Caguas, Puerto Rico
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Caguas (founded in 1775) is a municipality located in the eastern central area of Puerto Rico. It is known as El Valle del Turabo (Turabo Valley) or La Ciudad Criolla (The Creole City) and its name originates from the Taíno cacique Caguax.
Caguas is located fifteen minutes to a half hour by car from San Juan and one half hour from Ponce.
Natives of Caguas are called cagüeños.
Caguas is the sister city of Hartford,Connecticut.
Economy
Its community has enjoyed one of the best economies among Puerto Rican cities since at least the 1980s. During the early part of the 20th century, Caguas hosted one of Puerto Rico's most important sugar manufacturers, which gave employment to thousands of cagüeños.Numerous business and important buildings have opened up there since then, including the imposing 23 story apartment building Caguas Tower, its adjacent competitors Bonneville Apartments, the 10 floor San Juan Bautista Medical Center, Plaza del Carmen Mall, Plaza Centro Mall, Las Catalinas Mall, and various other important structures.
In September 2005 City Mayor William Miranda Marin levied the first Municipal tax in Puerto Rico via city ordinance. Area Merchants now charge a one cent tax for every dollar spent on all retail businesses. The tax has become known around the island as the "Willie Tax". It has resulted in a $500,000.00 monthly estimated income for the city. Other Island mayors are looking into the tax system.
During 2006, Miranda Marin began calling Caguas "El Nuevo Pais de Caguas" ("The New Country of Caguas"), a nickname that drew diverse reactions from Puerto Rican political critics. It is unclear whether Miranda Marin just uses the slogan to attract tourists and companies to the area, or whether he is actually looking for Caguas to become an independent country-municipality.
Sports
Baseball team
The Criollos de Caguas baseball team are considered the greatest of all-time in all of Latin America, having won 14 national Puerto Rico titles and 11 Caribbean World Series titles; both titles are records. The team is a member of the LBPPR.Basketball team
The Criollos de Caguas basketball team haven't enjoyed so much success as their fellow town brothers of the baseball team, but in the early 2000s, they showed a lot of progress by reaching the national playoffs various times. The team is a member of the BSN.In 2006, the team won its first BSN national basketball championship, defeating Flor Melendez and his Santurce Crabbers in five games.
Boxing
Caguas counts with the Bairoa Gym, one of the most important boxing gyms in all Puerto Rico and a place where many visiting champions have trained at; such as boxing prospect Miguel Cotto, his brother Jose Miguel, Alberto Mercado, Juan Carazo, Hector Camacho, Alfredo Escalera and others.Volleyball team
The Criollas de Caguas women's volleyball team was a back-to-back national champion from 2000 to 2002. The team is a member of the LVSFPR.Politics
During the 1980s the city was directed by Mayor Angel O. Berrios and Miguel Hernández, and these days it is led by Mayor William Miranda Marin. Mayors Berrios and Miranda Marín are both members of the PPD — the party has led the city for many years.Districts / Counties / Wards
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Famous Cagüeños
- Abelardo Diaz Alfaro - Writer
- Alberto Mercado - Boxer
- Edgardo Diaz - manager of Menudo
- Jose Gautier Benitez - Poet
- Juan Carazo - Boxer
- Julian Solis - Boxer
- Miguel Cotto - Boxer
- Carlos Manuel (Charlie) Rodriguez - First Puertorican named Blessed in the Catholic Church
- Raul Papaleo-Volleyball Player-Gold medalist in the Centroamerican games
- Wilnelia Merced Cruz - Miss World 1975.
- Agnes Tañón Correa- Miss Universe Puerto Rico 1980
References
External links
Education Colleges / Schools / Universities
Others
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