town, east-central Puerto Rico. Caguas lies in the fertile Caguas valley, the largest interior valley of the island. It is linked to San Juan, the capital, by a divided highway. Founded in 1775, Caguas derives its name from a local Indian chief who was an early Christian convert. The town's economic activities include diamond cutting, tobacco processing, and the manufacture of leather goods, glass and plastic products, electronic equipment, clothing, and bedding. Pop. (2000) 88,680.