Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

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Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico. Guaynabo is considered, along with neighbors San Juan, Bayamon and Carolina and Toa Baja, to be one of the cities of the Área Metropolitana (Metropolitan Area) in Puerto Rico. The municipio has a land area of 70.26 km² (27.13 sq mi) and a population of 100,053 as of the 2000 census.

Long considered to be just a drive-by town for drivers who were going from San Juan to the western part of Puerto Rico, Guaynabo went through a large economic revitalization in the 1980s, under mayor Alejandro "Junior" Cruz. However, parts of the city have also served as a San Juan suburb preferred by upper-middle and high income families. Perhaps due to this fact, today, Guaynabo has the highest per capita income in Puerto Rico. Torrimar, Garden Hills, San Patricio and Tintillo are among the upper class neighborhoods located in Guaynabo.

With Cruz at the helm, many shopping strips and malls were built, as well as Mario "Quijote" Morales Coliseum (then called Mets Pavilion). In addition, many manufacturing plants such as Hanes' plant set foot in Guaynabo then. Guaynabo has, at different times, been voted the most picturesque and cleanest town in Puerto Rico. Guaynabo is also home to Colegio Marista Guaynabo, located in the Calle Marcelino Champagnat, close to Tierra Alta.

Several businesses have their headquarters in Guaynabo. El Nuevo Día, Santander Securities and many sales offices for large US firms have their Puerto Rican headquarters in Guaynabo.

Mayor Cruz died in the early 1990s, and Hector O' Neill became his successor at the mayor's office. Under O' Neill, Guaynabo has continued to grow economically.

Guaynabo's BSN team, the Guaynabo Mets, won national championships in 1980, 1982 and 1989, commanded by the player after whom the coliseum was named, and his brother in law Federico "Fico" Lopez.

References

[Guaynabo and its barrios, United States Census Bureau]

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Capital	San Juan
Municipalities	Adjuntas • Aguada • Aguadilla • Aguas Buenas • Aibonito • Añasco • Arecibo • Arroyo • Barceloneta • Barranquitas • Bayamón • Cabo Rojo • Caguas • Camuy • Canóvanas • Carolina • Cataño • Cayey • Ceiba • Ciales • Cidra • Coamo • Comerío • Corozal • Culebra • Dorado • Fajardo • Florida • Guánica • Guayama • Guayanilla • Guaynabo • Gurabo • Hatillo • Hormigueros • Humacao • Isabela • Jayuya • Juana Díaz • Juncos • Lajas • Lares • Las Marías • Las Piedras • Loíza • Luquillo • Manatí • Maricao • Maunabo • Mayagüez • Moca • Morovis • Nagüabo • Naranjito • Orocovis • Patillas • Peñuelas • Ponce • Quebradillas • Rincón • Río Grande • Sabana Grande • Salinas • San Germán • San Juan • San Lorenzo • San Sebastián • Santa Isabel • Toa Alta • Toa Baja • Trujillo Alto • Utuado • Vega Alta • Vega Baja • Vieques • Villalba • Yabucoa • Yauco
Largest islands	Culebra • Mona • Puerto Rico • Vieques
	Culture	Geography	Government	History	Economy

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