Central Guánica Explained

Central Guánica
Location Map:	Puerto Rico
Coordinates:	17.9685°N -66.9296°W
City:	Guánica
Owner:	South Puerto Rico Sugar Company (1901-1967) Gulf and Western Industries (1967-1970s)

Central Guánica was a sugar mill located in Ensenada Barrio in the municipality of Guánica, Puerto Rico. It was one of the largest sugar mills in the Caribbean, and until World War I, it was one of the largest mills in the world.^[1] It ceased operations in 1982.

History

Its owners, the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company of New Jersey, began construction of the Central Guánica sugar mill in 1901. A company town, which included a hospital, school, and housing facilities was organized around the sugar mill.

In 1967, South Puerto Rico Sugar Company was acquired by Gulf and Western Industries, which later sold the sugar mill during the 1970s.

In 2002, the government of Puerto Rico declared the two chimneys of the sugar mill as historic monuments.^[2]

See also

• Central Coloso
• Central Cortada
• Central San Vicente

Notes and References

1. Book: Ayala, César J. . American sugar kingdom: the plantation economy of the Spanish Caribbean . registration . 226 . central guanica. . 978-0-8078-4788-6 . 1999 . UNC Press.
2. Web site: LEY NUM. 154 DE 10 DE AGOSTO DE 2002. Lex Juris. Spanish. 23 January 2010.