Cayey (ka-YAI) is a mountain town in central Puerto Rico located on the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Salinas; and west of San Lorenzo Cayey is spread over 21 wards and Cayey Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
Cayey is notable for its surrounding mountains. The city has been actively growing since the 1990s, evidenced by its designation as a Metropolitan Area by the U.S. Census Bureau. It has experimented a significant growth in commerce, and many major retailers, such as Wal-Mart have opened stores in this city. A new coliseum and hospital facilities have also bieng built. Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble have manufacturing facilities in Cayey. Cayey is host to one of the main campuses of the University of Puerto Rico. The University of Puerto Rico at Cayey is the only liberal arts college in Puerto Rico.
History
Cayey was founded on August 17, 1773 by Juan Mata Vázquez, who became its first mayor. It is said that Cayey derives its name from the Taino Indian word for "a place of waters". Its original name was "Cayey de Muesas".
During 1880, a fire that later acquired legendary status happened in Cayey's Mirador Echevarria area. The fire broke out on the property of a timber company near Charca Del Pato. Many people and dogs died, and legend has it that the dogs' barking can still be heard, and sometimes, at night, the screams of the men who burned to death can still be heard too.
Flag
The flag derives its design and colors from the Coat of Arms, which is in the center of the flag encirled by a solid black ring. The centered Coat of Arms and has four triangles pointing to it, two white and two red.
Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms has a three tip mountain, a red bull, and a waving blue stripe representing the abundant water in the zone and also in reverence to the primitive Matron of the town of Cayey. The shield is topped with the silver lamb symbol of San Juan of Puerto Rico, and a red book.
Demographics
Barrios (Districts/Wards)
Geo/Topography
Anthem
Alma Boricua
By Clodomiro RodrÃguez
Dejé en los campos de la patria mÃa
un paraÃso, un verdadero edén.
Encuentro al mundo un campo frÃo y desierto
al compararlo con mi borinquén.
¡Viva mi patria, mi bello paÃs!
¡Viva por siempre glorioso y feliz!
Yo veo riquezas en esta tierra extraña.
Yo veo bellezas muy dignas de admirar;
pero hace falta no-sé-qué de encanto
que solo tiene mi terruño ideal.
Dejé al salir de aquellas playas nÃveas
mi hogar querido, el nido de mi amor.
Dejé dos ojos que me lloran siempre,
dos ojos claros, limpios como el sol.
Yo soy boricua. Mi amor es Puerto Rico.
Para mi islita no encuentro parangón.
Nacà en los montes del centro de mi tierra.
¡Yo soy boricua de sangre y corazón!
Economic
Agriculture
Sugar, tobacco
Business
Poultry
Industrial
Cigars and clothing.
Tourism
Cayey's famous tourist attractions, apart from the mountains, include Monumento al J%C3%ADbaro Puertorrique%C3%B1o and Las Tetas De Cayey, also known as "Las Tetas De Doña Fela", which are two mountain tops nicknamed for their similarity to female breasts. The Statue of the Jibarito is an homage to the Jibaro people, the first settlers in the area.
Landmarks and places of interest
Festivals and events
Transportation
Education
Cayey is home of the Cayey University College (1967), a branch of the University of Puerto Rico.
Notable "Cayeyanos"
References
Footnotes
Books about Cayey
Additional Information
Photo gallery
External links
