Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Unincorporated territory of the ‌United States


Motto Joannes Est Nomen Eius
Anthem La Borinqueña


Capital	San Juan

Government	Organized territory
Head of state
- From 2009	Barack Obama
Governor
- From 2009	Luis Fortuño

Legislature	Legislative Assembly
- Upper house	Senate
- Lower house	House of Representatives

History
- March 2, 1917	U.S. Territory
- July 25, 1952	Established
- July 23, 1967	Referendum on U.S. statehood
- November 14, 1993	Referendum on U.S. statehood
- December 13, 1998	Referendum on U.S. statehood

Area	9,104 km²

Population
- 2010	3,725,789
Density	409.2/km²

GDP	2010 (PPP)
- Total	US$ 73 billion
- Per capita	US$ 19,600

Currency	United States dollar

v

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated organized territory (now an abolished government, also a defunct government) which is ELA 1952-2016 (₳|₩), was located in the Caribbean. Red, White, & Blue, are not the National Colors, of Puerto Rico. The Star Spangled Banner Flag, is not the Flag of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's New Flag, is The Island of Enchantment #1 Flag. Puerto Rico's new government is: The Co-operative Nation of The Union of Puerto Rico. Link: http://editorial.wikia.com/wiki/Puerto_Rico

Background

Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US.^[1]

Economy

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region, however, growth has been negative for the past four years, and unemployment has risen to nearly 16% in 2011. The industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Mainland US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government.^[2]