| Ponce metropolitan area | |
| Other Name: | Spanish; Castilian: Área metropolitana de Ponce |
| Settlement Type: | Metropolitan area |
| Mapsize: | 325px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | Territory |
| Subdivision Name1: | Puerto Rico |
| Parts Type: | Principal cities |
| Parts Style: | para |
| P1: | |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | MSA |
| Population Blank2 Title: | CSA |
| Utc Offset: | −4 |
| Timezone Dst: | AST |
| Map Caption1: | Statistical areas in Puerto Rico |
The Ponce metropolitan area (Spanish: área metropolitana de Ponce), is the second largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in Puerto Rico, comprising the municipalities of Ponce, Juana Díaz, Yauco, Villalba, Peñuelas, Adjuntas, and Guayanilla between the coastal plain and the Cordillera Central mountain subrange in the south central region of the main island. One of 6 metropolitan statistical areas in Puerto Rico, it lies within the Ponce–Coamo combined statistical area (CSA), which is one of 3 primary statistical areas in the main island as defined by the United States Census Bureau. As of 2023, census estimates place the population of the Ponce metropolitan area at 266,237.[1] [2] [3]
With a population of 266,237 as of 2023, the Ponce metropolitan area (MSA) is the second most populous in Puerto Rico, covering 7 of 78 municipalities in the southwestern region of the main island. Ponce is considered to be its principal city.[4] The Ponce metropolitan area is the 188th most populated in the United States between the Erie, PA MSA and the Lynchburg, VA MSA.
The Yauco Metropolitan Statistical Area was formerly a separate area in Puerto Rico, but this area was dissolved and three of its municipalities were added to the Ponce metropolitan area in 2023.[6]
The Ponce–Coamo combined statistical area (CSA) is divided into one metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), the Ponce MSA, and one micropolitan area (μSA), the Coamo μSA, covering 9 of 78 municipalities in Puerto Rico.
The 2010 census placed the population at 414,322, a 12.47% decrease over the 2000 census figure of 473,357.[7] [8] The 2020 census placed the population at 351,446, a 15.18% decrease over the 2010 census figure of 414,322.
With an estimated population of 337,492 as of 2023, the Ponce–Coamo combined statistical area is the 3rd most populous CSA in Puerto Rico and the 111th most populous CSA in the United States between the Erie–Meadville, PA CSA and the Evansville–Henderson, IN-KY CSA.
Ponce–Coamo combined statistical area (CSA)
Comprising Ponce, Juana Díaz, Yauco, Villalba, Peñuelas, Adjuntas, and Guayanilla, the Ponce metropolitan area is situated between the southern coastal plain and the Cordillera Central mountain subrange in the south central region of the main island of Puerto Rico. Comprising Coamo and Santa Isabel, the neighboring Coamo micropolitan area is situated the southern coastal plain, and the Cordillera Central and Sierra de Cayey mountain subranges in the south central region of the main island of Puerto Rico.
All municipalities have an urbanized, densely populated downtown area and administrative center, categorized as a barrio and known as a pueblo, and concentrated urbanized residential areas with large populations, especially along the coastline of Ponce. All municipalities have rural areas, particularly those that lie on mountainous terrain, which is extensive on all jurisdictions, except for the strictly coastal and flat Santa Isabel.