Everyday Life in Puerto Rico

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Everyday Life in Puerto Rico

The commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico), known to most Americans as simply Puerto Rico, exists as one of two territories owned by the United States1. Being a territory of the United States, Puerto Ricans possess common citizenship, currency, and defense. However, even though Puerto Ricans are United States citizens they do not pay any kind of federal income taxes. Therefore, they cannot vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico is under the jurisdiction of the United States customs, and are allowed free movement of people and merchandise with the United States. They have established their own constitution, and have a greater amount of independence than possessions. Although they are only a territory of the United States, they have remained ethnically diversified2.

History Channel International

Puerto Rico’s size of 3,515 square miles is comparable to three times the size of Rhode Island1. The island is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, just east of the Dominican Republic. Politically, Puerto Rico is divided into 8 senatorial districts, 40 representative districts, and 78 municipalities. Ponce De Leon founded San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. Many popular city destinations of Puerto Rico include such places as San Juan, Ponce, Bayamon, and Caguas2.

Escape to Puerto Rico

The population of Puerto Rico consists of approximately 3.58 million people. With this large amount of individuals on a relatively small island, Puerto Rico has become one of the most densely populated places in the world. The population density averages out to be approximately 1,000 people per square mile. Not one of the 50 states has a ratio this large. ...

... middle of paper ...

... a very unique style, which includes such seasonings as coriander, papaya, cacao, nispero, apio, plantains, and yampee2.

Puerto Rico has developed a unique lifestyle over the years that they can call their own. Through combining culture lifestyle of other countries, Puerto Rico has initiated practices that they can claim. Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans have long been too little understood by Americans. Because they are a territory of the United States, and not a state, Puerto Ricans have used this independence to remain ethnically diversified and unique3.

Works Cited:

1) "Puerto Rico". Nikken Company. http://nikken.com/global/puertorico (March 9,1999).

2) "Welcome to Puerto Rico". Rivera, Magaly. http://welcome.topuertorico.org (March

9,1999)

3) Jack Delano. Puerto Rico Mio, Our Decades of Change. Washington: Smithsonian

Institute Press. 1990.

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