Puerto Rico: A Comprehensive Overview - History, Geography & Culture

Puerto Rico Browse the article Puerto Rico

Introduction to Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, is a United States possession in the West Indies. It consists of the island of Puerto Rico, the smallest and most easterly island of the Greater Antilles, and several smaller islands, including Vieques and Culebra. Its official name is Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico lies between Hispaniola and the Virgin Islands, about 960 miles (1,540 km) southeast of Florida. The island's northern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean, the southern coast the Caribbean Sea.

Facts in brief about Puerto RicoCapital: San Juan.Government: Congress—Resident commissioner, who votes only in committees. Commonwealth legislature—senators, 27; representatives, 53. Local government—78 municipalities.Area: 3,427 mi2 (8,875 km2), including Culebra, Mona, and Vieques islands and 56 mi2 (145 km2) of inland water. Greatest distances—east-west, 111 mi (179 km); north-south, 39 mi (63 km). Coastline—311 mi (501 km).Elevation: Highest—Cerro de Punta, 4,389 ft (1,338 m) above sea level. Lowest—sea level along the coast.Population: Current estimate—3,959,000; density, 1,155 per mi2 (446 per km2); distribution, 29 percent rural, 71 percent urban. 2000 census—3,808,610.Chief products: Agriculture—milk, poultry products, coffee, fruit. Fishing industry—red snapper, lobster, sierra. Manufacturing—pharmaceuticals, food products, electrical products, machinery, clothing.Flag and seal: Puerto Rico's flag, adopted in 1952, has a white star in a blue triangle on the left side. The flag has five red and horizontal stripes. The seal has a lamb that symbolizes peace and brotherhood. The letters F and I above the lamb stand for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.Became a commonwealth: July 25, 1952.Commonwealth abbreviations: P.R. (traditional); PR (postal).Commonwealth motto: Joannes est nomen ejus (John Is His Name).Commonwealth anthem: "La Borinquena." Music by Felix Astol y Artes.

Physical Geography

Puerto Rico lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic. It is a commonwealth of the United States.Land

Puerto Rico lies on the crest of a largely submerged volcanic mountain range and is crossed from east to west by low mountains. Roughly three-fourths of the island is either mountainous or hilly. The major range is the Cordillera Central, site of the island's highest peak---Cerro de Punta---which rises 4,389 feet (1,338 m) above sea level. Narrow coastal plains, somewhat wider on the north coast than on the south, extend around most of the island.

Water

Rivers are generally short, swift, and shallow; consequently, they are of limited use. Most of the larger ones, including the Arecibo, La Plata, Manatí, and Loíza, flow northward to the Atlantic Ocean from the mountains. All the island's lakes and reservoirs are small.

Climate

The climate is generally mild, with temperatures averaging near 80° F. (27° C.) in July and 75° F. (24° C.) in January. Mountain areas are somewhat cooler. Rainfall is brought mainly by moist northeasterly trade winds. Areas north and northeast of the mountains receive an annual average rainfall of 60 to 70 inches (1,520 to 1,780 mm), while much of the south receives less than 30 inches (760 mm). The southwest is the driest part of the island. Some of the higher northern slopes receive more than 100 inches (2,540 mm). Occasional hurricanes do considerable damage.

Plants and Animals

The island was once heavily forested, but only small parts of the original forests still exist. Most of these are in the Caribbean National Forest, in eastern Puerto Rico. Palm trees and mangrove swamps line part of the coast. Hibiscuses, orchids, poinsettias, and bougainvilleas are among the island's many colorful plants.

Native animals include some 200 species of birds. The mongoose was imported to destroy pests but is now one itself. Marine life, including many kinds of tropical fish and coral, is abundant.

Places to visit on Puerto RicoFollowing are brief descriptions of some of Puerto Rico's many interesting places to visit:El Morro Fortress was built by the Spaniards between 1539 and 1787 to guard the Bay of San Juan.El Yunque is a mountain with a rain forest on its slopes. The El Yunque rain forest is part of the Caribbean National Forest and is the only rain forest in the U.S. Forest Service. The forest has about 240 species of trees and flowers.Hacienda Buena Vista, in Ponce, is a restored coffee and grain mill from the 1800's. It includes rare turbine machinery and period furnishings.Ponce Art Museum has the Caribbean's most extensive art collection. Its collection ranges from works by European old masters to those of modern artists.Rio Camuy Cave Park, near Arecibo, has spectacular limestone caves carved thousands of years ago by one of the world's largest underground rivers.

Economy

Puerto Rico's economy has improved greatly since the early 20th century, when the island was impoverished and dependent mainly on farming. In 1942 an economicdevelopment plan, called Operation Bootstrap, was begun. To encourage industry, the government began training workers, building transportation and power facilities, and offering tax exemptions and other benefits to companies opening plants there. Since the introduction of the plan, hundreds of United States corporations have opened facilities in Puerto Rico, substantially raising the island's standard of living.

Manufacturing is the most important industry in Puerto Rico. It contributes to a large portion of the gross domestic product. The service industries, together, account for more than half of the gross domestic product of Puerto Rico.

Tourism, based primarily on the warm winter weather, attractive scenery, and historic sites, is also a major economic activity. Most of the tourists come from the U.S. mainland. Associated with it is a large and growing service industry, especially in San Juan, the capital and main tourist center. Tourism benefits such services as the operation of hotels and restaurants. Sizable, too, is the construction industry, spurred by the need for more factories, roads, homes, and schools. Money sent home by Puerto Ricans living in the United States is also significant in the economy. Trade is mostly with the United States.

Despite its overall progress, Puerto Rico's economy lags considerably behind that of the 50 states in virtually all respects. High unemployment is one of the island's most persistent economic problems.

Manufacturing

It is Puerto Rico's leading source of income and employment. In terms of employment, the principal industrial activities are the manufacturing of clothing and textiles, computer and electronic products, petroleum and coal products, transportation equipment, electrical and electronic equipment, processed foods, precision instruments, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Other products manufactured are leather products, machinery, medical and scientific instruments, and rubber and plastic products. By value, pharmaceuticals and electrical and electronic equipment are the leaders. Rum and refined sugar are among the island's best-known products. Centrales (sugar mills) in Puerto Rico produce raw sugar from the sugar cane grown on the island. San Juan and the nearby cities form the main manufacturing area. Also significant is the Ponce area, on the south coast. There is a value added by manufacture of about $45 billion a year on products manufactured and processed in the commonwealth.

Agriculture

Prior to Operation Bootstrap, agriculture was the island's economic mainstay, engaging almost half of the workforce. Only about 5 per cent presently work in farming. Of the total land area in Puerto Rico about 30 per cent is used for farming. As the land has been worked hard for many years, a lot of fertilizer has to be used to enrich the fields. Water for farms in the drier southern parts of the island is provided by irrigation, which is also used on farms along the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. Meat, milk, eggs and poultry products account for about half of all farm income. Sugarcane, once the predominant crop, has declined drastically in production, but remains a major product. It is grown in the coastal lowlands Puerto Rico. Coffee and tobacco have long been significant commercial crops. Coffee beans are grown in the western region of the central mountains. Coffee is produced in more than half of Puerto Rico’s farms. A great variety of vegetables and fruits is produced for local consumption. The most important commercial fruits of this island are bananas and plantains. Pineapples are grown in the coastal lowlands, mostly in the north. Other fruits are avocados, coconuts, and oranges and other citrus fruits.

Rice, a staple food in the diet of Puerto Ricans, is increasingly being grown. Large amounts of food are imported. Beef cattle are also raised by the farmers. The production of livestock has rapidly increased in Puerto Rico to help feed its growing city populations.

Fishing and Mining

Fishing is not a major industry in Puerto Rico’s economy. The waters around Puerto Rico are too deep for good commercial fishing. Close to 6 million pounds (2.7 million kilograms) of fish and shellfish are caught annually. Much tuna, however, is brought in from distant waters for processing and export to the eastern United States. Sport fishing is a tourist attraction.

Puerto Rico has few mineral resources of commercial value. The most valuable mined products are Portland cement and stone. Foremost among those produced are construction materials such as stone, sand, lime and gravel.

The same laws and regulations apply to trade between Puerto Rico and the United States as to trade between the states of the United States. No customs duties are paid by Puerto Ricans on goods imported from the United States, as is done on imports from other countries.

Earlier, the most important exports in Puerto Rico were molasses, rum, and sugar. Among them, only rum is still exported in large quantities. Now, exports from Puerto Rico include clothing, computer and electronic products, food products, machinery, medical and scientific equipment, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco products. The island mainly imports chemicals, computers and electrical products, food products, petroleum products, and transportation equipment. There are ‘foreign trade zones’ in San Juan, Ponce, and Mayagüez, where owners can process, store, and reship their goods without paying customs duties.

Puerto Rico’s utilities provide electric, gas, and water service. Electric power is generated and sold by a public corporation and government agency created in 1941, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. Power plants that burn petroleum produce almost all electric power.

Service industries account for the largest portion of the gross domestic product of Puerto Rico. There is a concentration of service industries in the metropolitan areas.

In terms of contribution to the GDP, finance, insurance, and real estate are the leading service industry group in Puerto Rico. The chief financial center is San Juan, which is home to hundreds of banks and other financial organizations.

Second in rank in terms of the gross domestic product are wholesale and retail trade. Of special importance is the wholesale trade of groceries, medicine, and motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts. The leading centers of wholesale trade are San Juan, Bayamon, and Ponce. The retail trade of this island is aided by tourist spending at hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Community, business, personal services (which include private health care and tourism) and government services provide employment for about half of all Puerto Ricans. Military activities and the operation of public schools and hospitals are included in the government services.

Transportation

Paved roads link most parts of the island and constitute the primary transportation network. There are around 24,000 miles (38,600 kilometers) of surfaced roads in Puerto Rico, which provide good transportation by automobile, bus, and truck throughout the island. Buses provide service between the larger cities. Goods are transported by trucks. The only railways are narrow-gauge lines used to haul sugarcane to mills during the harvest season. There is, however, commuter railway known as the Tren Urbano (Urban Train) that connects San Juan to a number of suburbs. There are no navigable rivers. San Juan is the chief seaport and air terminal. The other main seaports are Ponce in the south and Mayagüez in the west. The largest airport is Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan.

Puerto Rico's economic production and workersEconomic activities% of GDP producedNumber of workers% of all workersManufacturing 42136,00011Finance, insurance, & real estate 1747,0004Wholesale & retail trade 12271,00022Government 10278,00022Community, business, & personal services 9354,00028Transportation, communication, & utilities 659,0005Construction & mining 288,0007Agriculture 22,0002Total 1001,255,000100

The People

Most of the people are descended from the early Spanish, and the remainder are mulattoes and blacks descended from African slaves. There are few racial traces of the original Indians, who had died off by the 16th century.

Language and Religion

Spanish and English are the official languages. About 80 per cent of the people are Roman Catholics; 19 per cent are members of various Protestant denominations. There is also a small Jewish community.

Education and Culture

Education is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 16. The illiteracy rate is about 10 per cent.

The University of Puerto Rico, founded in 1903, has its main campus at Rio Piedras, a community in San Juan. It also has a campus at Mayagüez; university colleges at Arecibo, Bayamn, Cayey, Ponce, and Humacao; a medical center in San Juan; and several twoyear regional colleges. The Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory, with a huge radio telescope, is operated by Cornell University for the National Science Foundation.

San Juan is the main cultural center. The University of Puerto Rico Museum has archeological, historical, and art exhibits. The government-sponsored Institute of Puerto Rican Culture encourages the development of local art, handicrafts, music, and drama. San Juan is also the home of the San Juan Museum of Art and History, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the Conservatory of Music, the Fine Arts Center, and a ballet company. The Tapia Theater is a showcase for plays, ballet, and zarzuela (light opera) troupes. An outstanding cultural event is the Casals Music Festival, held annually in honor of the cellist Pablo Casals.

Annual events in Puerto RicoOne of Puerto Rico's leading events is the Casals Festival, held in San Juan in February. International musicians take part in orchestra and chamber music performances to honor the famed Spanish cellist Pablo Casals, whose mother was born in Puerto Rico.January-MarchBirthday of Puerto Rican educator and essayist Eugenio Maria de Hostos (January 11); Carnival in Ponce (February); Coffee Harvest Festival in Maricao (February); Orange Festival in Las Marias (February); Dulce Sueno Paso Fino Horse Show in Guayama (late February to early March); Heineken Regatta, first leg of the Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle (March); Emancipation Day, marking abolition of slavery in 1873 (March 22).April-JuneBirthday of Jose de Diego, a Puerto Rican patriot (April 16); Heineken Jazz Festival in San Juan (June); Bomba y Plena Festival, an Afro-Caribbean music and dance festival in Ponce (June); Aibonito Flower Festival (June); Eve of San Juan Bautista Day (June 23).July-SeptemberBarranquitas Artisans Fair (mid-July); Commonwealth Day (July 25); Loiza Festival, a folk and religious festival honoring St. James the apostle (late July); International Billfish Tournament in San Juan (August-September); Inter-American Festival of the Arts in San Juan (September-October).October-DecemberColumbus Day (October 12); Jayuya Indian Festival (November); Discovery Day, honoring Columbus's 1493 sighting of Puerto Rico (November 19); Hatillo Festival of the Masks (late December).

Government

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth: it has internal self-government, but the United States controls its foreign relations and defense, and operates the postal service and customs service. Residents of Puerto Rico are United States citizens, but do not pay federal income taxes or vote in presidential elections. They elect a delegate, called a resident commissioner to a four-year term, to the U.S. House of Representatives who can vote only in committees and when the House is sitting as a committee of the whole. Puerto Rico has the option to choose independence and end its association with the United States, or to seek statehood, but in repeated referendums it has voted to continue its commonwealth status.

Under the 1952 constitution there is separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The governor, the chief executive officer of Puerto Rico, is elected by the people for four years and may be reelected indefinitely. He appoints other top executive officials.

The legislature, called the Legislative Assembly, consists of a senate of 29 members and a house of representatives of 53, all elected for four-year terms. It meets in regular session from January through May and during September and October. The governor has the power to call special sessions at any time. There are 8 senatorial districts and 42 representative districts in Puerto Rico. In each senatorial district, voters elect 2 senators, and in each representative district, voters elect 1 representative. They also elect 11 senators and 11 representatives ‘at-large’ — that is, from the entire commonwealth, rather than from districts.

The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court of seven members appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate. The retirement age of the justices is 70 years. There is a Circuit Court of Appeals which consists of 39 judges, each appointed by the governor to 16-year terms. The 210 superior court judges in Puerto Rico are appointed to 12-year terms and the 105 municipal judges are appointed to 8-year terms. The U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico, which has seven judges appointed by the U.S. president, hears cases involving federal law.

Puerto Rico is divided into 78 municipios, which, in turn, are divided into barrios, ciudades, pueblos, and subbarrios. There are no incorporated places. The places listed earlier in this article as "cities" are census designated places—closely settled population centers delineated by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Puerto Rican government. A mayor and an assembly are elected by the voters in each municipality. The mayor appoints a secretary-auditor and a treasurer.

The two dominant parties in Puerto Rico are the New Progressive Party, which wants Puerto Rico to become a U.S. state, and the Popular Democratic Party, which is in favor of continuing the island's commonwealth status. The Independence Party, a third party, favors independence for the island.