PUERTO RICO
Isla del Encanto y Perla del Caribe
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Puerto Rico is a self-governing unincorporated organized territory of the United States, in the eastern Caribbean, consisting of the island of Puerto Rico and some smaller islands. Its official name is The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's ultimate legal status is a subject of continuing debate.

Puerto Rico is part of the Greater Antilles, located to the east of the Dominican Republic and to the west of the Lesser Antilles. It consists of the main island, commonly called by Puerto Ricans as "the Great Island" (La Isla Grande) and a number of smaller islands, of which only Vieques, Isla de Culebra and Isla Mona are inhabited. It is divided in 78 municipalities and its U.S. postal abbreviation is PR.

Puerto Rico was called Borikén by the indigenous Taínos before Christopher Columbus named it San Juan Bautista (after John the Baptist). The name Puerto Rico means "rich port" in Spanish.
Bandera de Puerto Rico
Escudo de Puerto Rico
Motto: Joannes Est Nomen Eius
Localización de Puerto Rico
Official Languages
 Spanish, English
Capital
 San Juan
Largest City
 San Juan
Governor
 Sila M. Calderón
Area

-Total

-% Water
 (Not ranked)

9.104 km2

1.6%
Population

-Total (2002)

-Density
 (Not ranked)

3.957.988

434/km2
Independence
 None
Currency
 U.S. Dollar (USD)
Time Zone
 UTC -4/ (No DST)
National Anthem
 La Borinqueña
Internet TLD
 .pr
Calling Code
 1
El Morro
Political Status
Puerto Rico is a US territory which has been given self-governing "commonwealth" status. (The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, located in the western Pacific Ocean, has a similar relationship to the United States.) What this means has never been absolutely clear; however, Puerto Rico has more latitude over its internal affairs than the US territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa.

Puerto Rico's current constitutional arrangements are the result of a treaty signed in 1952, so presumably it could become independent in the same way - a right not possessed by the states of the United States. Alternatively, it could be admitted as a state of the United States by a vote of the Congress, in the same way that Hawaii was in 1959.

Puerto Rico has approximately the same degree of authority over its internal affairs as an American state. The United States federal government controls interstate trade, foreign commerce, customs, aviation and navigation, immigration, currency, all military and naval matters, radio and television communications, mining and minerals, highways, the postal system, social security, and other areas generally controlled by the federal government in the United States. United States courts have the final say over the constitutionality of Puerto Rican laws. Puerto Rico may not conclude treaties with other sovereign states, although it does belong to some international bodies.

Puerto Rico's elected governor and legislature control all other internal affairs. The major differences between Puerto Rico and the states are greater financial autonomy (it levies its own taxes and is exempt from the Internal Revenue Code), its lack of voting representation in either house of the Congress and the ineligibility of Puerto Rican residents to vote in presidential elections.

Imagen de Satélite
History
The island of Puerto Rico was originally inhabited by a group of Arawak Indians known as Tainos. The European discovery was made by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Anitlles on November 19, 1493. The island was originally named San Juan Bautista, in honor of Saint John the Baptist. Spanish conqueror Juan Ponce de Leon became the island's first governor of Puerto Rico to take office.

The island was soon colonized becoming the most important stronghold of the Spanish empire in the Caribbean. Concerned about threats from its european enemies, Spain began construction of massive defenses around the city of San Juan. Fortresses such as La Fortaleza, Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristobal would be built. The French, Dutch and English made attempts to capture Puerto Rico, but failed.

In 1809, Puerto Rico was recognized as an overseas providence of Spain with the right to send representatives to the Spanish Court. Puerto Rico was granted it's first constitution, allowed to engage in free commerce and given its own identity in aspecs such as culture, music, and arts.

Toward the end of the 19th century, poor economic and political situations with Spain led to an attempted uprising in 1868 known as "El Grito de Lares". The Puerto Rican goal was to achieve personal freedom, the abolition of slavery, and full self-government. The uprising was easily and quickly crushed. Champions of this autonomist movement were such political leaders as Ramon Baldorioty de Castro, and towards the end of the century, Luis Muñoz Rivera. In 1897, Muñoz Rivera persuaded a liberal Spanish government to agree to an Autonomic Charter for the island. The following year Puerto Rico's first autonomous government was organized with Muñoz Rivera as leader.

On July 25, 1898 Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States of America with a landing at Guánica Bay. Spain was forced to cede Puerto Rico to the United States under the Treaty of Paris. The twentieth century would begin under the military regime of the United States with officials including the governor appointed by the President of the United States. In 1917, the United States congress granted Puerto Rico, U.S. citizenship. Natural disasters and the Great Depression enprobished the island. Political leaders demanded change, some like Pedro Albizu Campos would lead a nationalist movement in favor of independence. Later, José T. Piñero became the first Puerto Rican governor designated by United States. In 1948, the United States granted the right to democratically elect the governor of Puerto Rico. Luis Muñoz Marín would become the first elected governor of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico adopted its own constitution in 1952 adopting a commonwealth relation with the United States. During the 1950's Puerto Rico experienced a rapid industrialization, with such projects as Operation Bootstrap which aimed to change Puerto Rico's agicultural-based economy into an economy based on other industries such as manufacturing. Present-day Puerto Rico has become a major turist destination and a leading pharmaceutical and manuacturing center. Still, Puerto Rico continues to struggle to define its political status.

Politics
The government is composed of 3 branches: the Executive branch headed by the Governor, the Legislative branch consisting of a bicameral Legislative Assembly (a Senate and a House of Representatives) and the Judicial branch. The legal system is based on the Spanish civil code.

The Constitution of Puerto Rico was approved through refendum in 1952, and ratified by the U.S. Congress, which maintains ultimate sovereignty over Puerto Rico. Under this constitution, Puerto Rico is a territorial commonwealth of the United States and is permitted a high degree of autonomy. Although Puerto Rico does not have representation in the U.S. Electoral College or U.S. Congress, it is permitted a non-voting Resident Commissioner in the U.S. House of Representatives and Puerto Ricans pay no federal income tax. Citizens of Puerto Rico are also U.S. citizens.

Municipalities
As a commonwealth associated with the United States, Puerto Rico does not have any first-order administrative divisions as defined by the U.S. Government, but there are 78 municipalities at the second order. Each municipality has a Mayor and a Council elected for a 4 year term.

Adjuntas
Aguada
Aguadilla
Aguas Buenas
Aibonito
Añasco
Arecibo
Arroyo
Barceloneta
Barranquitas
Bayamón
Cabo Rojo
Caguas
Camuy
Canóvanas
Carolina
Cataño
Cayey
Ceiba
Ciales
Cidra
Coamo
Comerío
Corozal
Culebra
Dorado
Fajardo
Florida
Guánica
Guayama
Guayanilla
Guaynabo
 Gurabo
Hatillo
Hormigueros
Humacao
Isabela
Jayuya
Juana Díaz
Juncos
Lajas
Lares
Las Marías
Las Piedras
Loíza
Luquillo
Manatí
Maricao
 Maunabo
Mayagüez
Moca
Morovis
Naguabo
Naranjito
Orocovis
Patillas
Peñuelas
Ponce
Quebradillas
Rincón
Río Grande
Sabana Grande
Salinas
San Germán
San Juan
San Lorenzo
San Sebastián
Santa Isabel
Toa Alta
Toa Baja
Trujillo Alto
Utuado
Vega Alta
Vega Baja
Vieques
Villalba
Yabucoa
Yauco

Geography
Mapa de Puerto Rico
Map of Puerto Rico 

The archipelago of Puerto Rico consists of the main island of Puerto Rico and various smaller islands, including Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. The mainland measures some 170 km by 60 km (105 miles by 35 miles). It has a population of approximately 4 million. The capital city, San Juan, is located on the main island's north coast and has a population of approximately 430,000.

Economy
The economic conditions in Puerto Rico have improved dramatically since the Great Depression due to external investment in capital-intensive industry such as petrochemicals pharmaceuticals and technology. Once the beneficiary of special tax treatment from the US government, today local industries must compete with those in more economically depressed parts of the world where wages are not subject to US minimum wage legislation.

Demographics
Puertoricans are a mixture of European, African and Native Americans.

Puerto Rico is said to comprise a spanish european majority, an extinct Amerindian population, mixed to a lesser degree with Africans. Recent genetic research, however, contradicts that information. Mitochondrial and Y-chromosome analysis have shown that 62% of Puerto Ricans come from an Amerindian ancestry (from our mothers) and well over 70% have a white ancestry (from our fathers). In other words, the MESTIZO is the lineage that MOST permeates the society. Mulatos and blacks seem to ONLY account for less than 20% (Y chromosome) and 26% (Mtdna) --therefore only about a 25% of the islands populace can really lay claim to an African ancestry. Europeans are also said to be highly mixed, again in varying degrees, with Amerindian bloodlines. Blacks, and the descendents of African slaves ( mulatos), make up only about 20% to 26%.

Later, Corsican, Italian, and French immigrants arrived along with numerous Spanish loyalists from Spain's former colonies in South America --and as a result the mestizos were fully absorbed into the general population. Other settlers have included Irish, Germans and in recent years, immigrants from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela, but represent less than 5% of the population. According to the 2000 census, 95% of the population consider themselves of Puerto Rican descent, making Puerto Rico one of the most homogeneous societies in the world.

Puerto Rico has over 100,000 legal residents who came from Spain, Mexico, Central or South America, in addition to the Cubans and Dominicans.

The Roman Catholic religion is dominant, although there is a notable Protestant presence. Puerto Rico has its own Olympic team and has international representation in many events including the Summer Olympics, the Pan-American Games, the Central American Games, and the Caribbean World Series.

Colleges and Universities
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
Catholic University of Puerto Rico
University of the Sacred Heart
Ana G. Méndez University System
InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
Ponce School of Medicine

Official sites
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Governor
Resident Commissioner (US House)
Puerto Rico House of Representatives
Puerto Rico Senate
Commonwealth Elections Commission (CEEPUR)
Census 2000: Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Tourism Company
Institute of Puerto Rican Culture
Elections in Puerto Rico
Museum of History, Anthropology and Art

Others
Map of regions
United Nations country profile
Puerto Rican Culture
Puerto Rican Royal Spanish Language Academy (Real Academia Española)
Caribbean Community and Common Market International (CARICOM)
Amnesty International PR report
GDP(per capita) Ranking (PUR #61)
Miss Puerto Rico Universe
Quenepon: Online Culture & Art Magazine
Official Site for Ramón Rivero (Diplo)