Mayagüez
Quick Summary
Mayagüez is a city and port located in western Puerto Rico. Established in 1760, it was granted city status in 1877. Despite being damaged by an earthquake and tidal wave in 1918, it was rapidly rebuilt and has since become a progressive center for political activity.
The city boasts an excellent deepwater harbor, making it a primary shipping port for western Puerto Rico. It is a hub for the island's needlework and tuna-processing industries, with additional assembly and electronics manufacturing. Mayagüez is also home to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's experimental station, featuring a vast collection of tropical plants, and is the location of Puerto Rico's only zoo. The Mayagüez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico is also situated here, alongside nuclear research facilities. The municipality includes Mona Island and its agricultural district produces sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, and various fruits and vegetables.1
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