Missionaries to Puerto Rico

Pray for:

  The Rodriguez Family

  The Rodriguez
    Maria    /      Mia    /     Manny    /     Clarissa    /     Jasmine

About Puerto Rico*   

Map of Puerto Rico

  • Background:

    Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following 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.

  • Location:

    Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic.

  • Natural Resources:

    Some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil.

  • Natural Hazards:

    periodic droughts; hurricanes

  • Area - comparative:

    Slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island.

  • Government Type; Capital; & Population:

    Commonwealth; San Juan; 3,971,020 (July 2009 est.)

  • Independence:

    None (territory of the US with commonwealth status).
    Note: Unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President.

  • Ethnic groups:

    White (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007).

  • Religions:

    Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

  • Disputes - International:

    Increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work.


* Based on CIA-The World Factbook