Cayey

Cayey is a town of about 50,000 inhabitants located in the central area of the southwest of Puerto Rico Caguas, Puerto Rico. La Sierra de Cayey derives its name from this charming mountain village.

Its climate is cool due to its privileged location between the mountains of the Sierra de Cayey. It is headquartered at the University of Puerto Rico, one of the main campuses of the UPR and the only liberal arts institution in the Caribbean.

It is considered the most beautiful campus across the Caribbean region, for its pleasant peace and cultural centers.
It is the only place in the world where the Coqui El Dorado, in the Forest of Guavate today is endangered. Farallon was founded in the neighborhood of the river of silver, the longest of Puerto Rico, which crosses to the north.

Cayey goes back to what was called Toit indigenous villages on the banks of the River Plate. Cayey was cited for the first time in 1519, then in 1532 by Bishop Fray Damian Lopez de Haro (1645).

The people appeared to have founded it as: Cayey, Cahey, Cayei and Caiyey. In 1805, there it still appeared as Calley Cayey. On June 2^nd 1773, neighbors were able to found the village. Juan Mata Vazquez was founded on August 17^th 1773, the people staying as mayor.

They also probably donated the land that is now part of the village. Cayey had 6 to 7 homes and a church. The church was made of wood, and in 1787 the chapel was built.  Construction was completed in 1813 and in 1846 the atrium was added, and the clock tower in 1893.  In 1850 the municipality was considered second class.

Cayey Church was founded under the advocation of Our Lady of the Assumption and the patronage of San Isidro Labrador. In 1794 the parish was separated from Coamo, being named as a category of the entry on April 20^th1858 and rose on July 22^nd 1896.

The road between Cayey and Caguas was completed in 1827. And in 1854 the bridge on the road to Cayey Cidra was inaugurated.  In 1878 the road was between Aibonito and Cayey-Arroyo in 1895.

When Americans come to powe, Cayey had 14,442 inhabitants.  As for education for 1853 there was a public school with 41 male students and in 1876 the number of schools increased to seven.   In 1875, the road which passed through central Cayey disappeared in  and neighborhoods Carite Carite Up and Down were formed and Cedar Vegas emerged. Culebra and Jajome neighborhoods were divided into Upper and Culebras Culebras Jajome High and Low and Low Jaome.   The Communication manager in charge of the post office was Maximo Vazquez (1866).  They also obtained a telephone line linking the towns of Cayey and Caguas.

In 1895, the municipality of Cayey was first class. The aqueduct was inaugurated in 1909 and sewerage in 1916. The radio WLEY began offering its services on December 3rd 1965.  And the following newspapers were in print: El Porvenir; The Scalpel; Cayey News Letter; the Democratic Ideal; La Opinion; El Arco Iris; El Heraldo de Cayey; Heraldo School East Socialist Youth and the Voice of Cayey; Culture; Mail Torito; Cayey and Surco.

In the past it was used by the United States army as Camp Henry Barracks. Taking part of their territory south of the neighborhood where they had three Montellano communication towers.