major city and principal port of southern Puerto Rico. The third most populous urban centre of the island, after San Juan and Bayamón, the city is situated 3 miles (5 km) north of its port, Playa de Ponce. Founded in either 1670 or 1680 as Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Ponce, it was raised to the status of town in 1692, to that of villa in 1848, and to that of city in 1877. In 1897 Spain's overseas minister designated Ponce as the capital of the southern region, one of the island's two major districts. In 1898 Ponce, with the rest of the island, came under the jurisdiction of the United States, which made extensive harbour improvements to it.

Among the major industries of Ponce are canning, sugar refining, and the production of cement, paper, iron, shoes, textiles, and rum; there is also diamond cutting and the manufacture of ball bearings, electrical devices, tools and dies, and aluminum windows. The city is linked to Mayagüez and Guayama by modern roads and to San Juan by a highway and regular air service. Cultural facilities include the Catholic University of Puerto Rico (1948), a regional college of the University of Puerto Rico, and the Museum of Art. The city has also preserved many old Spanish homes and churches.

Sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, fruits, and grazing flourish in the area around Ponce despite a rainfall that varies from only 15 to more than 40 inches (375 to 1,000 mm) annually. Pop. (2000) city, 155,038; (2000) urban agglom., 195,037.