Mayagüez is the eighth-largest
municipality of
Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as
"La Sultana del Caribe" (
The Sultaness of the Caribbean),
"Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" (
City of Pure Waters), or
"Ciudad del Mangó" (
City of the Mango). On April 6, 1894, the Spanish crown gave it the formal title of
"Excelente Ciudad de Mayagüez" (
Excellent City of Mayaquez). Mayagüez is located in the center of the western coast on the island of Puerto Rico. It is both a principal city of the
Mayagüez Metropolitan Statistical Area and the
Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area.