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.
See: Geographic Terms & Concepts
Counties & County Equivalents
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 (Incorporated Cities, Towns & Census Designated Places (CDPs))
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.
Alphabetical List of Cities, Towns, CDPs and Other Populated Places
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q, R | S | T | U, V | W, X, Y, Z
Puerto Rico Civil Features
Puerto Rico Civil Features: Political Subdivisions, Native Areas, Land Grants, etc. - sorted by Census Class Codes.
Metropolitan and Micropolitan Stastical Areas
There are 0 Metropolitan and 0 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
There are 131 ZIP Code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in Puerto Rico. View Puerto Rico ZIP Codes and ZIP Code Maps.
School Districts
Puerto Rico has one unified school district. View Puerto Rico Public and Private Schools.
Congressional Districts
Puerto Rico has 1 resident commissioner district (at large), with one non-voting resident commissioner. View Map of Puerto Rico Congressional Districts.
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.
