Puerto Rico is the easternmost island of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, approximately a thousand miles southeast of Florida and just east of the Dominican Republic and west of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The island is approximately 90 miles wide in an east-west direction and 30 miles wide between the north and south coasts.
Larger Than Delaware and Rhode Island
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States but if it became a state, Puerto Rico's land area of 3,435 square miles (8,897 km2) would make it the 49th largest state (larger than Delaware and Rhode Island).
The coasts of tropical Puerto Rico are flat but most of the interior is mountainous. The tallest mountain is in the center of the island, Cerro de Punta, which is 4,389 feet high (1338 meters). About eight percent of the land is arable for agriculture. Droughts and hurricanes are the major natural hazards.
Four Million Puerto Ricans
There are almost four million Puerto Ricans, which would make the island the 23rd most populous state (between Alabama and Kentucky). San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, is located on the north side of the island. The island's population is quite dense, with about 1100 people per square mile (427 people per square kilometer).
The Primary Language Is Spanish
Spanish is the primary language on the island and for a short time earlier this decade, it was the commonwealth's official language. While most Puerto Ricans speak some English, only about a quarter of the population is fully bilingual. The population is a mixture of Spanish, African, and indigenous heritage. About seven-eighths of Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholic and literacy is about 90%. The Arawakan people settled the island around the ninth century CE. In 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered the island and claimed it for Spain. Puerto Rico, which means "rich port" in Spanish, wasn't settled until 1508 when Ponce de Leon founded a town near present-day San Juan. Puerto Rico remained a Spanish colony for more than four centuries until the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish-American war in 1898 and occupied the island.
The Economy
Until the middle of the twentieth century, the island was one of the poorest in the Caribbean. In 1948 the U.S. government began Operation Bootstrap which infused millions of dollars into the Puerto Rican economy and made it one of the wealthiest. United States firms that are located in Puerto Rico receive tax incentives to encourage investments. Major exports include pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, sugarcane, and coffee. The U.S. is the major trading partner, 86% of exports are sent to the U.S. and 69% of imports come from the fifty states.
United States Citizens Since 1917
Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States since a law was passed in 1917. Even though they are citizens, Puerto Ricans pay no federal income tax and they can not vote for president. Unrestricted U.S. migration of Puerto Ricans has made New York City the one place with the most Puerto Ricans anywhere in the world (over one million).
Pursuing Statehood Through the U.S. Congress
In 1967, 1993, and 1998 the citizens of the island voted to maintain the status quo. In November 2012, Puerto Ricans voted not to maintain the status quo and to pursue statehood through the U.S. Congress.
10-Year Transitional Process
If Puerto Rico were to become the fifty-first state, the U.S. federal government and the state-to-be will establish a ten-year transitional process towards statehood. The federal government is expected to spend about three billion dollars annually in the state toward benefits not currently received by the Commonwealth. Puerto Ricans would also begin paying federal income tax and business would lose the special tax exemptions that are a major part of the economy. The new state would probably obtain six new voting members of the House of Representatives and of course, two Senators. The stars on the United States flag would change for the first time in more than fifty years.
If independence were chosen by the citizens of Puerto Rico in the future, then the United States will assist the new country through a decade-long transition period. International recognition would come quickly for the new nation, which would have to develop its own defense and a new government.
However, for now, Puerto Rico remains a territory of the United States, with all that such a relationship entails.
FAQs
Puerto Rico has three main geographic regions: mountains, coastal lowlands, and karst country. More than 60 percent of the island is mountainous. The mountains, which dominate the island's interior, comprise four ranges: Cordillera Central, Sierra de Cayey, Sierra de Luquillo, and Sierra de Bermeja.
What is interesting about Puerto Rico history? ›
Puerto Rico came under United States rule after Spain lost the Spanish-American War in 1898. Then in 1917, the island became a U.S. territory and Puerto Ricans were given U.S. citizenship when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth Act.
Who owned Puerto Rico before the US? ›
In the early 1880s, Puerto Ricans (at the time under Spanish rule) began to work for independent government. They reached their goal in 1897; however, a year later, Spain ceded the island to the United States under the provisions of the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War.
What is the unique status of Puerto Rico? ›
As a result of Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory, the citizens of Puerto Rico do not have any voting representation in the U.S. Federal government. Instead of outright representation through Senators and House Representatives, Puerto Rico has one non-voting Resident Commissioner in the House of Representatives.
What are 3 important facts about Puerto Rico? ›
Other facts
- The legal age to consume alcoholic beverages in Puerto Rico is 18 years.
- The Island has almost 300 miles of coastline and nearly the same number of beaches.
- Puerto Rico has the largest shopping center in the Caribbean, Plaza Las Américas, and the most extensive rum factory globally, Casa Bacardí.
10 things you might not know about Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico is NOT a Country. ...
- The World's Oldest Colony. ...
- Puerto Rico's "Galapagos Island" ...
- Piña Colada. ...
- The World's Largest Rum Distillery. ...
- It's Raining Frogs. ...
- Coconuts are not native. ...
- The Battle of the Measuring Systems.
No, Puerto Rico uses the US dollar as its official currency. How much is $1 worth in Puerto Rico? In Puerto Rico, $1 holds the same value as it does throughout the United States.
What are 2 historical facts about Puerto Rico? ›
After centuries of Spanish rule, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States in 1898 and has been largely self-governing since the mid-20th century. It has a population of some 3.4 million people and a vibrant culture shaped by a mix of Spanish, United States and Afro-Caribbean influences.
Why is Puerto Rico so famous? ›
What is Puerto Rico Most Famous For? A trip to Puerto Rico opens the doors to a world of colorful colonial charisma, where fearless fortresses and castles jumble into jungle vines and rugged mountain landscapes. It's a place where American and Spanish influences come together to offer a cultural Caribbean paradise.
Why can't Puerto Rico become a state? ›
Only Congress can authorize a referendum, as it has supreme power. In other words, neither the results of popular votes, the decisions of the authorities of Puerto Rico, nor the orders of the US executive branch play a key role in granting statehood to the territory.
Puerto Ricans (Spanish: Puertorriqueños), most commonly known as Boricuas, and also referred to as Borinqueños, Borincanos, or Puertorros, are the people of Puerto Rico, the inhabitants and citizens of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and their descendants, including those in mainland United States.
What was Puerto Rico originally called? ›
Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico in 1493 during his second voyage to the New World. Initially, Columbus christened the Island San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist). The name was soon changed to Puerto Rico, or “rich port,” when the Spaniards realized the impressive amount of gold found in its rivers.
What is Puerto Rico's national animal? ›
The coqui, a small tree frog, is Puerto Rico's national animal. Choruses of male coquis can be heard from dusk until dawn all over the island.
What are Puerto Ricans most proud of? ›
Puerto Ricans are proud of their cultural heritage and history, stemming from a mix of Taíno, Spanish, and African traditions. Whether it's through music, art, food, traditions, festivals, or one of many other bountiful options, culture is present—and waiting to be discovered—in every corner of this Caribbean paradise.
What did Puerto Rico invent? ›
- There are over 120 registered pattented inventions from Puerto Rico, and even though they'll be listed as American inventions of course, the reference to PR is there.
- But as an example:
- Mundillo (bobbin lace)
- Plastic based roofing.
- PVC molding.
- Solar Power Water Heating.
- The 3 point shot in Basketball.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
El Morro, a UNESCO site and a true testament to the beautiful history of Puerto Rico, is the most recognized landmark in the Island and a must-see if you are short on time during your visit and trying to choose must-see attractions.
What is the geography of Puerto Rico for kids? ›
Puerto Rico is part of the island group called the West Indies. The island is roughly rectangular in shape. It is mostly mountainous, but the land along the coast is flatter. The weather is warm year-round.
What are 2 important facts about Puerto Rico? ›
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the U.S. under the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War. Puerto Rico officially became an unincorporated territory of the United States in 1917 with the Jones Shafroth Act, which granted Puerto Ricans U.S. citizenship.
What is the geography climate of Puerto Rico? ›
The climate of Puerto Rico in the Köppen climate classification is predominantly tropical rainforest. Temperatures throughout the year are warm to hot, averaging near 85 °F (29 °C) in lower elevations and 70 °F (21 °C) in the mountains.
