# Timeline of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.

## 18th-19th centuries

* 1760 - Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez (Our Lady of Candlemas) settlement established by Spanish colonist Faustino Martínez de Matos.
* 1763 - Settlement of Mayaguez formally separated from the larger San Germán area.
* 1770 - Population: 1,800.
* 1823 - José María Ramírez de Arellano becomes mayor.
* 1836
** Mayaguez becomes a villa (chartered town).
** Public warehouse and dock constructed.
* 1841
** Fire.
** "Entry port privilege" relocated to Mayaguez from Cabo Rojo (approximate date).
* 1845 - Mayagüez City Hall built.
* 1848 - El Imparcial and El Propagador newspapers begins publication.
* 1849 - Jail built.
* 1850 - El Semanario Mayaguezano begins publication.
* 1852 - Fire.
* 1860
** Market building constructed.
** San Antonio Hospital active (approximate date).
* 1863 - Avisador del Comercio newspaper begins publication.
* 1870 - Cemetery established.
* 1873 - Mayagüez attains city status.
* 1874 - Biblioteca Popular de Mayagüez (public library) and Circulo de Amigos founded.
* 1883 - Population: 26,705 in ayuntamiento (city); 123,583 in departamento (province).
* 1893 - Sociedad Anónima Tranvía de Mayagüez (transit entity) active (approximate date).
* 1894
** Escuela Libre de Música (music school) founded.
** City coat of arms granted.
* 1896 - Statue of Christopher Columbus erected in the Plaza Colón.
* 1898 - Theodore Schwan, a brigadier general of the U.S. enters Mayagüez with the American Cavalry after winning the Battle of Silva Heights.
* 1899
** Hormigueros becomes part of Mayagüez.
** Population: 15,187.

## 20th century

* 1901
** U.S. Tropical Agriculture Research Station founded.
** Voz de la Patria newspaper begins publication.
* 1909 - Teatro Yagüez built.
* 1910 - Population: 16,591.
* 1911
** College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts opens. The US Department of Agriculture sends a field agent to the area of Mayagüez and Hormigueros to document everything he sees.
** Diario del Oeste newspaper begins publication.
* 1912 - Masonic Logia Adelphia built.
* 1913
** Mayagüez Tramway Company formed.
** Centro Español built.
* 1918 - October 11: 1918 San Fermín earthquake.
* 1919 - June 19: Teatro Yagüez burns down.
* 1920 - Population: 19,069.
* 1926 - Tram service ends.
* 1930 - Population: 37,060.
* 1937
** WPRA radio begins broadcasting.
** Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico in business.
* 1938 - Indios de Mayagüez baseball team formed.
* 1940 - Population: 50,376.
* 1946 - WKJB radio begins broadcasting.
* 1955 - WORA-TV (television) begins broadcasting.
* 1966 - University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez active.
* 1969 - Benjamin Cole becomes mayor.
* 1970 - Population: 68,872.
* 1976 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Mayagüez established.
* 1983 - First newspaper originating in Mayagüez begins publication.
* 1993 - José Guillermo Rodríguez becomes mayor.
* 2000 - Population: 78,647.

## 21st century

* 2010
** Isidoro García Stadium and Mayagüez Athletics Stadium open.
** Parque del Litoral (park) built.
** 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games sport event held in Mayagüez.
** Population: 89,080.