Historical Overview

Mayagüez was formally established on September 18, 1760, by Faustino Martínez de Matos on land near the mouth of the Yagüez River. Its strategic deep-water port made it a primary center for sugar and coffee exports during the 19th century, earning the title of City in 1877. Known as La Sultana del Oeste (Sultana of the West), the city was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in 1918 that destroyed much of its historic center; the subsequent reconstruction gave Mayagüez its distinctive architectural character. Today it is the cultural and economic capital of western Puerto Rico, home to the Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez (RUM) and Puerto Rico's only zoo. For genealogical research, the Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria holds parish registers dating to the town's founding in 1760, though records were damaged in the 1918 disaster. The Mayagüez Sabe a Mangó digital project is actively digitizing and publishing local historical documents.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms features castles and lions symbolizing the Spanish Crown and the Kingdom of Castile, Columbus's fleet representing the discovery of Puerto Rico, and waves for the Yagüez River and the city's deep-water port. A mural crown with four towers signifies its status as a major city.

Barrios

Genealogical records often identify individuals by barrio. Mayagüez has 22 barrios:

• Algarrobos
• Bateyes
• Guanajibo
• Isla de Mona e Islote Monito
• Juan Alonso
• Leguísamo
• Limón
• Malezas
• Mayagüez Arriba
• Mayagüez Pueblo
• Miradero
• Montoso
• Naranjales
• Orcasitas
• Quemado
• Quintas
• Río Cañas Abajo
• Río Cañas Arriba
• Río Hondo
• Rosario
• Sabanetas
• Sábalos

Daughter Municipalities

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

• Las Marías (founded 1871) — Inmaculada Concepción
• Hormigueros (founded 1874) — Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate
• Maricao (founded 1874) — San Juan Bautista

Neighboring Municipalities

Also check records in neighboring municipalities:

• Añasco — San Antonio Abad
• Las Marías — Inmaculada Concepción
• Hormigueros — Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate
• Cabo Rojo — San Miguel Arcángel
• Maricao — San Juan Bautista
• San Germán — San Germán de Auxerre

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.

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Historical maps coming soon

Genealogy Toolkit

Civil Records

Began in 1885

Covers births, marriages, and deaths.

⬇ Search Civil Records

Parish Records

Parish: Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

Records from 1760

⬇ Search Catholic Records

Digital Archives

• FamilySearch: Mayagüez Civil and parish records
• Mayagüez Sabe a Mangó — Digital Archive Portal Digital Project A dedicated portal where historical documents and cultural records for Mayagüez are being uploaded and made accessible.
• Civil Registry: Mayagüez Records (1885–1991) Civil Registry Digitized vital records for Mayagüez on FamilySearch, covering births, marriages, and deaths.
• Notas para su Historia: Mayagüez (OECH PDF) Government History (PDF) A comprehensive historical study of Mayagüez, part of the official government series published by the Office of Historic Preservation of Puerto Rico.
• ADNPR — Mayagüez Collections Archives High-quality maps and administrative documents from the Spanish era, accessible through the Puerto Rico Digital Newspaper Archive.
• FamilySearch: Puerto Rico Genealogy Complete records guide

Further Reading

• Mayagüez: Notas para su historia — Silvia Aguiló Ramos Book A detailed volume documenting the city's economic development, social history, and the 1918 earthquake.
• Historia de Mayagüez, 1760–1960 — Federico Cedó Alzamora Book The definitive bicentennial history of the city, covering its evolution from a small village to a regional capital.
• Mayagüez: Ciudad del Sol — Lidio Cruz Monclova Book A cultural overview focused on the literary and political figures that emerged from the western capital.
• El Terremoto de 1918 en Mayagüez — Various Authors (OECH) Government Publication A specialized study of the impact and reconstruction efforts following the 1918 earthquake and tsunami disaster.