Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

The first European settlement in Puerto Rico, Caparra, was founded in 1508 by Juan Ponce de León in land that is today part of Guaynabo. Ponce de León resided there as first Spanish governor of Puerto Rico. This settlement was abandoned in 1521 in favor of San Juan. The ruins of Caparra remain and are a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The Museum of the Conquest and Colonization of Puerto Rico, which features artifacts from the site and others in Puerto Rico, is located on the grounds. The municipality of Guaynabo was founded in 1769 by Pedro R. Dávila (P.R.), after a struggle for division from the municipality of Bayamón. Previously, the municipality was known as Buinabo, a name that it is popularly said to mean in Taíno "Here is another place of fresh water." Irish officer Thomas O'Daly and fellow Irishman Miguel Kirwan settled the area in the late 18th century and developed a farm and sugarcane plantation he named Hacienda San Patricio. The plantation no longer exists but the land on which it was located is now the central business district of Guaynabo and the San Patricio Plaza shopping mall. On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico. In Guaynabo, where 26.9% of the population live below the poverty level, 2800 homes were destroyed. The hurricane triggered numerous landslides in Guaynabo. Then president Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump visited Guaynabo. Due to the municipality's fiscal difficulties, it was not until April 2, 2019, over a year and half later, that the overtime pay owed to municipal workers was paid. After 24 years as mayor, Héctor O'Neill García resigned in 2017 when allegations surfaced of sexual harassment toward a female municipal employee. He was replaced in a run-off election by Angel Pérez Otero, who in turn was forced out due to his arrest for Federal corruption allegations in 2021. Héctor O'Neill's son Edward O'Neill Rosa won the following run-off election to succeed him as mayor in January 2022. ==Geography==

Guaynabo is on the northern side. Barrios Like all municipalities of Puerto Rico, Guaynabo is subdivided into barrios. The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a smaller barrio referred to as , located near the center of the municipality. • Camarones • Frailes • Guaraguao • Guaynabo barrio-pueblo • Hato Nuevo • Mamey • Pueblo Viejo • Río • Santa Rosa • Sonadora Sectors Barrios (which are, in contemporary times, roughly comparable to minor civil divisions) are further subdivided into smaller areas called (sectors in English). The types of sectores may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others. Special Communities (Special Communities of Puerto Rico) are marginalized communities whose citizens are experiencing a certain amount of social exclusion. A map shows these communities occur in nearly every municipality of the commonwealth. Of the 742 places that were on the list in 2014, the following barrios, communities, sectors, or neighborhoods were in Guaynabo: Amelia, Buen Samaritano, Camarones barrio, Corea, El Polvorín, Honduras, Jerusalén, Los Filtros, Sector El Laberinto, Sector La Pajilla, Sector Los Ratones (Camino Feliciano), Sector San Miguel, Trujillo, Sector Tomé, Vietnam, and Villa Isleña. ==Demographics==

To stimulate local tourism, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company launched the Voy Turistiendo ("I'm Touring") campaign, with a passport book and website. The Guaynabo page lists , , and , as places of interest. Landmarks and places of interest • Rancho de Apa (restaurant) • Centro de Bellas Artes (Guaynabo Performing Arts Center) • Caparra Ruins • Caribe Recreational Center • Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Mártir • La Marquesa Forest Park • Paseo Tablado • Mario Morales Coliseum • San Patricio Plaza • Caparra Country Club • Plaza Guaynabo • Museum of Transportation • Museo del Deporte • Fort Buchanan ==Economy==

Several businesses have their headquarters or local Puerto Rican branches in Guaynabo. El Nuevo Día, Chrysler, Santander Securities, Puerto Rico Telephone, and many sales offices for large US and international firms (such as Total, Microsoft, Toshiba, Puma Energy and others) have their Puerto Rican headquarters in Guaynabo. WAPA-TV (Televicentro) and Univision Puerto Rico have their main studios in Guaynabo. Iberia's San Juan-area offices are in Guaynabo. ==Crime==

Carjackings have been an ongoing problem in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and in 2023 the FBI indicted a group of criminals involved in carjackings. ==Climate==

Festivals and events Guaynabo celebrates its patron saint festival in April. The is a religious and cultural celebration that generally features parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment. Other festivals and events celebrated in Guaynabo include: • Three Kings Festival – January • Mabó Carnival – February • Mothers’ Day celebration – May • National Salsa Day – June • Fine Arts camp and recreation and sports camp – June • Bomba and Plena (folkloric music and dance) Festival – October • Official lighting of Christmas Lights – November Sports Guaynabo's old BSN team, the Guaynabo Mets, won national championships in 1980, 1982 and 1989, commanded by the player whom the Mario Morales Coliseum was named after, Mario "Quijote" Morales. The Conquistadores de Guaynabo, or Guaynabo Conquistadores, are the Guaynabo Mets replacement and still play in the Mario Morales Coliseum. The Mets de Guaynabo are the local women's volleyball team that play in the Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino (LVSF), winning three titles in 1978, 1993–94 and 1995. They also play in the Mario Morales Coliseum. Guaynabo Fluminense FC is Guaynabo's professional soccer team that plays in the Puerto Rico Soccer League. The league started in 2008 and Guaynabo's current position in the league is 4th place. Guaynabo Fluminense FC play their matches at the Jose Bonano Stadium that was originally made for baseball, but became a soccer arena after the Puerto Rico Baseball League was cancelled for the 2008 season. It was at the same year that the Puerto Rico Soccer League was starting to take place. In the 2009 season, Guaynabo Fluminense FC moved to the Sixto Escobar Stadium. • Mets de Guaynabo (women's volleyball) - Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino (LVSF) • Mets de Guaynabo (men's volleyball) - Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino (LVSM) • Guaynabo Conquistadores (basketball) - Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) • Mets de Guaynabo (basketball) - Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) • Mets de Guaynabo (baseball) - Federación de Béisbol Aficionado de Puerto Rico (Béisbol Doble A) • Guaynabo Fluminense FC (soccer) - Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL) ==Government and infrastructure==

The United States Postal Service operates two post offices, Guaynabo and Caparra Heights, in Guaynabo. The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates the Metropolitan Detention Center, Guaynabo in Guaynabo. Some regions of the city belong to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district I while others belong to the Puerto Rico Senatorial district II. Both of the Districts are represented by two Senators. In 2024, Nitza Morán and Juan Oscar Morales were elected as Senators for District I, while Migdalia Padilla and Carmelo Ríos have been serving as Senators for District II since being elected in 2004. Mayors Mayors of Guaynabo from 1969 to present Mayors of Guaynabo from 1782 to 1969 :: ==Symbols==

The has an official flag and coat of arms. Flag This municipality has a flag. Coat of arms This municipality has a coat of arms. ==Health facilities==

Professional Hospital Guaynabo located on Felisa Rincón Avenue (formerly Las Cumbres Avenue), is the newest hospital infrastructure built in Puerto Rico. Guaynabo is the only city in Puerto Rico to have a hospital specialized in advanced vascular surgery. Some of the first and newest procedures performed in Puerto Rico during 2009 were done in Professional Hospital Guaynabo, including the first AxiaLIF surgery for lumbar fusion. ==Transportation==

The Tren Urbano has only one station in the municipality, Torrimar Station. Guaynabo has a bus network called “Guaynabo City Transport”. There are 63 bridges in Guaynabo. ==Notable people==

• Karla Aponte (born 1998), model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2017 • Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro (born 1970), novelist • Jorge Báez Pagán, educator and politician • Román Baldorioty de Castro (1822–1889), abolitionist • Lucas Rafael Bennazar Ortiz (born 1969), sports shooter • Bárbara Bermudo (born 1975), journalist • Marcos Berríos (born 1984), Air Force major and astronaut • Iván Calderón (born 1975), professional boxer • Victor Callejas (born 1960), professional boxer • Josué Camacho (born 1969), professional boxer • Fernando Canales (born 1959), freestyle swimmer • April Carrión (born 1989), drag queen • Vilmarie Castellvi (born 1981), professional tennis player • Pablo Clemente-Colon, oceanographer • Elvis Crespo (born 1971), merengue singer • Alejandro Cruz (1938-1993), political leader and softball coach • Iván DeJesús Jr. (born 1987), baseball player who played most for the Cincinnati Reds • Francisco de León (born 1961), professional basketball player • Alfredo Faget (1923–2003), professional basketball player • Alberto Arturo Figueroa Morales (born 1961), Catholic prelate and bishop • Walter Hodge (born 1986), professional basketball player • Santiago Machuca (1929–2024), sports shooter • Ramiro Martinez (1923–2015), sportscaster • Carlos (born 1965), Oscar (born 1966), and Ricky Meléndez (born 1967), singers (Menudo) • Catalina Morales (born 1990), actress and model who was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2015 • Juan Nazario (born 1963), professional boxer • Tomas Nido (born 1994), baseball catcher for the New York Mets • Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz (born 1956), interior designer • Héctor O'Neill (born 1945), politician • Juan O'Neill (born 1998), professional football player • Angel Pérez Otero (born 1970), politician • Silverio Pérez (born 1948), musician and writer • José J. Reyes (born 1963), military commander • Raúl Ríos (born 1993), sailor • Cesar Rodriguez (born 1959), Air Force officer and pilot • Roberto Rodríguez (born 1986), professional beach volleyball player • David Sánchez (born 1968, jazz tenor saxophonist • Christian Sobrino, attorney and public executive • Félix Soto Toro (born 1967), electrical engineer • Hiram Tua (born 1983), professional wrestler • Gabriel Vicéns (born 1988), guitarist and composer ==Education==

Guaynabo is home to Atlantic University, which specializes in new media art. The Japanese Language School of Puerto Rico (プエルトリコ補習授業校 Puerutoriko Hoshū Jugyō Kō), a weekend Japanese school, previously held its classes in Guaynabo. It closed in March 2006. ==International relations==

Guaynabo serves as a host city to four foreign consulates with business in Puerto Rico: • • • • ==Gallery==

Expreso PR-2, salidas hacia el expreso PR-20 y la carretera PR-23, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.jpg| PR-2, PR-20, and PR-23 in Guaynabo MDCGuaynabonew.jpg|Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo ==See also==