Guayanilla, Puerto Rico

Guayanilla, Puerto Rico
Municipality

Flag

Nickname(s): Tierra de Agüeybaná (Agüeybaná's Land), "Los Corre En Yegua", "La Villa de los Pescadores"

"Capital Taina"
Anthem: "Guayanillenses, cantemos unidos"

Location of Guayanilla in Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18°01′09″N 66°47′31″W / 18.01917°N 66.79194°W / 18.01917; -66.79194Coordinates: 18°01′09″N 66°47′31″W / 18.01917°N 66.79194°W / 18.01917; -66.79194
Country United States
Territory Puerto Rico
Founded February 27, 1833
Government
 • Mayor Nelson Torres Yordán (PPD)
 • Senatorial dist. 5 - Ponce
 • Representative dist. Precinct 58
Area
 • Total 42.4 sq mi (109.9 km2)
Elevation 161 ft (49 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 21,581
 • Density 510/sq mi (200/km2)
Demonym(s) Guayanillenses
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
Zip code 00656
FIPS code 72-32307[1]
GNIS feature ID 1610861[2]

Guayanilla (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡwaʝaˈniʎa]) is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in southern coast of the island, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Adjuntas, east of Yauco; and west of Peñuelas and about 12 miles (19 km) west of Ponce. Guayanilla is spread over 16 wards and Guayanilla Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city). It is part of the Yauco Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Guayanilla was founded by Puerto Rican criollos. The original name was Guadianilla in memory of a river of the same name in Spain. However, it was changed to Guayanilla to resemble a native word in the Taíno dialect. The name Guayanilla is derived from a combination of Guaynia and Santa Maria de Guadianilla.

The first Europeans settled in this area in 1511. In 1756, Yauco was founded as a town. Then Guayanilla was a borough of Yauco. Due to the very fertile lands and access to the local port where most of the local commerce occurred, Guayanilla became an important agricultural center, grew quickly, and was established as a separate municipality on February 27, 1833 by Governor Miguel de la Torre.

Roanoke Colonists

Further information: Roanoke Colony

On April 27, 1584, Raleigh dispatched an expedition led by Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe to explore the Eastern coast of North America. They arrived on Roanoke Island on July 4,[3]:32 and soon established relations with the local natives, the Secotans and Croatoans. Barlowe returned to England with two Croatans named Manteo and Wanchese, who were able to describe the politics and geography of the area to Raleigh.[3]:44–45 Based on this information, Raleigh organized a second expedition, to be led by Sir Richard Grenville.

Grenville's fleet departed Plymouth on April 9, 1585, with five main ships: the Tiger (Grenville's), the Roebuck, the Red Lion, the Elizabeth, and the Dorothy. Unfortunately, a severe storm off the coast of Portugal separated the Tiger from the rest of the fleet.[3]:57 The captains had a contingency plan if they were separated, which was to meet up again in Puerto Rico, and the Tiger arrived in the "Baye of Muskito"[4] (Guayanilla Bay) on May 11.

A watercolor of the fort in Guyanailla Bay, which is likely similar to the fort constructed on Roanoke

While waiting for the other ships, Grenville established relations with the Spanish there while simultaneously engaging in some privateering against them,[3]:62 and also built a fort. The Elizabeth arrived soon after the fort's construction.[5]:91 Eventually, Grenville tired of waiting for the remaining ships, and departed on June 7. The fort was abandoned, and its location remains unknown.

Geography

Guayanilla Bay

The coastline forms the Guayanilla Bay, one of the best natural harbors in Puerto Rico, to the south, also. The nearest city is Ponce, which is 12 miles (19 km) to the east. The northern regions are bordered by mountains that reach 3,300 feet (1,000 m). In the central regions, the terrain descends where it does not exceed 1,410 feet (430 m). Finally in the coastal plain, the elevations do not exceed 951 feet (290 m). The Yauco, Guayanilla, and Macaná rivers all run through the municipality. The Yauco River briefly runs through the Boca borough, where its exit into the Caribbean Sea and accompanying marshlands are located.

Cityscape

Barrios

Guayanilla is divided into the following barrios (wards/districts), population of each listed in parentheses:[6]

  • Barrero (1,033)
  • Boca (1,263)
  • Cedro (14)
  • Consejo (883)
  • Guayanilla Pueblo (4,832)
  • Indios (2,339)
  • Jagua Pasto (162)
  • Jaguas (1,276)
  • Llano (841)
  • Macaná (1,446)
  • Magas (3,465)
  • Pasto (360)
  • Playa (1,317)
  • Quebrada Honda (446)
  • Quebradas (2,609)
  • Rufina (210)
  • Sierra Baja (576)

Tourism

Church in the Guayanilla town plaza.

Economy

Industry

The main industries in Guayanilla are the manufacturing of petrochemicals and the production of electricity by thermoelectrical plants. Guayanilla produces over half of Puerto Rico's electricity. The breakdown of occupations are as follows:

  • 22.2% : Educational, health, and social services
  • 14.5% : Public administration
  • 14.5% : Construction
  • 11.3% : Manufacturing
  • 9.6% : Retail trade
  • 6.4% : Transportation and warehousing, and utilities
  • 5.3% : Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
  • 4.5% : Other services
  • 3.6% : Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services
  • 2.9% : Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining
  • 2.3% : Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing
  • 1.8% : Wholesale trade
  • 1.2% : Information

Demographics

According to the Census in 2000, 99.2% Hispanic of any race. 65.5% white, 11.1% black, 19.3% mixed, 5.1% other. There are 7,209 households out of which 40.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% are married couples living together, 21.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 16.4% are non-families. 15.2% live alone, and 7.1% live alone and are over 65 years of age. The average household size is 3.19, and the average family size is 3.55.

The age distribution of the population is 30.0% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% over 65. The median age is 31 years.

The median income for a household is $11,361, and the median income for a family is $13,187. The per capita income for the city is $5,954. 57.0% of the population and 54.9% of the families are below the poverty line.

Government

Guayanilla City Hall.

Like all municipalities in Puerto Rico, Guayanilla is administered by a mayor. The current mayor is Arlequin, from the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PPD). Arlequín was elected at the 2000 general election.

The city belongs to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district V, which is represented by two Senators. In 2012, Ramón Ruiz and Martín Vargas Morales, from the Popular Democratic Party, were elected as District Senators.[7]

Symbols

The Nazario Collection, a set of inscribed stones discovered by Catholic priest and amateur archeologist José M. Nazario (and which popular culture links to taíno high chief Agüeybaná II), has become a cultural symbol for the municipality. The statuettes serve as the center piece of Guayanilla's Father Nazario Museum of Lithic Epigraphy.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "Guayanilla – Populated Place". Geographic Names Information System. USGS. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Quinn, David B. (February 1985). Set Fair for Roanoke: Voyages and Colonies, 1584–1606. UNC Press Books. ISBN 978-0-8078-4123-5. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "Teacher Handbook to Roanoke Revisited". Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. National Park Service. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  5. ↑ Milton, Giles (2001-10-19). Big Chief Elizabeth: The Adventures and Fate of the First English Colonists in America. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-42018-5. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Map of Municipio de Guayanilla" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  7. ↑ Elecciones Generales 2012: Escrutinio General on CEEPUR
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