Mayagüez is located on the western coast of the island of Puerto Rico. It serves as the principal city of both the Mayagüez Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Mayagüez–Aguadilla, PR Combined Statistical Area. As of recent data, the municipality has a population of 73,077 and ranks as the ninth-largest municipality in Puerto Rico.
The city was originally founded as Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez. It is associated with several titles, including La Sultana del Oeste, Ciudad de las Aguas Puras, and Ciudad del Mangó. On April 6, 1894, the Spanish Crown formally granted the city the title of Excelente Ciudad de Mayagüez.