Wikipedia

Puerto Rico

unincorporated territory of the United States of America

Puerto Rico, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico), is a U.S. territory in the Caribbean Sea.[20] This means that it belongs to the United States and citizens of Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States as well. Puerto Rico is not an independent country, but like all populated U.S. territories, it enjoys a greater degree of autonomy than U.S. states. There has been a movement for independence for almost two centuries. There have been protests, votes, and armed attacks for independence.[21][22][23]

Puerto Rico
Organized and Unincorporated U.S. territory
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Free Associated State of Puerto Rico
Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (Spanish)
Flag of Puerto Rico
Flag
Official seal of Puerto Rico
Coat of arms
Official logo of Puerto Rico
Seal of Puerto Rico
Nickname(s): 
"La Isla del Encanto" (Spanish)
('The Island of Enchantment')
Motto: 
"Joannes est nomen ejus" (Latin)
('John is his name')
Anthem: "La Borinqueña" (Spanish)
("The Song of Borinquen")
Location of Puerto Rico
Location of Puerto Rico
Sovereign state United States[a]
Before annexationCaptaincy General of Puerto Rico
Cession from Spain10 December 1898
Current constitution25 July 1952
Capital
and largest city
San Juan
18°27′N 66°6′W / 18.450°N 66.100°W / 18.450; -66.100
Common languages94.3% Spanish
5.5% English
0.2% other[2]
Official languages
Ethnic groups
(2020)[4]
By race:
By origin:
Demonym(s)Puerto Rican (Spanish: puertorriqueño -a)
boricua (neutral)[b]
borinqueño -a
borincano -a[5]
puertorro -a[c][6]
GovernmentDevolved presidential constitutional dependency
• President
Joe Biden (D)
• Governor
Pedro Pierluisi (PNP/D)
LegislatureLegislative Assembly
• Upper house
Senate
• Lower house
House of Representatives
United States Congress
• Resident Commissioner
Jenniffer González (PNP/R)
Area
• Total
13,792 km2 (5,325 sq mi)[d]
• Land
8,868 km2 (3,424 sq mi)
• Water
4,924 km2 (1,901 sq mi)
• Water (%)
35.6
Dimensions
[e][14]
• Length
178 km (111 mi)
• Width
65 km (40 mi)
Highest elevation
1,338 m (4,390[f] ft)
Population
• 2023 estimate
3,205,691[g][15] (136th)
• 2020 census
3,285,874[16]
• Density
361.4/km2 (936.0/sq mi) (41st)
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $132.052 billion[17] (85th)
• Per capita
Increase $41,682[17] (40th)
GDP (nominal)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $117.515 billion[17] (62nd)
• Per capita
Increase $37,093[17] (28th)
Gini (2024)58[18]
high
HDI (2015)0.845[19]
very high · 40th
CurrencyUnited States dollar (US$) (USD)
Time zoneUTC-04:00 (AST)
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy
mm/dd/yyyy
Driving sideright
Calling code+1 (787), +1 (939)
USPS abbreviation
PR
ISO 3166 code
Internet TLD.pr
Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has about 3.3 million (3,300,000) people. Its political system is based on a republican system. It has two official languages: Spanish and English, but Spanish is almost only used by the government, the legislature and the judiciary (courts). Spanish is also the main language of the school curriculum, though English is taught in all schools as a second language (from grade 1 to 12). Puerto Rico is one of two U.S. territories where the metric system is officially used and is dominant. (The other is Guam, which was also a Spanish colony. The metric system was introduced to both territories, before they became U.S. territories.)[24] Spanish is spoken by 94.7% of the population and English is spoken by 5.3% of the population as a mother language. The currency used is the United States dollar.

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico includes the largest, main island and a number of smaller islands, including Mona, Vieques, and Culebra. Of those three smaller islands, only Culebra and Vieques are populated all year. Mona is unpopulated, but employees of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources sometimes visit the island to inspect it and its wildlife. People can visit the island for hiking and camping by getting the permission needed. San Juan, on the northern side of the main island, is the island's largest city and the capital of the territory.

Puerto Rico means "rich port" in Spanish.

On May 3, 2017, Puerto Rico filed for bankruptcy after a massive debt and weak economy.[25] It is the largest bankruptcy case in American history.[25]

Status

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Puerto Rico is one of the unincorporated territories of the USA. These are organized, self-governing territories with locally elected governors and legislatures. Because it is not a state, its citizens can not vote in U.S. national elections unless they have an address in one of the 50 US states. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and can move to or from the 50 states. Puerto Rico elects a Resident Commissioner to the U.S. House of Representatives.[26]

History

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The history of Puerto Rico began when the Ortoiroid people started living in the island between 3000 and 2000 BC. Other tribes, for example the Saladoid and Arawak Indians, lived in the island between 430 BC and 1000 AD. When Christopher Columbus arrived at the island in 1492 and named it San Juan Bautista,[27] the people living there were the Taínos.[28][29]

Since it is in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico formed an important part of the Spanish Empire from the early years of the exploration, conquest, and colonization of the New World. The Spanish spread race-based slavery across the island. In the 19th century, slave revolts and the abolitionist movement brought an end to legal slavery.[30]

The island was a major military post during many wars between Spain and other European countries for control of the region in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In 1898, during the Spanish-American war, Puerto Rico was invaded and became a possession of the United States.

During the 20th century, Puerto Rico's political status changed from time to time. The Foraker Act of 1900 created a civil government to replace the military government made after the Spanish–American war, and the Jones Act of 1917 gave Puerto Rican people United States citizenship. Afterwards. In 1932, the name Porto Rico was changed to Puerto Rico. in 1952, the drafting of Puerto Rico's own Constitution and democratic elections were established.

A 1948 law called the Ley de la Mordaza (Gag Law) made it illegal to speak in favor of Puerto Rican independence or even display the Puerto Rican flag. This law, implemented by the U.S. colonial government, was used to persecute and imprison Puerto Rican independence leaders, instilling fear in the population, and discouraging any form of nationalist and patriotic expression.[31]

The political status of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth controlled by the United States, is still not completely defined. Many people want to resolve this status, while others want the status to remain the same. Of the people who want to change the status, some want Puerto Rico to become a new U.S. state, while others want Puerto Rico to become a fully independent country.

In May 2022, Members of Congress sponsoring competing bills on how to resolve Puerto Rico’s territorial status and its relationship to the U.S. have come together to introduce new legislation combining both. The proposed legislation combines elements of the pro-statehood bill introduced by Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., and Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez, Puerto Rico’s nonvoting member of Congress and a Republican, alongside the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act from Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez, both New York Democrats. The draft legislation says that a plebiscite to resolve Puerto Rico’s political status shall be held on November 5, 2023.[1]

On December 15, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the Puerto Rico Status Act. The act sought to resolve Puerto Rico's status and its relationship to the United States through a binding plebiscite.[32]

Geography

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Puerto Rico is an archipelago, with a main island where most of the population lives, two smaller islands (Vieques and Culebra) with residents, and many other smaller islands. The main island has a mountain range in the center, which covers most of the island. The highest point is 4,390 feet (1,338 meters)

Political parties

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Puerto Rico has three main political parties: the Puerto Rican Independence Party, which favors Puerto Rico becoming an independent nation; the New Progressive Party, which supports Puerto Rico's transition to becoming a state of the U.S; and the Popular Democratic Party, which supports Colonialism.

The issue of the political status of the island (meaning whether it's a country, a U.S. state, or a colony) is an issue of debate amongst the Puerto Rican people. In the past there have been many attempts to clearly define the island's political status by means of voting. Most of the time the majority of the people have chosen to remain a colony. However, in the last "status voting" the colonial option appeared to have lost well over 90% of its support, while the U.S. state option has only gained strength in the last few decades. The Puerto Rican Independence party, on the other hand, has mainly lost a great deal of support within the last six decades (60 years).

Demographics

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Puerto Rico is said to comprise a White majority, an extinct Amerindian population, persons of mixed ancestry, Africans and a small Asian minority. Recent genetic research, however, contradicts that information. According to the 2010 US Census, 99% of the population consider themselves of Puerto Rican descent (regardless of race or skin color), making Puerto Rico one of the most culturally unified societies in the world.

The population of Puerto Rico is nearly about 4 million people. The ethnic composition of the population is:

  • 60% Mulatto-White
  • 30% White
  • 10% Black

Culture

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Literature

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Puerto Rico has a strong literary tradition. The most important playwrights are René Marqués (author of "The Oxcart") and Lin Manuel Miranda (creator of the Broadway musical "Hamilton"). The most famous poets are Julia de Burgos ("Yo fui mi ruta")[33] and Giannina Braschi[34] (author the poetry epic "Empire of Dreams"). Celebrated Puerto Rican novelists include Rosario Ferre (Eccentric Neighborhoods), Giannina Braschi (United States of Banana), and Esmeralda Santiago (When I Was Puerto Rican).[35] Puerto Rican poets who live in New York are called Nuyorican poets.

Art

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José Campeche (1751-1809) is the first known Puerto Rican painter.[36] He painted in the best rococo style. Franciso Oller painted Puerto Rican landscapes and still life paintings the 19th Century. In the 20th century Franciso Rodón who paints portraits of celebrities.[37] In the 21st century, Allora and Calzadilla are conceptual artists in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[38]

Music

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Puerto Rico music is often called Latin music. There are many popular styes of Puerto Rican dance music, including Salsa, Bomba, Plena, and Reggaeton.[39] One of the most popular bands today is Calle 13.[40] World famous Puerto Rican singers include Jennifer Lopez, Hector Lavoe, Tito Puentes, and Marc Anthony. Ricky Martin won the 1999 Grammy Award for "Best Latin Pop Performance" for Living La Vida Loca.[39]

Philosophy

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Puerto Rican philosophy deals with Puerto Rican independence, education, racism, and liberty for all. The first major Puerto Rican philosopher was Eugenio María de Hostos.[41] He was born in the 19th Century in Puerto Rico. He believed that Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba should unite to be free from Colonial powers. Francisco José Ramos was born in the 20th century. His philosophy deals with Ancient Greeks, American imperialism, and Buddhism.[42] Giannina Braschi is a contemporary political philosopher. She writes about freedom, immigration, revolution, and justice.[43] Braschi was inspired by a major Mexican woman philosopher Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz.[44] Puerto Rican philosophers are sometimes called Latinx philosophers or Latin American philosophers.

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Despite being under the sovereignty of the United States since 1898, Puerto Rico has not been fully incorporated into the country for constitutional purposes.[1] See the page for the Insular Cases for more information.
  2. ↑ The term boricua is gender-neutral, whereas the terms puertorriqueño, borinqueño, borincano, and puertorro are male-specific when ending in «o» and female-specific when ending in «a».
  3. ↑ The term puertorro -a is used popularly, spontaneously, and politely to refer to Puerto Ricans or Puerto Rico. It is occasionally mistaken for a pejorative, but the term is not considered offensive by Puerto Ricans. It has been most famously used by Puerto Rican musicians, including Bobby Valentín in his song Soy Boricua (1972), Andy Montañez in En Mi Puertorro (2006), and Bad Bunny in ACHO PR (2023).
  4. ↑ The area of the main island of Puerto Rico is 5,325 m² (13,792 km²). The land and internal coastal water area is 3,513 m² (9,100 km²), with land covering 3,424 m² (8,868 km²) and internal costal waters 89 m² (232 km²). Its territorial waters stretch for 1,812 m² (4,692 km²).[7] The island of Vieques has a total land area of 51 m² (132 km²),[8] Mona has 22 m² (56 km²),[9] Culebra has 12 m² (31 km²),[10] Caja de Muertos has 0.62 m² (1.62 km²),[11] and Desecheo has 0.56 m² (1.45 km²).[12] In total, the entire archipelago of Puerto Rico has a land area of about 3,510 m² (9,090 km²) and an exclusive economic zone of 68,605 m² (177,327 km²).[13] See Geography of Puerto Rico.
  5. ↑ Puerto Rico, the main island of the archipelago of the same name, is 178 kilometers long (110 statute miles; 96 nautical miles) and 65 kilometers wide (40 statute miles; 35 nautical miles). Boricuas often refer to Puerto Rico as 100x35 (Spanish: 100por35), a direct reference to the island's size in nautical miles. Various Puerto Rican singers have used the term, including Farruko and Pedro Capó in their song Jíbaro (2021).
  6. ↑ Cerro de Punta in the Cordillera Central mountain range is the highest elevation in Puerto Rico.
  7. ↑ Puerto Rico is the 4th most populated island in the Caribbean, 27th most populated island in the world, and 136th most populated country or dependency in the world.

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Puerto Rico.
  1. ↑ "U.S. Territories - Developments in the Law". Harvard Law Review. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "Puerto Rico 2015-2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census. Department of Commerce. 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "P. Rico Senate declares Spanish over English as first official language". Agencia EFE. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "2020 Census Illuminates Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Country: Puerto Rico". United States Census. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "puertorriqueño". Diccionario de la Lengua Española por la Real Academia Española (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "puertorro". Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española: Diccionario de Americanismos (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  8. ↑ "Vieques Municipio, Puerto Rico". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "Mona Island". Earth Observatory. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "Culebra Municipio, Puerto Rico". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  11. ↑ "Plan de Manejo Reserva Natural Isla Caja de Muertos" (PDF). Gobierno de Puerto Rico: Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Catches by Taxon in the waters of Puerto Rico (USA)". Sea Around Us. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "Geografía de Puerto Rico". Sistemas de Información Geográfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  15. ↑ "Quick Facts Puerto Rico: Population Estimates, July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. 1 July 2023. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  16. ↑ "Table 2. Resident Population for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 26 April 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (PR)". International Monetary Fund. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Socioeconomic Indicators - Puerto Rico | Market Forecast". August 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  19. ↑ Fuentes-Ramírez, Ricardo R. (2017). "Human Development Index Trends and Inequality in Puerto Rico 2010–2015". Ceteris Paribus: Journal of Socio-Economic Research. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  20. ↑ More exactly, it is an unincorporated territory.
  21. ↑ "Audio of Lolita Lebron at 1954 attack". Freedom Archives. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  22. ↑ "El Grito de Lares". New York Latino Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
  23. ↑ Qvortrup, Matt (2015-07-10). "Voting on Independence and National Issues: A Historical and Comparative Study of Referendums on Self-Determination and Secession". Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique. French Journal of British Studies. 20 (XX-2). doi:10.4000/rfcb.366. ISSN 0248-9015. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  24. ↑ "US leaves the world puzzled by dragging its feet on metric system". The Nation Thailand. 2015-12-26. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Puerto Rico files for biggest ever U.S. local government bankruptcy". Reuters. May 3, 2017. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  26. ↑ US General Accounting Office, U.S. Insular Areas: Application of the U.S. Constitution Archived 2020-02-29 at the Wayback Machine, November 1997, pp. 8, 14, 27, viewed September 3, 2015.
  27. ↑ "The second voyage of Columbus". World Book, Inc. Archived from the original on 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2006-02-11.
  28. ↑ Mahaffy, Cheryl (January 28, 2006). "Vieques Island - What lies beneath". canada.com. Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved 2006-02-11.
  29. ↑ Rouse, Irving. The Tainos : Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus ISBN 0-300-05696-6.
  30. ↑ Rodríguez-Silva, Ileana M. (2012). Silencing Race: Disentangling Blackness, Colonialism, and National Identities in Puerto Rico. Palgrave Macmillan US. ISBN 978-1-137-26321-6. Archived from the original on 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  31. ↑ Hernandez, Javier A. (2024-09-26). "To Fight Colonialism: The Call to Action for Puerto Rico". laprogressive.com. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  32. ↑ "House votes in favor of resolving Puerto Rico's territorial status". NBC News. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  33. ↑ Foundation, Poetry (2020-09-17). "Julia de Burgos". Poetry Foundation. Archived from the original on 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  34. ↑ Poets, Academy of American. "About Giannina Braschi | Academy of American Poets". poets.org. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  35. ↑ Valens, K. (2012-11-01). "The Love of Neighbors: Rosario Ferre's Eccentric Neighborhoods / Vencindarios excentricos". Contemporary Women's Writing. 6 (3): 251–266. doi:10.1093/cww/vps026. ISSN 1754-1484.
  36. ↑ "Puerto Rican Counterpoint I". The Right to Look: 117–122. 2011. doi:10.1215/9780822393726-005. ISBN 978-0-8223-4895-5.
  37. ↑ jmedranoartcollection (2014-03-10). "The Legend of Francisco Rodon". Puerto Rico Art Review & Art Collection. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  38. ↑ "Allora & Calzadilla | Artists | Lisson Gallery". www.lissongallery.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Puerto Rico's Culture: Music". welcome.topuertorico.org. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  40. ↑ ivetteromero (2013-01-15). "The 12 Most Influential Puerto Ricans". Repeating Islands. Archived from the original on 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  41. ↑ "Eugenio María de Hostos | Puerto Rican author". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  42. ↑ Ramos, Francisco José (2020-10-27). The Holy Trinity. University of Pittsburgh Press. pp. 156–165. doi:10.2307/j.ctv193rr38.17. ISBN 978-0-8229-8759-8. S2CID 241105437.
  43. ↑ Aldama, Frederick Luis; O’Dwyer, Tess, eds. (2020-10-27). Poets, Philosophers, Lovers. University of Pittsburgh Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctv193rr38. ISBN 978-0-8229-8759-8. S2CID 240594860.
  44. ↑ "A Conversation between Frederick Luis Aldama and Tess O'Dwyer, Co-Editors of Poets, Philosophers, Lovers: On the Writings of Giannina Braschi". Latin American Literature Today. 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-08-01.[permanent dead link]
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