Puerto Rico Map

Puerto Rico History

Puerto Rico was discovered by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493, during his 2nd voyage to the New World. He named it San Juan Bautista. Upon his arrival on the island, Columbus was met with peaceful and friendly Taino or Arawak Indians who shared their food and homes with him and his men.
In 1508, Juan Ponce de Leon colonized Borinquen and became Puerto Rico's first governor. The Spaniards had an exploitative agenda on the islands and made slaves of the Indians in their search for gold. The island remained undeveloped until 1830, when sugar and other plantations were built, coinciding with the arrival of African slaves.

Many families from Europe came to the region and married Taino Indians, creating a new ethnic group called the Criollos.

Upon pressure from the nationalist locals for independence, the region was granted self-government by the Spanish in 1897. However, during the Spanish-American War in 1898, the United States invaded Puerto Rico and Spain surrendered. Puerto Rico then became a United States territory.

Under the Jones Act of 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship. In 1952, Puerto Rico's Constitution established self-governance.

Puerto Rico has since fought to make the region a US state but its political status remains to be that of a US territory.

Geography of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is located between the Caribbean Sea and the Northern Atlantic Ocean. It is found to the east of the Dominican Republic and to the West of the Virgin Islands.

It is an archipelago consisting of the mainland plus other smaller islands such as the Culebra, Mona, Vieques, Desecho, and Caja de Muertos. Vieques andCulebra are the only two smaller islands that are inhabited throughout the year.

A few other smaller islands are also a part of Puerto Rico, which are the Monito islet and La Isleta de San Juan, where the historic Old San Juan is found. These smaller islands are connected to the mainland by bridges.

Polities
Puerto Rico has a republican form of government, with powers that are subject to the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States. The head of state is the President of the US and the head of government is the country's Governor.

The territory has 3 branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Executive power is exercised by the Governor and Legislative power is exercised by the bicameral legislature, which is the Legislative Assembly. The Governor and the legislators of senators and representatives are elected into office by popular vote.

Puerto Rico Travel

Puerto Rico is one of the most popular travel destinations in the Caribbean. US citizens don't need a passport to travel to the islands, its official languages are English and Spanish, and the official currency is also the US dollar, which make the islands very accessible for travelers.

Puerto Rico is known for its beaches and there's never a lack of great beaches to spend the day. Among the most secluded and unspoiled is Flamenco Beach in Culebrita on the island of Culebra. It can only be reached by water taxi or private boat and it's less crowded than the star attraction beaches found all around Puerto Rico's main island.

Another beach with a laid-back atmosphere is Sandy Beach on the western coast. It has the best surf breaks on the archipelago and it's considered to be the best beach for swimming.

For the most charming and romantic destination in Puerto Rico, the best place to go is Old San Juan. It is packed with colonial architecture, cultural offerings, an abundance of shops, museums, open-air cafes, plazas, and historic places. The most popular is the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro or famously known as El Morro. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Fort that protected the island for many years from invaders. It sits on a hill that overlooks the ocean, and it's filled with cannons facing the sea, old barracks, dungeons, and rooms that represent Puerto Rico's military history.

Puerto Rico Education

Education is free and compulsory in Puerto Rico for students aged 5-18. Education is divided into 3 levels: primary, secondary, and high level.

The territory's literacy rate is 94.1% and over 60% of the population have a high school education. However, among students who enter high school, about 40% of them drop out and never finish.

Homeschooling is legal in Puerto Rico but it is neither regulated or legislated.

Puerto Rico Trivia

• Rum is the island's chief export and 70% of the rum sold in the US are from Puerto Rico. The legal drinking age on the islands is 18.
• Temperatures on the islands range from 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.
• Although Puerto Rico is a US territory, they compete separately in the Miss Universe pageant and have won a total of 5 times. They also compete in the Olympics where they have won a total of 6 gold medals.

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Municipalities in Puerto Rico
Municipality	Population	Area(km.²)	Area(mi.²)
Adjuntas	19,143	173	67
Aguada	42,042	78	30
Aguadilla	64,685	94	36
Aguas Buenas	29,032	78	30
Aibonito	26,493	80	31
Añasco	28,348	104	40
Arecibo	100,131	329	127
Arroyo	19,117	39	15
Barceloneta	22,322	62	24
Barranquitas	28,909	88	34
Bayamon	224,044	115	44
Cabo Rojo	46,911	185	71
Caguas	140,502	152	59
Camuy	35,244	121	47
Canovanas	43,335	76	29
Carolina	186,076	120	46
Cataño	30,071	14	5
Cayey	47,370	131	51
Ceiba	18,004	70	27
Ciales	19,811	172	66
Cidra	42,753	93	36
Coamo	37,597	202	78
Comerio	20,002	73	28
Corozal	36,867	110	42
Culebra	1,868	28	11
Dorado	34,017	60	23
Fajardo	40,712	80	31
Florida	12,367	26	10
Guanica	21,888	93	36
Guayama	44,301	170	66
Guayanilla	23,072	109	42
Guaynabo	100,053	70	27
Gurabo	36,743	73	28
Hatillo	38,925	109	42
Hormigueros	16,614	28	11
Humacao	59,035	117	45
Isabela	44,444	145	56
Jayuya	17,318	104	40
Juana Diaz	50,531	158	61
Juncos	36,452	68	26
Lajas	26,261	157	61
Lares	34,415	161	62
Las Marias	11,061	119	46
Las Piedras	34,485	86	33
Loiza	32,537	62	24
Luquillo	19,817	67	26
Manati	45,409	118	46
Maricao	6,449	96	37
Maunabo	12,741	54	21
Mayaguez	98,434	198	76
Moca	39,697	130	50
Morovis	29,965	101	39
Naguabo	23,753	136	53
Naranjito	29,709	73	28
Orocovis	23,844	164	63
Patillas	20,152	123	47
Penuelas	26,719	116	45
Ponce	186,475	301	116
Quebradillas	25,450	60	23
Rincon	14,767	36	14
Rio Grande	52,362	159	61
Sabana Grande	25,935	93	36
Salinas	31,113	180	69
San German	37,105	140	54
San Juan	434,374	122	47
San Lorenzo	40,997	139	54
San Sebastian	44,204	184	71
Santa Isabel	21,665	89	34
Toa Alta	63,929	71	27
Toa Baja	94,085	62	24
Trujillo Alto	75,728	54	21
Utuado	35,336	298	115
Vega Alta	37,910	73	28
Vega Baja	61,929	121	47
Vieques	9,106	135	52
Villalba	27,913	96	37
Yabucoa	39,246	142	55
Yauco	46,384	178	69
78 municipalities	3,808,610	8,891	3,429

Note  : - Population: 2000-04-01 census.

This page was last updated on: May 25, 2016