Guayama comes from the name of a Taíno cacique (chief), who was leader of the tribes in the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico.

[7] Another story tells that the nickname comes from a legendary baseball player from the city's local team, Moncho El Brujo, who according to legend owed his success as a pitcher to witchcraft.

[10] During the early years of the Spanish colonization, the region known today as Guayama was inhabited by Taíno native people.

Construction on Guayama's Parroquial church of San Antonio de Padua began in 1827 and was completed 40 years later.

In 1831, the territory comprised the neighborhoods: Algarrobos, Ancones, Arroyo, Carreras, Guayama Pueblo, Guamaní, Jobos, Machete, and Yaurel.

By 1878, Guayama was a department head including: Comerío (then Sabana del Palmar), Cidra, Cayey, Salinas, Arroyo, San Lorenzo (then called Hato Grande), Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Gurabo, and Juncos.

The development continued with the construction of the town cemetery in 1844, the slaughterhouse and meat market in 1851, and a wooden theater of two levels in 1878.

However, en route to Puerto Rico Miles concluded that a San Juan landing was vulnerable to attack by small boats, and so changed plans.

Ponce, said at the time to be the largest city in Puerto Rico, was connected with San Juan by a 110-kilometre (70 mi) military road, well defended by the Spanish at Coamo and Aibonito.

Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States.

In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Guayama was 12,749.

In the early twentieth century, there were selected societies such as the 'Coliseo Derkes' and 'Grupo Primavera', which endowed performing arts as well as scientific events.

During that same decade agriculture began to decline as a result of land loss, industrialization and the construction of multiple housing developments.

In Guayama, the hurricane triggered numerous landslides and caused major destruction with an estimated 2000 homes losing their roof.

[1][17] The Municipality of Guayama is located on the Southern Coastal Valley region, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Cayey; east of Salinas; and west of Patillas and Arroyo.

Guayama's municipal territory reaches the central mountain range to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

The Aguirre Forest includes: mangroves, tidal flats, bird rookeries, research lakes & large manatee population.

The reserve is located between the coasts of Salinas and Guayama, approximately 1,167 hectares (2,883 acres) of mangrove forest and freshwater wetlands.

The two main components: Mar Negro mangrove forest, which consists of a mangrove forest and a complex system of lagoons and channels interspersed with salt and mud flats; and Cayos Caribe Islets, which are surrounded by coral reefs and seagrass beds, with small beach deposits and upland areas.

The municipal buildings, central square and large Catholic church are located in a barrio referred to as "el pueblo".

[20][21][22][23] Population, per 2010 census: Algarrobo 6,959; Caimital 4,124; Carite 1,210; Carmen 619; Guamaní 1,455 ; Guayama Pueblo 16,891; Jobos 8,286; Machete 3,846; Palmas 709; Pozo Hondo 1,263; Total 45,362.

[31] In 2015, Guayama launched its "grastromic route", with certified restaurants to meet the needs of tourists and locals alike.

Guayama is the birthplace of numerous artists and musicians who have significantly influenced Puerto Rican culture.

[17][35] Feria Dulce Sueño named after a famous Puerto Rican horse is held each March in Guayama.

Dulce Sueño, the most influential sire in the modern Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed, was born in Guayama.

Guayama also used to have a basketball team in the Puerto Rico's BSN (Brujos de Guayama) that went to the League finals twice back in 1991 and 1994 but lost both times to eventual champions Atleticos de San German, it was announced that the team will return for the league's 2012 season.

[38] The Guayama Convention Center hosted some of the roller skating events for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games that took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico from July 18, 2010, to August 1, 2010.

In terms of race and ethnicity, the 2010 U.S. Census stated the following concerning Guayameses: All municipalities in Puerto Rico are administered by a mayor, elected every four years.

PR-54 also serves as the main route towards PR-53, connecting Guayama to the neighboring town of Salinas and PR-52, providing expressway access towards Ponce, San Juan, and Caguas.