BAYAMON, an interior town in Porto Rico. The population of the town itself was Io,411 by the census of 1920 and 12,986 in 193o. The population of the municipal district in 193o was The town is situated in a beautiful and fertile valley about I2m. from San Juan, the capital of Porto Rico. It is one of the oldest towns in the island, having its origin in a small community known as Pueblo Viejo, founded in 1509 by Ponce de Leon. The munic ipal district claims the distinction of being the one in which the first city in Porto Rico, originally known as "Villa de Caparra" was founded by the Spanish settlers. It was the capital of the island until 1521, when the present city of San Juan was made the seat of local government. The present town and municipality of Bayamon was founded in 17 7 2.
Bayamon is the centre of one of the most productive fruit regions in Porto Rico. Oranges, limes, lemons, bananas, grape fruit and pineapples are grown on well managed fruit farms, and canning is one of the principal industries. Sugar, tobacco and coffee are also produced in the municipality. The town is on the line of the American railroad, is connected also with San Juan by a trolley line, and motor-buses make frequent trips to and from the capital.