Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, island in the Caribbean Sea.

Land and climate

Puerto Rico is the smallest and easternmost island of the Greater Antilles, the other members of which are Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. It is about 950 mi (1,529 km) southeast of Miami, Florida and 550 mi (885 km) north of Caracas, Venezuela. A number of offshore islands, including Vieques, Culebra, and Mona, also belong to Puerto Rico, bringing the commonwealth's total area to about 3,515 sq mi (9,104 sq km). Along the coast is a narrow fertile plain from 1 to 12 mi (19 km) wide. In the center of the island is a chain of mountains that roughly divides it into two distinct northern and southern regions. Puerto Rico has a tropical climate, but the effects of high temperature are moderated by the trade winds. Tropical hurricanes frequently bear down on the island, especially between August and October. The capital city is San Juan. The official language is Spanish, but English is also spoken.

People

The people of Puerto Rico are a mixture of Spanish and African. Some two-thirds of the population lives in the cities of San Juan, Ponce, and Mayagüez. Most Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholic.

Economy

Puerto Rico's was formerly a single-crop economy based upon sugar, but it now depends largely upon manufacturing. Metals, chemicals, oil refining, textiles, and sugar products account for most manufacturing and provide the principal exports. Coffee, tobacco, and tourism are also important. The United States is Puerto Rico's main trading partner.

History

Puerto Rico was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. In 1508, Juan Ponce de Leòn founded a colony. The native Arawak people perished under Spanish rule and, from 1510, black African slaves were imported to work on sugar plantations. The island was ceded to the United States in 1898 following the Spanish American War. In 1917, the Puerto Ricans received U.S. citizenship. U.S. economic dominance resulted in economic dislocation and political tension. In 1952, Puerto Rico became a commonwealth in free association with the United States. Under the arrangement, Puerto Ricans remain U.S. citizens, though they cannot vote in U.S. elections and are not obligated to pay U.S. taxes. Following World War II and Operation Bootstrap, a program for strengthening the island's economy, Puerto Rico experienced increased investment that spurred economic growth and diversification. However, high unemployment coupled with a high birth rate have led large numbers of Puerto Ricans to emigrate to the United States. The island's relationship to the United States remains a political issue. Mainstream political parties are divided between those favoring statehood and those favoring the commonwealth arrangement. A nationalist minority outside the mainstream seeks independence. The issue dominates Puerto Rico's political life.