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Calle Méndez Vigo (Mayagüez)  Calle Méndez Vigo (Mendez Vigo Street) is a major thoroughfare in the western Puerto Rico municipality of Mayagüez with a length of about 1.22 miles (2 km). The street is oriented east–west with traffic running one-way westbound with the number of lanes going from one to two after the road passes Calle Ramón Emeterio Betances (formerly Post Street) in downtown Mayagüez.[1] Some of the most important historical places in Mayagüez are located on this street:
History of the nameThe street is named after Spanish General Santiago de Méndez Vigo, who was Governor of Puerto Rico during the early 1840s.[2] The Great Fire of 1841 on January 30 destroyed much of the Villa; of the 700 houses in Mayagüez, only 40 remained. Governor Santiago Méndez Vigo was informed and he immediately headed towards Mayagüez on horseback with a few of his assistants.[3] The governor brings with him 20,000 pesos in silver coins to help the victims of the fire.[3] The Villa of Mayagüez in a gratefulness to the Governor changes the name of the main street to Méndez Vigo. Before the street was called Calle Comercio (Commerce Street).[4] See alsoReferences
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