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Fact
Sheet :
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Area : 9,104
sq km
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Population : 3,944,259 (July 2007 est.)
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Capital : San
Juan
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Languages : Spanish,
English
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Currency : US
dollar (USD)
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Dependency status :
commonwealth associated with the US
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Elements of History :
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 and 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.
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Climate : tropical
marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
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