Puerto Rico

BASIC INFORMATION

Download 2010 Census Puerto Rico Profile [PDF]

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HISTORY

The United States acquired the area of Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898. Congress granted the people of Puerto Rico United States citizenship in 1917. The area became a commonwealth on July 25, 1952, with the right to internal self-government.

Census data are available for Puerto Rico from periodic censuses, beginning with a census taken by the War Department in 1899. The 1920 and earlier censuses were enumerated on Jan. 1, 1920; Apr. 15, 1910; and Nov. 10, 1899. Earlier data are available from censuses conducted by the government of Spain from 1765 to 1897.

METROPOLITAN AND MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND RELATED STATISTICAL AREAS

Puerto Rico has 8 metropolitan statistical areas, 5 micropolitan statistical areas, and 3 combined statistical areas.

COUNTIES

There are 78 county equivalent entities known as municipios in Puerto Rico.  All municipios are functioning governmental entities. 

COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS

There are 939 county subdivisions in Puerto Rico known as minor civil divisions (MCDs).  This includes 827 barrios, 75 barrios-pueblo, and 37 areas where subdivisions are undefined.  The barrios and barrios-pueblo are nonfunctioning county subdivisions used for election purposes.  Some MCDs are divided into sub-MCDs, which are called subbarrios.  There are 145 subbarrios.

PLACES

Puerto Rico has 253 places, all of which are census designated places (CDPs).  Puerto Rico does not have incorporated places.  There are 79 zonas urbanas that represent the governmental centers of the municipios, and 174 comunidades that represent other settlements. 

CENSUS TRACTS/BLOCK GROUPS/BLOCKS

Puerto Rico has 945 census tracts, 2,594 block groups, and 77,189 census blocks.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Puerto Rico has 1 resident commissioner district (at large), with one non-voting resident commissioner.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Puerto Rico has one unified school district.

STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS

There are 8 state senate districts and 4 state house districts in Puerto Rico.  In addition there is 1 state house district undefined and 1 state senate district undefined representing water area.

ZIP CODE TABULATION AREAS

There are 131 ZIP Code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in Puerto Rico.

MOST POPULOUS, LARGEST IN AREA, AND MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS

LISTS OF ENTITIES

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and Related Statistical Areas
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/guidestloc/files/cbsa10.txt
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/guidestloc/files/csa10.txt

Counties
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_counties_72.txt

County Subdivisions
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_cousubs_72.txt

Places
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_72.txt

Census Tracts
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_tracts_72.txt

Congressional Districts
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_cd111_national.txt

School Districts
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_unsd_national.txt

State Legislative Districts
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_sldl_national.txt
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_sldu_national.txt

ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_zcta_national.txt