Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, officially known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a territory of the United States consisting of a small archipelago of islands, named for the main island, on the Atlantic edge of the Caribbean.  Originally a part of the Spanish Empire Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War and began of gradual process of developing its infrastructure and civil government.  Residents born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens but the territory’s population cannot vote in national elections and does not have a vote in the United States Congress.

Puerto Rico has long been a manufacturing center since U.S. led industrialization began in the early 20th century.  Manufacturing remains the largest component of Puerto Rico’s economy today.  Business and public service industries, such as finances, tourism, and insurance, make up the majority of the remaining economic output.  Tourism is a very profitable industry for Puerto Rico; beaches, parks, and historic sites from the colonial period are well developed and maintained to encourage tourism and draw millions of visitors each year.

Most of Puerto Rico’s population can be found along the main island’s coastline.  The largest centers include the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo metro and the cities of Ponce in the south and Mayaguez in the west.

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