Historical Overview

Founded on January 1, 1775, Caguas, known as the 'Ciudad Criolla' and the 'Valle del Turabo,' grew from a vast crown livestock territory called the 'Hato de Caguas' within the jurisdiction of San Juan. Situated in the fertile central-eastern valley, it became the regional hub connecting San Juan to the southern and eastern parts of the island. As a pueblo matriz, Caguas's original territory gave rise to San Lorenzo (1811), Gurabo (1815), and Aguas Buenas (1838). For genealogists, the Catedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús holds some of the earliest continuous interior records on the island, with baptisms dating to 1730.

Coat of Arms

The Caguas shield features crossed arrows representing Taíno Chief Caguax and the indigenous roots of the valley; a pineapple symbolizing the agricultural fertility of the Turabo valley; and a crown representing the patron Dulce Nombre de Jesús (Sweet Name of Jesus). The colors blue and gold signify the clear skies and waters of the valley and the richness of its Creole culture.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Caguas has 11 barrios:

Bairoa
Beatriz
Borinquen
Cañabón
Cañaboncito
Pueblo
Río Cañas
San Antonio
San Salvador
Tomás de Castro
Turabo

Daughter Municipalities

The following municipalities separated from Caguas. Residents recorded events before their founding year in Caguas's parish:

Neighboring Municipalities

Also check records in neighboring municipalities:

Historical Maps

Historical maps help identify barrios, boundaries, and communities as they existed in the past. Maps from the 18th and 19th centuries are preferred.

Caguas (2026)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, TIGER/Line Shapefiles

Genealogy Toolkit

Civil Records

Began in 1885

Covers births, marriages, and deaths.

⬇ Search Civil Records

Parish Records

Parish: Catedral Dulce Nombre de Jesús

Records from 1730

⬇ Search Catholic Records

FamilySearch account required. The record links below open digitized images on FamilySearch. You must be logged in to a free FamilySearch account to view the records. Create a free account or sign in before clicking any link.

Digital Archives

FamilySearch: Caguas Civil and parish records
Documentos Archivo Histórico de Caguas Digital Archive Over 150 boxes of digitized documents from the Caguas Municipal Historical Archive (1806–1955), including government correspondence, administrative records, slave registers (padrones de esclavos), and maps; more than 800,000 images available.
Find A Grave: Caguas Cemetery Records Burial records for the Cementerio Municipal de Caguas; useful for verifying death dates and family plots from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records, 1645–1969 Digitized Records Islandwide Catholic church-record collection including baptisms, marriages, burials, and confirmations. Includes Caguas parish records.
Puerto Rico Civil Registration, 1885–2001 Digitized Records Civil registration births, marriages, and deaths for all Puerto Rico municipalities including Caguas, beginning 1885.
FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide