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92-778: Most commonly known as the Puerto Rico Bank and Puerto Rican Bank, the bank is named after the largest island within its limits, the eponymous main island of the archipelago of Puerto Rico . The The part of the bank covering the Virgin Islands is occasionally referred to as the Virgin Bank . Separated from the Greater Antilles by the Mona Passage and from the Lesser Antilles by

184-762: A GDP of $ 104.989 billion in 2019, to American Samoa, which has a GDP of $ 636 million in 2018. In 2018, Puerto Rico exported about $ 18 billion in goods, with the Netherlands as the largest destination. Guam's GDP shrank by 0.3% in 2018, the GDP of the Northern Mariana Islands shrank by 19.6% in 2018, Puerto Rico's GDP grew by 1.18% in 2019, and the U.S. Virgin Islands' GDP grew by 1.5% in 2018. In 2017, American Samoa's GDP shrank by 5.8%, but then grew by 2.2% in 2018. American Samoa has

276-585: A U.S. citizen parent. U.S. nationals without U.S. citizenship may hold U.S. passports and reside in any part of the United States without restriction. However, to become U.S. citizens they must apply for naturalization, like foreigners, and may only do so while residing in parts of the United States other than American Samoa. Foreign nationals residing in American Samoa cannot apply for U.S. citizenship or U.S. nationality at all. Each territory

368-578: A U.S. court in Puerto Rico: The United States District Court is not a true United States court established under article   3 of the Constitution to administer the judicial power of the United States   ... It is created   ... by the sovereign congressional faculty, granted under article 4, 3, of that instrument, of making all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory belonging to

460-530: A federal territorial court, and so federal matters in American Samoa are sent to either the District court of Hawaii or the District court of the District of Columbia . American Samoa is the only permanently inhabited region of the United States with no federal court. While the U.S. mainland is majority non-Hispanic White , this is not the case for the U.S. territories. In 2010, American Samoa's population

552-713: A land area of 8,868 sq km (3,424 sq mi ), the main island is the 3rd largest in the U.S. , 4th in the Caribbean , 29th in the Americas , and 81st in the world , making it the 174th largest country or dependency by surface area. With 3.2 million residents , it is the 2nd largest in the U.S., 4th in the Caribbean, 4th in the Americas, and 31st in the world, making it the 136th largest country or dependency by population. Geologically separated from

644-584: A result, these territories are often considered colonies of the United States. All modern inhabited territories under the control of the federal government can be considered as part of the "United States" for purposes of law as defined in specific legislation. However, the judicial term "unincorporated" was coined to legitimize the late-19th-century territorial acquisitions without citizenship and their administration without constitutional protections temporarily until Congress made other provisions. The case law allowed Congress to impose discriminatory tax regimes with

736-551: A short time before becoming states, while others remained territories for decades. The shortest-lived was Alabama Territory at two years, while New Mexico Territory and Hawaii Territory both lasted more than 50 years. Of the 50 states, 31 were once part of an organized, incorporated U.S. territory. In addition to the original 13, six subsequent states never were: Kentucky , Maine , and West Virginia were each separated from an existing state; Texas and Vermont were both sovereign states ( de facto sovereignty for Vermont, as

828-468: A sovereignty separate from that of the federal government and each federally recognized Native American tribe possesses limited tribal sovereignty as a "dependent sovereign nation". Territories are classified by incorporation and whether they have an "organized" government through an organic act passed by the Congress . American territories are under American sovereignty and may be treated as part of

920-516: Is a Puerto Rican forester who uses silvicultural techniques. Fernandez is currently developing cutting edge forestry methods known as the "Borincano Model". The model capitalizes on the diversity of ecological niches in Puerto Rican forests and native disturbance regimes to formulate practices uniquely suited to the forests of the territory. About his model Fernandez has been known to comment, " Soy de aquí como el coquí " (I am from here just like

1012-617: Is also home to more than 240 plants, 26 of which are endemic, and 50 bird species, including the critically endangered Puerto Rican amazon ( Amazona vittata ). Forests of Puerto Rico are well represented by the flora of the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF), a Long Term Ecological Research Network site managed by the United States Forest Service and University of Puerto Rico . At this site, there are four main life zones, delineated on

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1104-570: Is an archipelagic island U.S. territory comprised of the eponymous main island of Puerto Rico and 142 smaller islands , including Vieques , Culebra , and Mona . It is located between the Greater and Lesser Antilles in the northeastern Caribbean Sea , east of Hispaniola , west of Saint Thomas , north of Venezuela , and south of the Puerto Rico Trench . 177 km (110 mi ; 96 nmi) long and 65 km (40 mi; 35 nmi) wide with

1196-587: Is an important part for the continuation of American power abroad . 18°15′N 66°30′W  /  18.250°N 66.500°W  / 18.250; -66.500 Territories of the United States Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions overseen by the federal government of the United States . The American territories differ from the U.S. states and Indian reservations as they are not sovereign entities . In contrast, each state has

1288-415: Is currently being deformed by the tectonic stresses caused by the interaction of these plates. These stresses may cause earthquakes and tsunamis . These seismic events, along with landslides , represent some of the most dangerous geologic hazards in the island and in the northeastern Caribbean . The most recent major earthquake occurred on October 11, 1918 , with seismic moment estimated at 7.5 on

1380-633: Is disputed by Haiti , Wake Island is disputed by the Marshall Islands , Swains Island (a part of American Samoa ) is disputed by Tokelau , and Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank are both administered by Colombia, whose claim is disputed by the U.S. and Jamaica . The following two territories are claimed by multiple countries (including the United States) and are not included in ISO 3166-2:UM . However, they are sometimes grouped with

1472-743: Is in the Southern Hemisphere , while the other four are in the Northern Hemisphere . In 2020, their combined population was about 3.62 million, over 90% of which is accounted for by Puerto Rico alone. People born in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands acquire U.S. citizenship by birth , and foreign nationals residing there may apply for U.S. citizenship by naturalization . People born in American Samoa acquire U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship by birth if they do not have

1564-561: Is located in this range. Another important peak is El Yunque , the second highest peak in the Sierra de Luquillo at the El Yunque National Forest , with an elevation of 3,494 ft (1,065 m). Puerto Rico is composed of Cretaceous to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks, which are overlain by younger Oligocene to recent carbonates and other sedimentary rocks . Most of the caverns and karst topography on

1656-462: Is not a popular issue among Puerto Ricans. As an unincorporated territory of the United States , Puerto Rico does not have any first-order administrative divisions as defined by the U.S. Government , but there are 78 municipalities at the second level. Municipalities are further subdivided into barrios . Each municipality has a mayor and a municipal legislature elected for a 4-year term. The first permanent municipality of Puerto Rico, San Juan ,

1748-542: Is self-governing with three branches of government, including a locally elected governor and a territorial legislature. Each territory elects a non-voting member (a non-voting resident commissioner in the case of Puerto Rico) to the U.S. House of Representatives . Although they cannot vote on the passage of legislation, they can introduce legislation, have floor privileges to address the house, be members of and vote in committees, are assigned offices and staff funding, and may nominate constituents from their territories to

1840-460: Is technically "unorganized". All of the U.S. territories without permanent non-military populations are unorganized. The Office of Insular Affairs coordinates federal administration of the U.S. territories and freely associated states, except for Puerto Rico. On March 3, 1849, the last day of the 30th Congress, a bill was passed to create the U.S. Department of the Interior to take charge of

1932-620: The Age of Exploration and Sail , Puerto Rico was known to the Spanish as La Llave de las Indias (The Key to the Indies ), as it was the closest, European-settled major area of land in the Americas to both continental Europe and Africa with open access to the Atlantic Ocean . The northeast trade winds , coupled with the canary and north equatorial ocean currents , naturally made

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2024-754: The Anegada passage in the northeastern Caribbean Sea of the Atlantic Ocean , the Puerto Rico Bank compromises the main island of Puerto Rico , the Spanish Virgins Islands of Vieques and Culebra , the U.S. Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John , and the British Virgin Islands of Jost Van Dyke , Tortola , Virgin Gorda , and Anegada . It includes all surrounding minor islands and cays of each one of

2116-483: The Army , Naval , Air Force and Merchant Marine academies. As of the 118th Congress , the territories are represented by Aumua Amata Radewagen (R) of American Samoa, James Moylan (R) of Guam, Gregorio Sablan (D) of Northern Mariana Islands, Jenniffer González -Colón (R-PNP) of Puerto Rico and Stacey Plaskett (D) of U.S. Virgin Islands. The District of Columbia 's delegate is Eleanor Holmes Norton (D); like

2208-766: The Gibraltar of the Caribbean , as it stands guard over the entrance to the Caribbean Sea , itself a passageway into North , Central , and South America , just as British Gibraltar stands guard over the Strait of Gibraltar , the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Like Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean , Puerto Rico in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

2300-640: The Greater Antilles island of Hispaniola by the Mona Passage and from the Lesser Antilles island arc by the Anegada Passage , the main island of Puerto Rico, the Spanish Virgin Islands of Vieques and Culebra, the British Virgin Islands , and the U.S. Virgin Islands except for the southernmost island of Saint Croix all lie on the same carbonate platform and insular shelf , the Puerto Rico Bank , between

2392-738: The Kansas and Nebraska Territories, bringing organized government to the region once again. The creation of Kansas and Nebraska left the Indian Territory as the only unorganized territory in the Great Plains. In 1858, the western part of the Minnesota Territory became unorganized when it was not included in the new state of Minnesota ; this area was organized in 1861 as part of the Dakota Territory . In 1890,

2484-675: The Milwaukee Depth , it is 27,493 ft (8,380 m) deep, or about 5.21 mi (8.38 km). The archipelago of Puerto Rico is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean , east of the Hispaniola and west of the Virgin Islands . Located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico was key to the Spanish Empire since the early years of exploration, conquest and colonization of

2576-553: The New World . The topography of the main island is divided into three major regions: the mountainous region, which includes the Cordillera Central , the Sierra de Luquillo , and the Sierra de Cayey ; the coastal plains; and the northern karst region. The Cordillera Central extends through the entire island, dividing it into the northern and southern regions. The mountain region accounts for approximately 60% of

2668-782: The Northern Mariana Islands , Puerto Rico , and the U.S. Virgin Islands ) are permanently inhabited, unincorporated territories; the other nine are small islands, atolls, and reefs with no native (or permanent) population. Of the nine, only one is classified as an incorporated territory ( Palmyra Atoll ). Two additional territories ( Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank ) are claimed by the U.S. but administered by Colombia . Historically, territories were created to administer newly acquired land, and most eventually attained statehood . The most recent territories to become U.S. states were Alaska on January 3, 1959, and Hawaii on August 21, 1959. Politically and economically,

2760-618: The Pacific Ocean while Navassa Island is in the Caribbean Sea . The additional claimed territories of Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank are also located in the Caribbean Sea. Palmyra Atoll (formally known as the United States Territory of Palmyra Island) is the only incorporated territory, a status it has maintained since Hawaii became a state in 1959. All are uninhabited except for Midway Atoll, whose approximately 40 inhabitants (as of 2004) were employees of

2852-537: The Puerto Rico Trench in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Muertos Trough in the northeastern Caribbean Sea . The archipelagos of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands except for Saint Croix also lie on the same tectonic plate , the Puerto Rico–Virgin Islands microplate . Around 60% mountainous, the main island of Puerto Rico has one principal mountain range covering the central region of

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2944-412: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and their services provider; Palmyra Atoll, whose population varies from four to 20 Nature Conservancy and Fish and Wildlife staff and researchers; and Wake Island, which has a population of about 100 military personnel and civilian employees. The two-letter abbreviation for the islands collectively is "UM". The status of several islands is disputed. Navassa Island

3036-537: The federal district ) which were given a measure of self-governance by Congress through an organic act subject to the Congress's plenary powers under the territorial clause of the Constitution's Article Four, section 3. The term unorganized was historically applied either to a newly acquired region not yet constituted as an organized incorporated territory (e.g. the Louisiana Purchase prior to

3128-509: The lowest per capita income in the United States—it has a per capita income comparable to that of Botswana . In 2010, American Samoa's per capita income was $ 6,311. As of 2010, the Manu'a District in American Samoa had a per capita income of $ 5,441, the lowest of any county or county-equivalent in the United States. In 2018, Puerto Rico had a median household income of $ 20,166 (lower than

3220-510: The moment magnitude scale . It originated off the coast of Aguadilla and was accompanied by a tsunami . Lying about 75 mi (121 km) north of Puerto Rico in the Atlantic Ocean at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates is the Puerto Rico Trench , the largest and deepest trench in the Atlantic. The trench is 1,090 mi (1,750 km) long and about 97 km (60 mi) wide. At its deepest point, named

3312-715: The wildlife refuge in Cabo Rojo and Desecheo , the estuarine research reserve of Bahía de Jobos in Salinas , and the national park of the El Yunque forest in Rio Grande . Puerto Rico is mostly mountainous with large coastal areas in the north and south. The main mountain range is called Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range). The highest elevation in Puerto Rico, Cerro de Punta at 4,393 feet (1,339 m),

3404-538: The 19th century. Only six municipalities were founded in the 20th century with the last, Florida , being founded in 1971. Under Spanish rule, as of the 1880s, Puerto Rico was subdivided into regional districts (or " departamentos ") that contained smaller ayuntamientos (municipalities). Since the European colonization of Puerto Rico in the early 1500s, the geographic location of the island has been recognized for its strategic significance and accessibility. During

3496-404: The 2010s, the U.S. territories (overall) lost population. The combined population of the five inhabited territories was 4,100,594 in 2010, and 3,569,284 in 2020. The U.S. territories have high religiosity rates —American Samoa has the highest religiosity rate in the United States (99.3% religious and 98.3% Christian). The economies of the U.S. territories vary from Puerto Rico, which has

3588-409: The Atlantic hurricane season from May to November. Puerto Rico has lakes (none of them natural) and more than 50 rivers . Most of these rivers are born in the Cordillera Central , Puerto Rico's principal mountain range located across the center of the island. The rivers in the north of the island are bigger and with higher flow capacity than those of the south. The south is thus drier and hotter than

3680-632: The Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, under this law; most have been abandoned. It also has acquired territories since 1856 under other circumstances, such as under the Treaty of Paris (1898) which ended the Spanish–American War. The Supreme Court considered the constitutional position of these unincorporated territories in 1922 in Balzac v. People of Porto Rico , and said the following about

3772-598: The Court said that the U.S. Constitution did not fully apply in unincorporated territories because they were inhabited by "alien races". The U.S. had no unincorporated territories (also known as overseas possessions or insular areas) until 1856. Congress enacted the Guano Islands Act that year, authorizing the president to take possession of unclaimed islands to mine guano . The U.S. has taken control of (and claimed rights on) many islands and atolls, especially in

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3864-552: The Northern Mariana Islands' four municipalities, and American Samoa's three districts and two atolls as county equivalents. The Census Bureau also counts each of the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands as county equivalents. For statistical purposes, the U.S. Census Bureau has a defined area called the "Island Areas" which consists of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (every major territory except Puerto Rico). The U.S. Census Bureau often treats Puerto Rico as its own entity or groups it with

3956-438: The U.S. proper in some ways and not others (i.e., territories belong to, but are not considered part of the U.S.). Unincorporated territories in particular are not considered to be integral parts of the U.S., and the U.S. Constitution applies only partially in those territories. The U.S. administers three territories in the Caribbean Sea and eleven in the Pacific Ocean . Five territories ( American Samoa , Guam ,

4048-515: The U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. According to the GAO, "the United States conducts maritime law enforcement operations in and around Serranilla Bank and Bajo Nuevo [Bank] consistent with U.S. sovereignty claims." Pursuant to a series of Supreme Court rulings, Congress decides whether a territory is incorporated or unincorporated. The U.S. Constitution applies to each incorporated territory (including its local government and inhabitants) as it applies to

4140-564: The U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands with each other lost their land connection 7,000 years BP ago (5,050 years BC ago), while the main island of Puerto Rico with some of its minor islands, cays, and islets 3,000 BP years ago (1,050 BC years ago). Geography of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico ( Spanish for 'rich port'; abbreviated PR ), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ,

4232-495: The United States. The resemblance of its jurisdiction to that of true United States courts, in offering an opportunity to nonresidents of resorting to a tribunal not subject to local influence, does not change its character as a mere territorial court. In Glidden Company v. Zdanok , the Court cited Balzac and said about courts in unincorporated territories: "Upon like considerations, Article III has been viewed as inapplicable to courts created in unincorporated territories outside

4324-424: The aforementioned major islands. The westernmost islands of Desecho , Mona , and Monito of Puerto Rico, and the southernmost island of Saint Croix of the U.S. Virgin Islands do not form part of the bank, as they lie on their own platforms. Including the island within the Puerto Rico Bank, it measures 350 km (218 mi ) in length and 40 to 80 km (25 to 50 mi) in width. Around the main island of Puerto Rico ,

4416-614: The archipelago of Puerto Rico, including Vieques and Culebra, are connected less than 25 m (82 ft). Similarly, the main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands are connected by less than 25 m (82 ft). The Spanish Virgin Islands of Vieques and Culebra and the American and British islands are separated by a narrow strait , the Virgin Passage, which is 16 km (10 m) in length and 20 to 32 m (65 to 105 ft) in depth. With an area of 21,000 sq km (8,108 sq mi), it

4508-419: The archipelago of Puerto Rico. The majority of these (234, 12 and 33 respectively) are found on the main island. The most recognizable endemic species and a symbol of Puerto Rican pride are the coquis ( Eleutherodactylus spp.), small frogs easily recognized by the sound from which they get their name. El Yunque National Forest , a tropical rainforest , is home to the majority (13 of 16) of species of coqui. It

4600-538: The bank is 2 to 15 km (1 to 9 mi) wide from the southeast to the southwest, over 15 to 2 km (9 to 1 mi) wide from the southwest to northwest, and less than 2 km (1 mi) wide from the northwest to the northeast. Around the archipelago of the Virgin Islands , the bank is 40 to 65 km (25 to 40 mi) wide. The Puerto Rico Bank is less than 79 m (260 ft ) in depth, with the portion connecting all the islands being less than 40 m (131 ft) in depth. All islands and cays in

4692-500: The basis of temperature and precipitation (Holdridge System), in the Sierra de Luquillo : subtropical wet and subtropical rain forests are found at low and mid elevations, lower montane rain and lower montane wet forests at high elevations. There is also an area of subtropical moist forest at low elevations on the southwest slope. Tabonuco forest, so named for the dominant tabonuco tree ( Dacryodes excelsa ), covers lower slopes to about 2,000 ft (610 m). In well-developed stands

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4784-656: The cases of Indian reservations, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and island dependencies administered by the Office of Insular Affairs. The U.S. has five permanently inhabited territories: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea , Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in the North Pacific Ocean , and American Samoa in the South Pacific Ocean. American Samoa

4876-489: The continental territories. The Court also established the doctrine of territorial incorporation, in which the Constitution applies fully to incorporated territories (such as the then-territories of Alaska and Hawaii ) and partially in the unincorporated territories of Guam , Puerto Rico , and, at the time, the Philippines (which is no longer a U.S. territory). In the 1901 Supreme Court case Downes v. Bidwell ,

4968-548: The coqui), a common patriotic axiom that is used to demonstrate their native ties to the island. The coqui and its unique vocalizations are indigenous to the island of Puerto Rico. However, there are thriving populations of coquis that, like the people of Puerto Rico, have been transported to Hawaii . The coqui is viewed as an ecological menace in Hawaii where its song of co kee co kee is found to be an irritant by many. Needless to say that efforts to eradicate its presence in Hawaii

5060-404: The courts in the fifty states); it became an Article III court in 1966. This means that, unlike other U.S. territories, federal judges in Puerto Rico have life tenure. Federal courts in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands are Article IV territorial courts . The following is a list of federal territorial courts, plus Puerto Rico's court: American Samoa does not have

5152-459: The district, the territories have no vote in Congress and no representation in the Senate . Additionally, the Cherokee Nation has delegate-elect Kimberly Teehee , who has not been seated by Congress. Every four years, U.S. political parties nominate presidential candidates at conventions which include delegates from the territories. U.S. citizens living in the territories can vote for presidential candidates in these primary elections but not in

5244-408: The effect of a protective tariff upon territorial regions which were not domestic states. In 2022, the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Vaello Madero held that the territorial clause of the constitution allowed wide congressional latitude in mandating "reasonable" tax and benefit schemes in Puerto Rico and the other territories, which are different from the states, but did not address

5336-442: The establishment of Orleans Territory and the District of Louisiana ), or to a region previously part of an organized incorporated territory left "unorganized" after part of it had been organized and achieved the requirements for statehood (e.g. a large portion of Missouri Territory became unorganized territory for several years after its southeastern section became the state of Missouri ). The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created

5428-444: The exemption of island residents from most federal income taxes provides a "rational basis" for their exclusion from eligibility for SSI payments. American Samoa is the only U.S. territory with its own immigration system (a system separate from the United States immigration system). American Samoa also has a communal land system in which 90% of the land is communally owned; ownership is based on Samoan ancestry. Except for Guam,

5520-463: The front and vanguard of all my West Indies, and with respect to its consequences, the most appreciated of them and coveted by the enemies." King Phillip IV of Spain, May 16, 1640 In 1643, the king reiterated the importance of Puerto Rico to the Spanish Empire as: "…pri­mera de las pobladas y principal custodia y llave de todas…" Rey Felipe IV de España, 20 de Agosto de 1643 which, translated in English , reads as: "…first of

5612-440: The general election. The territorial capitals are Pago Pago (American Samoa), Hagåtña (Guam), Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Charlotte Amalie (U.S. Virgin Islands). Their governors are Lemanu Peleti Mauga ( American Samoa ), Lou Leon Guerrero ( Guam ), Ralph Torres ( Northern Mariana Islands ), Pedro Pierluisi ( Puerto Rico ) and Albert Bryan ( U.S. Virgin Islands ). Among

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5704-465: The governments of the U.S. territories following completion of the 2022 United States elections . Instances where local and national party affiliation differs, the national affiliation is listed second. Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have unicameral territorial legislatures. Each of the five major territories has its own local court system: Of the five major territories, only Puerto Rico has an Article III federal district court (i.e., equivalent to

5796-436: The ground, especially in canopy gaps; epiphytes are fairly common, and vines are uncommon. Puerto Rican dry forests are dominated by plants in the families Rubiaceae , Euphorbiaceae , and Myrtaceae . In this regard they are similar to Jamaican dry forests , but differ sharply from dry forests on the mainland of South and Central America, which are dominated by Fabaceae and Bignoniaceae . Mario Javier Fernandez-Vega

5888-592: The ground. Ascending the Luquillo mountains through these forest types, the average tree height and diameter, number of tree species, and basal area (cross sectional area of tree stems) tend to decrease, while stem density increases. There are more than 89 tree species in the LEF. The most common are Prestoea acuminata , Casearia arborea , Dacryodes excelsa , Manilkara bidentata , Inga laurina , and Sloanea berteroana . Common shrub species are Palicourea croceoides , Psychotria berteriana , and Piper glabrescens . Grasses, ferns , and forbs are frequent on

5980-453: The incorporated/unincorporated distinction. In a concurrence with the court's overall ruling on the propriety of the differential tax structures, one of the justices opined that it was time to overrule the incorporation doctrine, as wrongly decided and founded in racism, the dissent agreed. The U.S. Supreme Court , in its 1901–1905 Insular Cases opinions, ruled that the Constitution extended ex proprio vigore (i.e., of its own force) to

6072-437: The inhabited territories lost population in 2020. Although the territories have higher poverty rates than the mainland U.S., they have high Human Development Indexes . Four of the five territories have another official language, in addition to English. The territories do not have administrative counties . The U.S. Census Bureau counts Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities , the U.S. Virgin Islands' three main islands, all of Guam,

6164-421: The inhabited territories, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available only in the Northern Mariana Islands; however, in 2019 a U.S. judge ruled that the federal government's denial of SSI benefits to residents of Puerto Rico is unconstitutional. This ruling was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court , allowing for the exclusion of territories from such programs. In the decision, the court explained that

6256-429: The internal affairs of United States territory . The Interior Department has a wide range of responsibilities (which include the regulation of territorial governments, the basic responsibilities for public lands, and other various duties). In contrast to similarly named Departments in other countries, the United States Department of the Interior is not responsible for local government or for civil administration except in

6348-406: The island from west to east, the Cordillera Central . It is divided into three subranges: the eponymous main subrange of Cordillera Central in the center, the Sierra de Cayey in the southeast, and the Sierra de Luquillo in the northeast. The highest elevation point in Puerto Rico, Cerro de Punta (4,390 feet or 1,338 meters), is located in the Cordillera Central , while El Yunque , one of

6440-445: The island occurs in the northern Oligocene to recent carbonates. The oldest rocks are approximately 190 million years old ( Jurassic ) and are located at Sierra Bermeja along the Lajas Valley in the southwest part of the island. These rocks may represent part of the oceanic crust and are believed to come from the Pacific Ocean realm. Puerto Rico lies at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates . This means that it

6532-567: The island the first major location to encounter en route to the Caribbean , North America , Central America , and South America , regions where the Spanish established their territories, often simply called the Indias (Indies) . In 1640, King Philip IV of Spain described Puerto Rico as: "…siendo frente y vanguardia de todas mis Indias Occidentales, y respecto de sus consecuencias la más apreciada de ellas, y codiciada de los enemigos." Rey Felipe IV de España, 16 de Mayo de 1640 which, translated in English , reads as: "…being

6624-447: The land area. The archipelago of Culebra , located east of Puerto Rico, north of Vieques , and west of the Virgin Islands, is composed of the island of Culebra and 28 uninhabited islets. Mainly mountainous, the island of Culebra possesses world-renowned beaches. Located in the tropics, Puerto Rico enjoys an average temperature of 81 °F (27 °C) throughout the year. The seasons do not change very drastically. The temperature in

6716-409: The large palo colorado tree ( Cyrilla racemiflora ), begins above the tabonuco forest and extends up to about 3,000 ft (910 m). Its canopy reaches only about 49 ft (15 m). Soils are saturated and root mats above the soil are common. There are some 53 tree species in this forest type. At this same elevation, but in especially steep and wet areas, is palm forest, heavily dominated by

6808-411: The larger trees exceed 98 ft (30 m) in height, there is a fairly continuous canopy at 66 ft (20 m), and the shaded understory is moderately dense. Tabonuco trees are especially large on ridges, where they are firmly rooted in the rocky substrate and connected by root grafts with each other. There are about 168 tree species in the tabonuco forest. The palo Colorado forest, named for

6900-556: The local governments and residents of a state. Incorporated territories are considered to be integral parts of the U.S., rather than possessions. In unincorporated territories, " fundamental rights apply as a matter of law, but other constitutional rights are not available", raising concerns about how citizens in these territories can influence politics in the United States . Selected constitutional provisions apply, depending on congressional acts and judicial rulings according to U.S. constitutional practice, local tradition, and law. As

6992-567: The longest is Río de la Plata , and 26 reservoirs , lagoons , or lakes , among which is Laguna Grande (''big lagoon''), one of three bioluminescent bays in the archipelago of Puerto Rico located in the far northeastern municipality of Fajardo . The archipelago of Puerto Rico has numerous protected nature areas , including the nature reserves of La Cordillera in the Sonda de Vieques (Vieques Sound ) and Media Luna (''half moon'') in Lajas ,

7084-525: The mainland   ... and to the consular courts established by concessions from foreign countries". The judiciary determined that incorporation involves express declaration or an implication strong enough to exclude any other view, raising questions about Puerto Rico's status. In 1966, Congress made the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico an Article III district court . This (the only district court in

7176-561: The median household income of any state). Also in 2018, Comerío Municipality, Puerto Rico had a median household income of $ 12,812 (the lowest median household income of any populated county or county-equivalent in the U.S.) Guam has much higher incomes (Guam had a median household income of $ 48,274 in 2010.) The United States Minor Outlying Islands are small uninhabited islands, atolls , and reefs. Baker Island , Howland Island , Jarvis Island , Johnston Atoll , Kingman Reef , Midway Atoll , Palmyra Atoll , and Wake Island are in

7268-513: The most popular peaks in Puerto Rico, located in the Sierra de Luquillo and part of El Yunque National Forest , has a maximum elevation of 3,540 feet (1,080 m). The main island has seven valleys : Caguas , Yabucoa , Lajas , Añasco , the Coloso and Culebrinas , Cibuco , and Guanajibo . It has two narrow coastal plains : one stretching alongside the northern coast, and the other alongside

7360-450: The north. These rivers make up 60 watersheds throughout the island, where over 95% of the runoff goes back to sea. With a length of length of approximately 74 kilometres (46 mi) La Plata River is the longest, while Loíza is the largest by discharge volume with a hydrological basin of 751 square kilometres (289.9 sq mi). As of 1998, 239 plants, 16 birds and 39 amphibians /reptiles have been discovered that are endemic to

7452-674: The populated ones and principal custodian and key of all…" King Philip IV of Spain, August 20, 1643 As a territory of the United States , the geostrategic location of Puerto Rico was paramount in the construction of the Panama Canal , and the defense of the Western Hemesphere against Nazi Operation Neuland in the Battle of the Caribbean during WWII . Puerto Rico is known as an American Gibraltar , or

7544-541: The region was claimed by New York) when they entered the Union; and California was part of unorganized land ceded to the United States by Mexico in 1848 at the end of the Mexican–American War . All of the five major U.S. territories are permanently inhabited and have locally elected territorial legislatures and executives and some degree of political autonomy . Four of the five are "organized", but American Samoa

7636-437: The sierra palm tree ( Prestoea montana ). Patches of palm forest are also found in saturated riparian areas in the tabonuco forest. The palm forest reaches about 15 m in height. At the highest elevations is dwarf forest , a dense forest as short as 9.8 ft (3.0 m), on saturated soils. Here the trees are covered with epiphytic mosses and vascular plants, especially bromeliads , and these also cover large areas of

7728-468: The south is usually a few degrees higher than the north and temperatures in the central interior mountains are always cooler than the rest of the island. The highest temperature record was in the municipality of San German with 105 °F (40.6 °C) and the minimum registration is 39 °F (3.9 °C) in Aibonito . The dry season spans from December to April while the wet season coincides with

7820-500: The southern coast. The capital, San Juan , and its metropolitan area are located on the northern coastal plain in the northeast. It also has one prominent karst formation in its northwestern central region called the Northern Karst Belt , and two prominent batholiths , one in the southeastern municipality of San Lorenzo , and the other in the western municipality of Utuado . The island has 47 major rivers, of which

7912-497: The states and D.C. (for example, Puerto Rico has a QuickFacts page just like the states and D.C.) Puerto Rico data is collected annually in American Community Survey estimates (just like the states), but data for the other territories is collected only once every ten years. The five major inhabited territories contain the following governments and legislatures: The following is the political party status of

8004-490: The territories are underdeveloped. Residents of U.S. territories cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections , and they have only non-voting representation in the U.S. Congress. According to 2012 data, territorial telecommunications and other infrastructure are generally inferior to that of the continental U.S. and Hawaii. Poverty rates are higher in the territories than in the states. Organized territories are lands under federal sovereignty (but not part of any state or

8096-589: The western half of the Indian Territory was organized as Oklahoma Territory . The eastern half remained unorganized until 1907, when it was joined with Oklahoma Territory to form the State of Oklahoma . Additionally, the Department of Alaska was unorganized from its acquisition in 1867 from Russia until organized as the District of Alaska in 1884; it was organized as Alaska Territory in 1912. Hawaii

8188-468: Was 92.6% Pacific Islander (including 88.9% Samoan ); Guam's population was 49.3% Pacific Islander (including 37.3% Chamorro ) and 32.2% Asian (including 26.3% Filipino ); the population of the Northern Mariana Islands was 34.9% Pacific Islander and 49.9% Asian; and the population of the U.S. Virgin Islands was 76.0% African American . In 2019, Puerto Rico's population was 98.9% Hispanic or Latino , 67.4% white, and 0.8% non-Hispanic white. Throughout

8280-545: Was also unorganized from the time of its annexation by the U.S. in 1898 until organized as Hawaii Territory in 1900. Regions that have been admitted as states under the United States Constitution in addition to the original thirteen were, most often, prior to admission, territories or parts of territories of this kind. As the United States grew, the most populous parts of the organized territory would achieve statehood. Some territories existed only

8372-410: Was founded in 1521. In the 16th century two more municipalities were permanently established, Coamo (1570) and San Germán (1570). Three more municipalities were established in the 17th century. These were Arecibo (1614), Aguada (1692) and Ponce (1692). The 18th and 19th century saw an increase in settlement in Puerto Rico with 30 municipalities being established in the 18th century and 34 more in

8464-713: Was last fully exposed during the Last Glacial Maximum when the sea level was 120 m (400 ft) lower than the present-day. The bank was inundated by sea level rise during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene , losing subaerial connection the main island of Puerto Rico and the Spanish Virgin Islands with the U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands 10,000 to 8,000 years Before Present ago (8,050 to 6,050 years Before Christ ago). The main island of Puerto Rico with Vieques, and

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