History of Latin America - Puerto Rico

FLAGAmong all the Caribbean territories Puerto Rico has the closest association with the United States. In 1952 a new constitution made Puerto Rico an autonomous part of the United States called the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. This subtropical island has developed into the only Caribbean island where industry and commerce exceed primary agricultural production. The island and its approximately 3.3 million citizens are self-governed as a free associated state of the United States.
The people of Puerto Rico have a love of their country, or patria, that accepts the free association with the mainland but emphasizes loyalty to their own culture, way of life, spirit, folklore, hospitality, and ways of getting along with others. Many Puerto Ricans move between the island and United States mainland to get the "best of both worlds" culture, identity, and a familiar environment in the former; material wealth, education, acquisition of skills, and opportunities for their children from temporary residence in the United States. Many return to the Caribbean; many stay in the United States; and the constant circulation of Puerto Ricans between homes is now an enduring feature of the island's experience.
Economically Puerto Rico has a greater variety of industrial, commercial, and financial service activities and a better developed transportation network than other Caribbean islands. Statistics show that it has some of the most favorable economic and demographic conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean. In comparison to the United States, however, Puerto Rico's position is still below that of the poorest state of the Union, Mississippi.

Official Name. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Capital. San Juan.
NATURAL FEATURES
Principal Physical Features. Hills, slopes, mountains.
Mountain Ranges. Cordillera Central, Sierra de Luquillo.
Highest Peak. Cerro de Punta, 4,389 feet (1,338 meters).

PEOPLE
Population (1990 census). 3,522,037; 941.1 persons per square mile (363.4 persons per square kilometer); 70.7 percent urban, 29.3 percent rural.
Major Cities (1990 census; municipio). San Juan (437,745), Bayamon (220,262), Ponce (187,749), Carolina (177,806), Caguas (133,447), Mayaguez (100,371).
Major Religion. Roman Catholicism.
Major Languages. Spanish (official), English.
Literacy. 89.1 percent.
Leading Universities. Bayamon Central University, Bayamon; Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce; Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, University of Puerto Rico, both in San Juan; University of the Sacred Heart, Santurce.
GOVERNMENT
Form of Government. Commonwealth (United States).
Chief of State. President of the United States.
Head of Government. Governor.
Legislature. Legislative Assembly; consists of Senate with 27 members, and House of Representatives with 51 members; popularly elected; four-year terms.
Voting Qualification. Age 18.
Political Divisions. 78 municipios.
ECONOMY
Chief Agricultural Products. Crops coffee, fruit, sugar. Livestock Cattle, pigs, goats, poultry.
Chief Mined Products. Crushed stone, dimension stone, clays.
Chief Manufactured Products. Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, processed foods and food products, clothing, electrical equipment, machinery, metal products, professional and scientific equipment.
Chief Exports. Chemicals, metals and metal products, textile fiber and textile products, food products.
Chief Imports. Food products, metals, chemicals, lumber, paper, printed products.
Monetary Unit. 1 United States dollar = 100 cents.

This article was contributed by Dennis Conway, Associate Professor of Geography and Director, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington.


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Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
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