Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, officially called the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. It is an unincorporated territory of the United States, meaning it is under U.S. control but not one of the 50 states. The main island is surrounded by smaller islands like Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. Many people live there, with San Juan being the largest city.

The islands were first home to Indigenous peoples thousands of years ago. Spain claimed Puerto Rico in 1493 after Christopher Columbus arrived, and it stayed under Spanish rule for over 400 years. In 1898, after a war between Spain and the United States, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory. Today, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but they cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections or elect representatives who can vote in Congress.

Puerto Rico has a strong economy, with many jobs in manufacturing, especially in pharmaceuticals and electronics. Tourism is also important, drawing visitors to its beautiful beaches and rich history. The island mixes influences from Indigenous, Spanish, and African cultures, creating a unique and vibrant way of life.

Etymology

Puerto Rico means "rich port" in Spanish. People from Puerto Rico often call the island Boricua, from an old word Boriquen, meaning "Land of the Valiant Lord". Other names like borinqueño also come from this word.

When Christopher Columbus arrived, he named the island San Juan Bautista to honor Saint John the Baptist. The main city was called Ciudad de Puerto Rico, meaning "Rich Port City". Over time, people started calling the whole island Puerto Rico, and the city became San Juan.

After the Treaty of Paris of 1898, the United States changed the name to Porto Rico. In 1931, the name was officially changed back to Puerto Rico.

The official Spanish name is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, meaning "Free Associated State of Puerto Rico", created in 1952. Puerto Rico is a part of the United States, with its own government but still under U.S. rules for things like defense.

History

Main article: History of Puerto Rico

The story of Puerto Rico starts long ago with the Ortoiroid people who lived there before 430 BC. When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, the Taíno were the main group of people there. Their numbers dropped a lot in the 1500s because of new diseases from Europe.

Puerto Rico was very important to the Spanish Empire. It was a strong military place during many wars. In 1593, Portuguese soldiers built the San Felipe del Morro fortress. Some of these soldiers married Puerto Rican women, and today many families have Portuguese last names. Puerto Rico was a stop on the way from Europe to places like Cuba and Mexico.

In 1898, during a war between Spain and the United States, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory. In 1917, Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens. In 1952, Puerto Rico made its own constitution. During the Cold War, people talked about whether Puerto Rico should be independent or stay as it was.

In 2017, big storms hit Puerto Rico very hard, causing lots of damage. Many people left the island after this, looking for better lives elsewhere. In recent years, people in Puerto Rico have voted to become a U.S. state, but this has not happened yet.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Puerto Rico

See also: Geology of Puerto Rico and List of islands of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has one big island and many smaller islands, such as Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos. Only Culebra and Vieques have people living on them all year. Mona is mostly where workers from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources stay. There are also small rocks and islands like Monito near Mona, and Isla de Cabras and La Isleta de San Juan near the San Juan Bay. La Isleta de San Juan is where people live on a small island, with places like Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra connected to the big island by bridges.

Puerto Rico covers 3,515 square miles (9,100 km²), with land and water areas. The big island is 110 mi (180 km) long and 40 mi (64 km) wide. It is the smallest of the Greater Antilles.

The land is mostly hilly with flat areas along the north and south coasts. The big hilly area is called the Cordillera Central. The highest point, Cerro de Punta, is 4,390 feet (1,340 m) tall. Another tall mountain is El Yunque in the Sierra de Luquillo at the El Yunque National Forest, which is 3,494 ft (1,065 m) tall.

Puerto Rico has 17 lakes made by people, and more than 50 rivers. Most rivers start in the Cordillera Central. Rivers in the north are usually longer and have more water than those in the south, because the south gets less rain.

Puerto Rico is made of rocks from different times, from Cretaceous to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks, covered by younger Oligocene and more recent carbonates and other sedimentary rocks. The oldest rocks are at Sierra Bermeja in the southwest. These rocks may be from the oceanic crust.

Puerto Rico sits where the Caribbean and North American plates meet, and this can cause earthquakes. These events can be dangerous for the island and nearby areas.

The Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest place in the Atlantic, is north of Puerto Rico. It is very long and deep. The Mona Canyon is another deep area between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Climate

The climate of Puerto Rico is mostly like a tropical rainforest. Temperatures stay warm all year, around 85 °F (29 °C) lower down and 70 °F (21 °C) in the mountains. There is a wet time from April to November and a dry time from December to March. Mountains cause changes in temperature and rain over short distances. Puerto Rico gets hurricanes, like the rest of the Caribbean. In 2017, Puerto Rico faced big storms that caused trouble.

Biodiversity

Main articles: Fauna of Puerto Rico and Flora of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has different land areas with plants and animals: Puerto Rican moist forests, Puerto Rican dry forests, and Greater Antilles mangroves. Two special places are the Luquillo Biosphere Reserve at El Yunque National Forest and the Guánica Biosphere Reserve.

Some plants, birds, and animals live only in Puerto Rico. One well-known animal is the coquí, a tiny frog. Most coquí live in El Yunque National Forest. Other places with special plants and animals are the Maricao and Toro Negro state forests.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Puerto Rico, Political status of Puerto Rico, and Politics of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a government like the American model, with separation of powers under the United States. All powers come from the United States Congress, and the head of state is the President of the United States. As a territory, Puerto Rico does not have full protection under the U.S. Constitution.

The government has three parts. The executive is led by the governor, now Jenniffer González-Colón. The legislative branch has the bicameral Legislative Assembly, with a Senate and a House of Representatives; the Senate is led by a president, now José Luis Dalmau, and the House by the speaker of the House, now Tatito Hernández. The governor and legislators are elected every four years, with the last election held in November 2024. The judicial branch is led by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, now Maite Oronoz Rodríguez. Judges are chosen by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Puerto Rico is represented in the U.S. Congress by a nonvoting delegate, the resident commissioner, now Pablo Hernández Rivera. The commissioner can vote in committees but not in the Committee of the Whole.

Puerto Rico’s elections are managed by the Federal Election Commission and the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico. People in Puerto Rico cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections but can vote in primaries. Those who move to a U.S. state or Washington, D.C. can vote in presidential elections.

Puerto Rico has eight senatorial districts, 40 representative districts, and 78 municipalities; there are no first-level areas set by the U.S. government. Municipalities are split into barrios. Each municipality has a mayor and a legislature elected for four years. The municipality of San Juan is the oldest, founded in 1521.

Political parties and elections

Main article: Political party strength in Puerto Rico

Since 1952, Puerto Rico has three main parties: the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), the New Progressive Party (PNP) and the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP). The PPD wants to keep Puerto Rico as a commonwealth with the U.S., the PNP wants Puerto Rico to become a U.S. state, and the PIP wants Puerto Rico to be an independent nation. The PPD and PNP usually each get about 47% of votes, while the PIP gets about 5%.

After 2007, other parties formed. The Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party registered in 2007 but stopped after not getting enough votes in 2008. In 2012, the Movimiento Unión Soberanista (Sovereign Union Movement) and the Partido del Pueblo Trabajador (Working People's Party) appeared but got less than 1% of votes. Other small parties include the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, the Socialist Workers Movement, and the Hostosian National Independence Movement.

Political status

Main articles: Political status of Puerto Rico and Proposed political status for Puerto Rico

The relationship between Puerto Rico and the U.S. is debated. The main question is whether Puerto Rico should stay a U.S. territory, become a U.S. state, or become independent.

Puerto Rico follows the plenary powers of the U.S. Congress under the territorial clause of Article IV of the U.S. Constitution. Laws from the U.S. federal government apply to Puerto Rico, no matter its status. People there do not vote in the U.S. Congress. Puerto Rico does not have full sovereignty, like managing relations with other nations, which the U.S. government controls. The U.S. Supreme Court says that once the U.S. Constitution applies to a place, it stays.

Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens in 1917 through the Jones–Shafroth Act. They cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections, but both major parties hold primaries there to choose candidates. Since Puerto Rico is a territory and not a state, the U.S. Constitution does not fully apply there. Puerto Ricans have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and been included in the U.S. compulsory draft when active.

Though Puerto Rico has its own taxes, people there pay some U.S. federal taxes, like customs, import/export, and social security taxes. They pay federal payroll taxes, such as Social Security and Medicare, and local income taxes. Some also pay federal income taxes.

In 2009, Puerto Rico paid $3.742 billion to the U.S. Treasury. People there can get Social Security when they retire but not Supplemental Security Income, and the island gets less Medicaid money than a state would. Medicare payments are also lower.

Local laws come from Congress, not local control. Crimes can only be tried in federal or local courts to avoid double jeopardy.

In 1992, President George H. W. Bush said to treat Puerto Rico like a state when it would not disrupt federal programs. Many federal agencies work in Puerto Rico, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, Social Security Administration, and others. Puerto Rico has its own Commonwealth judicial system and a U.S. federal court. Sonia Sotomayor, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent, is an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Puerto Ricans have served in high federal jobs, including as U.S. ambassadors.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Municipalities of Puerto Rico

Unlike most U.S. states, Puerto Rico has no areas like counties but has 78 municipalities or municipios. Municipalities are split into barrios. Each has a mayor and a legislature elected for four years, under the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991.

Foreign and intergovernmental relations

Main article: Foreign and intergovernmental relations of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico follows the Commerce and Territorial Clause of the U.S. Constitution, limiting its ties with other nations. It has trade deals with some countries, mainly in Latin America, and offices in many places, including Spain, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia, Washington, D.C., New York City and Florida. These need U.S. permission. Puerto Rico hosts consulates from 41 countries, mostly from the Americas and Europe, mainly in San Juan.

Locally, the Department of State of Puerto Rico, led by the secretary of state of Puerto Rico, handles international ties. It works with consuls and honorary consuls in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration and the Office of the Resident Commissioner manage ties with the U.S. government. The current secretary of state is Larry Seilhamer Rodríguez from the New Progressive Party, and the current director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration is Jennifer M. Stopiran, also from the NPP and the Republican Party.

The resident commissioner of Puerto Rico, the delegate elected to represent Puerto Rico before the federal government, sits in the U.S. House, serves on committees, and acts like a legislator but cannot vote on final bills. The current commissioner is Jenniffer González-Colón, from the New Progressive Party and the Republican Party, elected in 2016.

Many Puerto Ricans have been U.S. ambassadors, such as to the Organization of American States, mostly in Latin America. For example, Maricarmen Aponte, a Puerto Rican, served as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador.

Military

Main article: Military of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s defense is handled by the U.S., under U.S. Northern Command. It has its own National Guard and state defense force, the Puerto Rico State Guard, under the Puerto Rico National Guard.

The commander-in-chief is the governor of Puerto Rico, who gives power to the Puerto Rico adjutant general, now Major General José J. Reyes. The adjutant general leads the state guard and the Puerto Rico National Guard.

The military includes the U.S. Navy at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, U.S. Army at Fort Buchanan, the Puerto Rican Army and Air National Guards, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Puerto Rico Army National Guard does duties like ground defense and disaster relief. The Puerto Rico Air National Guard is also part of this.

In the 20th century, the U.S. had about 25 military bases in Puerto Rico. Some former Navy sites at Vieques and Sabana Seca are now partly local government land. Puerto Ricans have fought in many U.S. conflicts, like the American Revolution, under General Bernardo de Gálvez. They are well represented today. The 65th Infantry Regiment, called The Borinqueneers, served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the war on terror; in 2014, it got the Congressional Gold Medal for bravery in the Korean War.

Many Puerto Ricans serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, often in the National Guard or as civilian workers. The military community is about 100,000 people, including retirees. Fort Buchanan has about 4,000 military and civilian workers. About 17,000 are in the Puerto Rico Army and Air National Guards or the U.S. Reserve forces.

Law

Main articles: Constitution of Puerto Rico and Law of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s legal system mixes civil law and common law. It is the only U.S. area where the main language is not English but Spanish. Title 48 of the United States Code explains the U.S. Code’s role in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico. After the U.S. took control in 1901, it made new laws based on California’s at the time. Puerto Rico now uses court rules instead of statutes for some laws, but parts of its criminal law still come from the California Penal Code.

The judicial branch is led by the chief justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, the only appeals court required by the Constitution. Other courts are made by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. There is also a Federal District Court for Puerto Rico, and someone accused of a federal crime cannot be tried again in a local court for the same act, since Puerto Rico is a territory, not a state separate from Congress. The U.S. Supreme Court said in 2016 that this would be double jeopardy.

Crime

Main articles: Crime in Puerto Rico and Illegal drugs in Puerto Rico

Economy

Puerto Rico is a place where people live and work. It makes things like medicines, clothes, and electronics. It also has services like banking, insurance, and tourism. Farming is a small part of its work. The island has had money problems in the past.

Many of Puerto Rico's troubles come from rules that changed or stopped working for the island, and its government has a lot of debt. Life there is harder than in many U.S. states, but it is an important part of Latin America.

Tourism

In 2017, a big storm called Hurricane Maria hurt the island a lot. Many hotels were closed, but by 2019, most places for tourists were open again. Tourism is very important for Puerto Rico because it helps the economy.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Making medicines is a big job in Puerto Rico. The island makes a lot of medicines, second only to a state in the U.S.

Fiscal debt

In 2017, Puerto Rico had a lot of debt. The government had trouble paying this money back and needed help from the U.S. Congress to fix its money problems.

Public finances

Puerto Rico’s government spends more money than it has, creating a big problem with debt. This has been happening for many years. This makes it hard for the government to pay for important things.

Cost of living

Living in Puerto Rico can be expensive. Things like electricity and food cost more than in many other places. Many groceries come from other countries, which makes them pricier. The money people earn is less than in the U.S., and many families struggle to afford what they need.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Puerto Rico

People in Puerto Rico use roads, buses, and trains to get around. There are three big airports and many ports where ships come and go.

Utilities

Electricity

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) takes care of electricity for the island. In 2018, new rules allowed other companies to help with electricity, which changed how things worked.

Water and sewage

Similarly, the Puerto Rico Aqueducts and Sewers Authority (PRASA) manages water for the island. It is the only company allowed to do this work.

Telecommunications

Main article: Communications in Puerto Rico

Telecommunications in Puerto Rico include TV, radio, phones, and the Internet. There are many TV and radio stations, and people can also get cable TV. Some people even use special radio equipment to help during emergencies.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Puerto Rico and Cultural diversity in Puerto Rico

The population of Puerto Rico is a mix of people from many places. This includes early Amerindian settlement, European colonization, slavery, and people who came to work. Because of this mix, Puerto Ricans have many different cultural backgrounds.

According to the 2020 United States census, Puerto Rico had 3,285,874 residents. This is fewer people than in 2000, when there were 3,808,610. Some reasons for this include people moving away for jobs or because of natural disasters, and fewer babies being born.

Population distribution

Main article: List of cities in Puerto Rico

The biggest city is San Juan, with 342,259 people based on the 2020 Census. Other important cities are Bayamón, Carolina, Ponce, and Caguas. Eight of the ten biggest cities are near San Juan, while two others are in the south (Ponce) and west (Mayagüez) of the island.

Population makeup

Main article: Puerto Ricans

In 2020, most people in Puerto Rico said they had mixed backgrounds (49.8%). Other groups include Whites (17.1%), Blacks (6.96%), and smaller numbers of Indigenous people, East Asians, and Pacific Islanders. Almost all people (98.9%) identify as Hispanic or Latino, with most being of Puerto Rican background.

Immigration and emigration

Most new immigrants to Puerto Rico come from Latin America, especially the Dominican Republic. Some people from other places, like Cuba and Haiti, also come to Puerto Rico temporarily before going to the United States. There are also people moving to Puerto Rico from the U.S. mainland, mostly White Americans and some Black Americans. Many Puerto Ricans also move back and forth between the island and the U.S.

Many Puerto Ricans have moved to the U.S. mainland since World War II, especially to northeastern states and Florida. This movement continues even when the island's economy gets better. The population has decreased recently because of fewer babies being born and people leaving the island. Big storms in 2017 also caused many people to leave.

Languages

Main articles: Puerto Rican Spanish and English language in Puerto Rico

Both Spanish and English are official languages of Puerto Rico. Spanish is the main language used in everyday life, schools, and business, spoken by about 95% of the population. English is spoken by less than 10% of people. Children learn English in school, but most public schools teach mainly in Spanish.

Religion

Puerto Rico has many different religions, with Catholicism being the most common. Other groups include Protestants, and smaller numbers of people with no religion or other faiths. There are also communities of Eastern Orthodox, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jewish people, Muslims, and others.

Education

Main article: Education in Puerto Rico

Education in Puerto Rico includes primary school (ages 5–6), secondary school (ages 7–12), and higher education. Most children go to school until they are 18. There are both public and private schools. The largest university is the public University of Puerto Rico, with many campuses. There are also several private universities.

Health

There are hospitals across Puerto Rico, and the average life expectancy is about 82 years. The government has a program to help people who cannot afford healthcare, working with private insurance companies instead of running its own hospitals.

Culture

Puerto Rican culture is a mix of different traditions. It includes influences from Europe (mostly Spain, but also Italy, France, Germany, and Ireland), Africa, and more recently, North America and South America. Many Cubans and Dominicans have also moved to the island recently.

Puerto Rico got its language, Spanish, and many of its traditions from Spain. The United States brought English, new school systems, and some holidays. Music is important in the culture, with many different styles coming together over time. Early Puerto Rican music was shaped by Spanish and African traditions, and more recent styles have been influenced by music from around the Caribbean and North America.

Puerto Rico has many symbols, but only the Flor de Maga is official. Other important symbols include the Puerto Rican spindalis bird, the kapok tree, the coquí frog, the jíbaro (a country person), the Taíno Indian, and Cerro Las Tetas with its jíbaro culture monument.

Architecture

Puerto Rican architecture shows many different styles from over 400 years of history. You can see Spanish colonial buildings, Ibero-Islamic designs, art deco, post-modern, and more all over the island. Each town has its own special look.

Old San Juan is a famous part of the capital. It has many shops, old places, museums, cafes, restaurants, beautiful homes, and tree-lined squares. It also has old churches and public squares, like San José Church and the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, where explorer Juan Ponce de León is buried. Old San Juan is protected by big walls and strong forts like Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristóbal. These forts were built to defend the city from attacks.

During the 1940s, some parts of Old San Juan were neglected, but later efforts saved and restored many buildings. Strict rules were made to protect the old Spanish style of the city. One famous example is the Hotel El Convento, which was once a convent but was turned into a hotel.

Ponce Creole is a special style of architecture from the city of Ponce. These buildings were made between 1895 and 1920 to handle the hot, dry weather. They mix wood and stone and have influences from France, Spain, and Caribbean styles.

Arts

Puerto Rican art has many influences from the island's different people. One kind of folk art is called santos. These are small statues of saints and religious figures made from wood, clay, or stone. They are painted in bright colors and were used as messages between people and heaven.

Another popular art form is caretas or vejigantes, which are colorful masks worn during carnivals. These masks often have horns and fangs and are made from materials like papier-mâché, coconut shells, or metal. They come in many bright colors and patterns.

Literature

Puerto Rican writing started with oral stories and later grew into books. At first, the Spanish government did not allow islanders to write, except for official histories. Diego de Torres Vargas wrote the first detailed book about Puerto Rico in 1647.

Early writers were inspired by Rafael Cordero. Manuel A. Alonso wrote the first important collection of poems in 1849. Eugenio María de Hostos wrote about Caribbean identity in his book from 1863.

In the late 1800s, printing presses arrived, and Puerto Rican literature grew. Writers began to express their views on Spanish rule. Alejandro Tapia y Rivera is known as the father of Puerto Rican literature. Other important writers include Cayetano Coll y Toste, Manuel Zeno Gandía, and Antonio S. Pedreira.

In the 1940s, many Puerto Ricans moved to New York, creating the Nuyorican movement. Today, Puerto Rican writers are famous around the world. Notable authors include Ed Vega, Miguel Piñero, Piri Thomas, Giannina Braschi, Rosario Ferrer, and Esmeralda Santiago.

Music

Puerto Rican music comes from many places, including Spain, West Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. Today, there are many kinds of music, from traditional styles like bomba, plena, aguinaldo, danza, and salsa to newer styles like reggaeton and Latin trap. Famous Puerto Rican musicians include Bad Bunny, Menudo, and Ricky Martin.

The cuatro is a special instrument from the mountains. It originally had four strings but now has five pairs of strings. Puerto Rico has two big orchestras: the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Puerto Rico. The Casals Festival happens every year in San Juan, bringing classical musicians from all over. Antonio Paoli was a famous opera singer who even performed for important leaders like Pope Pius X and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

Philately

Puerto Rico has been featured on four U.S. postal stamps. In 1937, a stamp honored Puerto Rico with an image of La Fortaleza, the Spanish Governor's Palace. In 1949, a stamp celebrated the first free election of Puerto Rico's governor, Luis Muñoz Marín. In 1971, a stamp marked the 450th anniversary of San Juan, showing a sentry box from Castillo San Felipe del Morro. In the "Flags of our nation series" from 2008 to 2012, the Puerto Rico Flag was featured on a forever stamp.

Cuisine

Puerto Rican food comes from the cooking of Spain, Africa, and the Taíno people. Common ingredients include grains, legumes, herbs, tropical vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, and fruits. Popular dishes are mofongo, arroz con gandules, pasteles, and pig roast (lechón). Drinks include maví and piña colada. Desserts include flan, arroz con dulce (sweet rice pudding), piraguas, brazo gitanos, tembleque, polvorones, and dulce de leche.

Sports

Baseball is very popular in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Baseball League is the main professional league, and it plays during the winter. Puerto Rico has won many medals in international baseball competitions, including the World Cup of Baseball, the Caribbean Series, and the World Baseball Classic. Famous Puerto Rican baseball players include Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, and Roberto Alomar.

Boxing, basketball, and volleyball are also popular. Puerto Rican boxers have won many world championships, including Miguel Cotto, Félix Trinidad, and Wilfred Benítez. The Puerto Rico national basketball team has won medals in international competitions, including three FIBA Americas Championships and the 1994 Goodwill Games. In 2004, the team made history by beating the United States in the Olympics.

Puerto Rico has teams in many international competitions, including the Summer and Winter Olympics, the Pan American Games, and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Monica Puig won Puerto Rico's first Olympic gold medal in tennis at the 2016 Rio Olympics.