Table of Contents
Puerto Rico
Part Of USA
Since 1917, Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States. They have unrestricted access to both the island and the American mainland. Nonetheless, American residents in Puerto Rico are exempt from paying federal income tax and are not allowed to vote in U.S. presidential elections.1)
Name Meaning
Due to the substantial amounts of gold that the Spanish colonizers discovered on the island, Puerto Rico is Spanish for “rich port”.2)
Size
Puerto Rico is comparable to Connecticut in size.3)
Population Density
After New Jersey, Rhode Island and Washington, DC, Puerto Rico has the fourth-highest population density in the United States.4)
Not A Country Or A State
Puerto Rico is not a country. It is administered by the United States as a commonwealth, not as a sovereign state.5)
Only Mammal Animals
Bats are the only mammal creatures that are still present in Puerto Rico.6)
Puerto Rico From Spain to U.S.
According to the Treaty of Paris, Spain gave the United States Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam after the Spanish-American War (1898). Moreover, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory under the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917.7)
No Need For Passports
Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, Americans can visit there without a passport.8)
Oldest Colony
The oldest colony in the world is said to be in Puerto Rico.9)
Producer Of Rum
The world's largest rum producer is Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico accounts for more than 86% of the rum sold in the United States.10)
Coqui Frogs
Many Caribbean islands are home to coqui frogs, but only Puerto Rico is home to singing coqui frogs. Only one inch long, the frog emits the high-pitched sound “ko-kee, ko-kee”.11)
Bat Noises For Batman Forever
Camuy River Caverns National Park served as the recording location for the bat noises in Batman Forever. The biggest cave system in the Western Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world is found here.12)
Christopher Columbus
In the year after his arrival in the Americas, 1493, Christopher Columbus “found” Puerto Rico. After John the Baptist, he gave it the name San Juan Baptiste.13)
Words From Taino Indians
When Christopher Columbus came in Puerto Rico, the Taino Indians resided there and contributed many of the terms that Puerto Ricans use today for cuisine, names, and household objects.14)
Miss Puerto Rico
Five times, Miss Puerto Rico has won the Miss Universe competition. Puerto Rico participates as a separate country even though it is a U.S. territory.15)