras 1968-1972 Miguel Hernández 1856-1859 Celedonio Flores 1972-1976 Ángel O. Berrios 1859-1861 Leonardo de Campos 1976-1980 Miguel Hernández 1861 Sandalio Giménez 1981-1992 Ángel O. Berrios 1861-1865 Juan Francisco de Acosta 1992-1996 Ángel O. Berrios 1865-1866 Manuel S. Cuevas 1997- Present William Miranda Marín 1866-1867 Eduardo Taforo     Source: Municipality of Caguas Mayor: Hon. William Miranda Marín P.O. Box 907 Caguas, P.R. 00726-0907 (787) 743-3400 http://www.caguas.gov.pr/       2004 General Election Results Municipality of Caguas Party Candidate Votes Percent   WILLIE MIRANDA MARIN 46,485 63.05% BLANCA G. TRINIDAD 24,643 33.43% LUIS DOMENECH SEPULVEDA 1,913 2.59% *OTHERS 683 0.93% Total 73,724   Breakdown of Others   Reported Voting Centers Participation Direct Nomination 23   Registered Voters 92,942 Blank 389   Votes 73,724 Null 271   Participation Percent 79.32% Reported Voting Centers: 281 out of 281 for 100.00%   Total Registered 92,942 Source: Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico