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Municipalities of Puerto Rico facts for kids

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Municipalities of Puerto Rico
USA Puerto Rico labeled.svg
Location Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Number 78
Populations 1,818 (Culebra) – 395,326 (San Juan)
Areas 4.84 square miles (12.5 km2) (Cataño) – 125.95 square miles (326.2 km2) (Arecibo)
Government Mayor–council government
Subdivisions Barrio

The municipalities of Puerto Rico (Spanish: municipios de Puerto Rico) are the second-level administrative divisions in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. There are 78 such administrative divisions covering all 78 incorporated towns and cities. Each municipality is led by a mayor and divided into barrios, third-level administrative divisions, though the latter are not vested with any political authority. Every municipality is governed as stated by the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991, which establishes that every municipality must have an elected strong mayor with a municipal legislature as the form of government. Each legislature must be unicameral, with the number of members related to adequate representation of the total population of the municipality. In contrast to other jurisdictions, both the mayors and the municipal legislators are elected on the same date and for the same term of four years in office.

From a political and ekistic perspective, several differences and similarities exist between municipalities of differing population sizes. For instance, municipalities with 50,000 inhabitants or more are considered incorporated cities, while those with fewer than 50,000 are considered incorporated towns. Size affects the autonomy exercised by the jurisdiction: cities provide and manage their own services, while towns typically depend on nearby cities for certain services. Demographically, municipalities in Puerto Rico are equivalent to counties in the United States, and Puerto Rican municipalities are registered as county subdivisions in the United States census. Statistically, the municipality with the largest number of inhabitants is San Juan, with 342,259, while Culebra is the smallest, with around 1,792. Arecibo is the largest in terms of geography, with around 125 mi2, and Cataño the smallest, with around 4.8 mi2.

All municipalities have a barrio called pueblo proper, officially called barrio-pueblo (literally "district-town"), which typically is the site of the historic Spanish colonial settlement, administrative center and urban core of the municipality. Municipalities with large populations, however, may have an urban core that consist of several barrios.

Overview

See also: Puerto Rico statistical areas

Because Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony until 1898, its system of local government bears more resemblance to that of the Hispanophone nations of the Americas than to local government in the United States and some other Anglophone countries. Thus, there are no first-order administrative divisions akin to counties, as defined by the United States Government; instead, Puerto Rico has 78 municipalities or "municipios" as the secondary unit of administration. For U.S. Census purposes, the municipalities are considered "county-equivalents." The municipalities are grouped into eight electoral districts, but these do not possess administrative functions. In 1991, the Autonomous Municipalities Act was passed, which slightly modified the rights and responsibilities of Puerto Rican municipalities with the aim of decentralizing control and improving government services.

Every municipality is composed of several barrios, except for Florida which has only one barrio. The municipality of Ponce has the largest number of barrios, 31.

Every municipality (except San Juan) also has an urban area made up of one or more barrios. When the urban area is made up of only one barrio, it is called "Barrio Pueblo". Some urban areas are made up of multiple barrios: Ponce's urban area, for example, is made up of 12 barrios. All of San Juan's barrios are urban barrios, and the municipality of San Juan is composed of urban barrios only - thus, the entire municipality of San Juan consists of one large urban zone only.

Every municipality's urban zone is named by the same name as the municipality. For example, the municipality of Caguas has an urban zone called Caguas - just like the municipality. Some municipalities' urban zones are termed "pueblo" (town) while others are termed "ciudad" (city). The difference resides in the population of the municipality: if the municipality has an urban zone below 50,000 inhabitants, then its urban zone is called a pueblo. If a municipality has a population above 50,000 inhabitants in its urban zone, then its urban zone is called a ciudad.

Demographics

The following is an alphabetical list of the municipalities in Puerto Rico, and their corresponding foundation year, population, and geographic area.

Municipality FIPS code Founded Population (2010) % of Population Area
Adjuntas 001 1815 19,483 0.52% 66.69 sq mi (172.73 sq km)
Aguada 003 1508 41,959 1.12% 30.85 sq mi (79.90 sq km)
Aguadilla 005 1780 60,949 1.62% 36.53 sq mi (94.61 sq km)
Aguas Buenas 007 1838 28,659 0.76% 30.08 sq mi (77.92 sq km)
Aibonito 009 1824 25,900 0.69% 31.31 sq mi (81.10 sq km)
Añasco 011 1733 29,261 0.78% 39.29 sq mi (101.75 sq km)
Arecibo 013 1616 96,440 2.57% 125.95 sq mi (326.20 sq km)
Arroyo 015 1855 19,575 0.52% 15.01 sq mi (38.87 sq km)
Barceloneta 017 1881 24,816 0.66% 18.69 sq mi (48.41 sq km)
Barranquitas 019 1803 30,318 0.81% 34.25 sq mi (88.71 sq km)
Bayamón 021 1772 208,116 5.54% 44.32 sq mi (114.80 sq km)
Cabo Rojo 023 1771 50,917 1.36% 70.37 sq mi (182.27 sq km)
Caguas 025 1775 142,893 3.81% 58.60 sq mi (151.77 sq km)
Camuy 027 1807 35,159 0.94% 46.35 sq mi (120.06 sq km)
Canóvanas 029 1909 47,648 1.27% 32.87 sq mi (85.12 sq km)
Carolina 031 1816 176,762 4.71% 45.32 sq mi (117.38 sq km)
Cataño 033 1927 28,140 0.75% 4.84 sq mi (12.55 sq km)
Cayey 035 1773 48,119 1.28% 51.93 sq mi (134.51 sq km)
Ceiba 037 1838 13,631 0.36% 29.04 sq mi (75.20 sq km)
Ciales 039 1820 18,782 0.50% 66.53 sq mi (172.31 sq km)
Cidra 041 1809 43,480 1.16% 36.02 sq mi (93.29 sq km)
Coamo 043 1579 40,512 1.08% 78.10 sq mi (202.27 sq km)
Comerío 045 1826 20,778 0.55% 28.40 sq mi (73.56 sq km)
Corozal 047 1795 37,142 0.99% 42.57 sq mi (110.26 sq km)
Culebra 049 1880 1,818 0.05% 11.62 sq mi (30.10 sq km)
Dorado 051 1842 38,165 1.02% 23.09 sq mi (59.80 sq km)
Fajardo 053 1772 36,993 0.99% 29.86 sq mi (77.34 sq km)
Florida 054 1971 12,680 0.34% 15.21 sq mi (39.39 sq km)
Guánica 055 1508 19,427 0.52% 37.05 sq mi (95.96 sq km)
Guayama 057 1736 45,362 1.21% 64.99 sq mi (168.32 sq km)
Guayanilla 059 1833 21,581 0.57% 42.27 sq mi (109.48 sq km)
Guaynabo 061 1769 97,924 2.61% 27.58 sq mi (71.43 sq km)
Gurabo 063 1815 45,369 1.21% 27.89 sq mi (72.23 sq km)
Hatillo 065 1823 41,953 1.12% 41.78 sq mi (108.21 sq km)
Hormigueros 067 1874 17,250 0.46% 11.34 sq mi (29.37 sq km)
Humacao 069 1722 58,466 1.56% 44.75 sq mi (115.90 sq km)
Isabela 071 1819 45,631 1.22% 55.30 sq mi (143.23 sq km)
Jayuya 073 1911 16,642 0.44% 44.53 sq mi (115.33 sq km)
Juana Díaz 075 1798 79,897 2.13% 60.28 sq mi (156.12 sq km)
Juncos 077 1797 40,290 1.07% 26.49 sq mi (68.61 sq km)
Lajas 079 1883 25,753 0.69% 59.95 sq mi (159.15 sq km)
Lares 081 1827 30,753 0.82% 61.45 sq mi (159.15 sq km)
Las Marías 083 1871 9,881 0.26% 46.36 sq mi (120.07 sq km)
Las Piedras 085 1773 38,675 1.03% 33.88 sq mi (87.75 sq km)
Loíza 087 1719 30,060 0.80% 19.37 sq mi (50.17 sq km)
Luquillo 089 1797 20,068 0.53% 25.81 sq mi (66.85 sq km)
Manatí 091 1738 44,113 1.17% 46.13 sq mi (119.48 sq km)
Maricao 093 1874 6,276 0.17% 36.62 sq mi (94.85 sq km)
Maunabo 095 1799 12,225 0.33% 21.07 sq mi (54.57 sq km)
Mayagüez 097 1760 89,080 2.37% 77.65 sq mi (201.11 sq km)
Moca 099 1772 40,109 1.07% 50.34 sq mi (130.38 sq km)
Morovis 101 1818 32,610 0.87% 38.87 sq mi (100.67 sq km)
Naguabo 103 1821 26,720 0.71% 51.66 sq mi (133.80 sq km)
Naranjito 105 1824 30,402 0.81% 27.40 sq mi (70.97 sq km)
Orocovis 107 1772 23,423 0.62% 63.62 sq mi (164.78 sq km)
Patillas 109 1811 19,277 0.51% 46.7 sq mi (120.95 sq km)
Peñuelas 111 1793 24,282 0.65% 44.62 sq mi (115.57 sq km)
Ponce 113 1692 166,327 4.43% 114.76 sq mi (297.23 sq km)
Quebradillas 115 1823 25,919 0.69% 22.68 sq mi (58.74 sq km)
Rincón 117 1771 15,200 0.40% 14.29 sq mi (37.01 sq km)
Río Grande 119 1840 54,304 1.45% 60.62 sq mi (157.01 sq km)
Sabana Grande 121 1813 25,265 0.67% 35.83 sq mi (92.80 sq km)
Salinas 123 1851 31,078 0.83% 69.37 sq mi (179.67 sq km)
San Germán 125 1573 35,527 0.95% 54.50 sq mi (141.15 sq km)
San Juan 127 1509 395,326 10.53% 47.85 sq mi (123.93 sq km)
San Lorenzo 129 1811 41,058 1.09% 53.11 sq mi (137.55 sq km)
San Sebastián 131 1752 42,430 1.13% 70.42 sq mi (182.39 sq km)
Santa Isabel 133 1842 23,274 0.62% 34.02 sq mi (88.119 sq km)
Toa Alta 135 1751 74,066 1.97% 27.02 sq mi (69.98 sq km)
Toa Baja 137 1745 89,609 2.39% 23.24 sq mi (60.19 sq km)
Trujillo Alto 139 1801 74,842 1.99% 20.76 sq mi (53.77 sq km)
Utuado 141 1739 33,149 0.88% 113.53 sq mi (294.04 sq km)
Vega Alta 143 1775 39,951 1.06% 27.73 sq mi (71.82 sq km)
Vega Baja 145 1776 59,662 1.59% 45.86 sq mi (118.78 sq km)
Vieques 147 1852 9,301 0.25% 50.77 sq mi (131.49 sq km)
Villalba 149 1917 26,073 0.69% 35.64 sq mi (92.31 sq km)
Yabucoa 151 1793 37,941 1.01% 55.21 sq mi (142.99 sq km)
Yauco 153 1756 42,043 1.12% 68.19 sq mi (176.61 sq km)

Racial composition

The following is an alphabetical list of the municipalities and their population together with a breakdown of their racial composition.

Municipality (2010) White
(both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)		 Black
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)		 Amerindian
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)		 Asian
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)		 Multiracial
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)		 Hispanic
(Of any Race)
Adjuntas 93.1 3.1 0.3 0.0 3.4 99.6
Aguada 86.6 5.3 0.3 0.1 7.7 99.4
Aguadilla 83.0 7.4 0.3 0.2 8.2 98.5
Aguas Buenas 72.5 12.6 0.6 0.1 14.2 99.5
Aibonito 83.5 7.3 0.2 0.0 9.0 99.3
Añasco 82.0 7.2 0.4 0.1 10.3 99.2
Arecibo 84.5 6.1 0.4 0.1 7.9 99.2
Arroyo 53.5 32.5 0.9 0.2 13.0 99.1
Barceloneta 80.7 7.6 0.3 0.1 11.2 99.4
Barranquitas 86.0 5.4 0.3 0.0 8.3 99.3
Bayamón 78.3 10.3 0.6 0.2 10.7 99.0
Cabo Rojo 84.1 5.4 0.3 0.1 10.1 98.9
Caguas 76.1 11.0 0.6 0.2 12.1 99.1
Camuy 87.9 4.1 0.3 0.1 7.6 99.4
Canóvanas 61.2 21.6 0.9 0.2 16.1 99.2
Carolina 64.3 22.8 0.9 0.4 11.7 98.6
Cataño 70.7 14.4 1.0 0.3 13.7 99.0
Cayey 79.9 8.3 0.4 0.1 11.3 99.3
Ceiba 70.6 16.5 0.7 0.1 12.0 98.8
Ciales 89.5 4.2 0.1 0.0 6.2 99.7
Cidra 76.6 8.3 0.4 0.1 14.6 99.4
Coamo 76.8 10.4 0.3 0.1 12.3 99.6
Comerío 78.6 8.6 0.6 0.1 12.1 99.6
Corozal 85.4 5.3 0.2 0.1 9.0 99.4
Culebra 56.9 26.6 0.9 0.2 15.4 91.7
Dorado 69.5 15.7 0.7 0.2 13.9 98.0
Fajardo 64.8 18.6 0.7 0.3 15.7 98.2
Florida 90.4 4.6 0.3 0.1 4.5 99.6
Guánica 79.9 7.7 0.5 0.0 11.8 99.4
Guayama 68.2 18.5 0.8 0.1 12.3 99.1
Guayanilla 81.9 8.3 0.4 0.1 9.3 99.5
Guaynabo 79.4 9.8 0.4 0.2 10.1 98.2
Gurabo 72.5 14.6 0.4 0.1 12.5 99.2
Hatillo 87.3 4.4 0.2 0.1 8.0 99.2
Hormigueros 81.2 8.3 0.4 0.1 10.0 99.5
Humacao 66.1 18.5 0.8 0.2 14.3 99.0
Isabela 83.4 7.5 0.3 0.1 8.6 99.0
Jayuya 90.7 3.4 0.4 0.1 5.5 99.6
Juana Díaz 75.3 14.3 0.5 0.1 9.9 99.4
Juncos 71.7 13.7 0.5 0.1 14.1 99.3
Lajas 80.6 5.2 0.2 0.1 13.9 99.3
Lares 91.1 3.0 0.2 0.1 5.6 99.3
Las Marías 86.3 5.3 0.4 0.0 8.0 99.4
Las Piedras 70.5 11.8 0.5 0.1 17.1 99.4
Loíza 26.5 64.3 0.5 0.1 8.6 99.4
Luquillo 65.5 20.8 0.9 0.2 12.6 97.9
Manatí 81.8 8.7 0.5 0.1 8.9 99.2
Maricao 89.2 4.8 0.4 0.0 5.3 99.4
Maunabo 47.9 30.4 0.8 0.1 20.8 99.2
Mayagüez 78.7 8.2 0.8 0.2 12.1 98.9
Moca 89.5 4.5 0.2 0.1 5.8 99.4
Morovis 88.4 5.2 0.2 0.1 6.1 99.4
Naguabo 71.1 15.9 0.4 0.2 12.4 99.2
Naranjito 84.2 6.0 0.5 0.1 9.4 99.5
Orocovis 86.7 6.2 0.4 0.1 6.6 99.6
Patillas 61.7 19.9 0.6 0.1 17.7 99.3
Peñuelas 81.8 9.2 0.4 0.2 8.4 99.4
Ponce 82.0 9.0 0.5 0.2 8.3 99.2
Quebradillas 89.2 3.7 0.1 0.1 6.9 99.3
Rincón 85.7 5.3 0.5 0.2 8.2 96.4
Río Grande 61.9 24.6 0.7 0.2 12.6 99.0
Sabana Grande 85.3 5.5 0.4 0.0 8.8 99.5
Salinas 67.4 16.4 0.6 0.1 15.5 99.3
San Germán 83.4 5.6 0.4 0.1 10.5 99.2
San Juan 68.0 18.6 0.8 0.4 12.2 98.2
San Lorenzo 76.1 9.9 0.8 0.1 13.2 99.5
San Sebastián 88.5 3.0 0.3 0.1 8.1 99.3
Santa Isabel 73.0 15.6 0.5 0.1 10.9 99.6
Toa Alta 76.3 9.6 0.4 0.1 13.5 99.3
Toa Baja 70.2 16.8 0.6 0.3 12.1 99.0
Trujillo Alto 72.1 14.6 0.7 0.2 12.3 98.9
Utuado 92.7 2.7 0.2 0.1 4.3 99.4
Vega Alta 71.2 14.9 0.7 0.2 13.1 98.7
Vega Baja 77.3 11.5 0.5 0.1 10.6 99.3
Vieques 58.7 28.1 0.7 0.1 12.5 94.3
Villalba 82.1 8.5 0.2 0.0 9.1 99.7
Yabucoa 65.6 14.1 0.5 0.2 19.8 99.3
Yauco 83.0 5.9 0.3 0.1 9.6 99.5
Puerto Rico 75.8 12.4 0.5 0.2 11.1 99.0

Finances

36 of the 78 municipalities currently experience a budget deficit, putting 46% of the municipalities in financial stress. In total, the combined debt carried by the municipalities stands at about $590 million USD.

      Surplus        Deficit
Municipality Mayor's party Population Surplus or deficit Surplus or deficit per capita Public debt Public debt per capita
Adjuntas PNP 19,483
$ 525,858
$ 26.99
$
$
Aguada PPD 41,959
$ 2,209,807
$ 52.67
$
$
Aguadilla PNP 60,949
$ 10,220,728
$ 167.69
$
$
Aguas Buenas PPD 28,659
$ (1,638,355)
$ (57.17)
$ 9,183,000
$ 320.42
Aibonito PNP 25,900
$ 681,875
$ 26.33
$
$
Añasco PPD 29,261
$ 2,074,042
$ 70.88
$
$
Arecibo PNP 96,440
$ (17,784,327)
$ (184.41)
$ 63,403,451
$ 657.44
Arroyo PPD 19,575
$ (390,219)
$ (19.93)
$ 10,521,000
$ 537.47
Barceloneta PPD 24,816
$ (8,833,426)
$ (355.96)
$ 59,354,780
$ 2,391.79
Barranquitas PNP 30,318
$ 6,673,615
$ 220.12
$
$
Bayamón PNP 208,116
$ 4,179,967
$ 20.08
$ 243,233,534
$ 1,168.74
Cabo Rojo PNP 50,917
$ (60,841)
$ (1.19)
$ 35,561,000
$ 698.41
Caguas PPD 142,893
$ 16,938,668
$ 118.54
$ 267,248,251
$ 1,870.27
Camuy PNP 35,159
$ (1,810,542)
$ (51.50)
$ 11,603,000
$ 330.02
Canóvanas PNP 47,648
$ 203,324
$ 4.27
$
$
Carolina PPD 176,762
$ 32,757,250
$ 185.32
$ 350,605,890
$ 1,983.49
Cataño PPD 28,140
$ (11,320,761)
$ (402.30)
$ 47,386,000
$ 1,683.94
Cayey PPD 48,119
$ 7,544,584
$ 156.79
$
$
Ceiba PNP 13,631
$ 1,833,525
$ 134.51
$
$
Ciales PPD 18,782
$ (5,465,145)
$ (290.98)
$ 9,829,100
$ 523.33
Cidra PNP 43,480
$ (1,053,391)
$ (24.23)
$ 29,445,000
$ 677.21
Coamo PPD 40,512
$ 1,672,291
$ 41.28
$
$
Comerío PPD 20,778
$ 188,417
$ 9.07
$
$
Corozal PPD 37,142
$ 854,163
$ 23.00
$
$
Culebra PPD 1,818
$ 802,707
$ 441.53
$
$
Dorado PPD 38,165
$ 2,620,615
$ 68.67
$
$
Fajardo PNP 36,993
$ 17,821,689
$ 481.76
$
$
Florida PNP 12,680
$ (1,619,740)
$ (127.74)
$ 3,702,000
$ 291.96
Guánica PNP 19,427
$ (5,319,384)
$ (273.81)
$ 8,815,000
$ 453.75
Guayama PPD 45,362
$ 1,987,097
$ 43.81
$
$
Guayanilla PPD 21,581
$ (2,706,166)
$ (125.40)
$ 16,818,000
$ 779.30
Guaynabo PNP 97,924
$ 8,216,448
$ 83.91
$ 290,116,691
$ 2,962.67
Gurabo PNP 45,369
$ (5,797,927)
$ (127.79)
$ 46,390,045
$ 1,022.51
Hatillo PPD 41,953
$ (1,024,986)
$ (24.43)
$ 15,456,830
$ 368.43
Hormigueros PPD 17,250
$ 1,288,509
$ 74.70
$
$
Humacao PPD 58,466
$ 11,360,216
$ 194.30
$
$
Isabela PPD 45,631
$ 24,738,813
$ 542.15
$ 16,397,000
$ 359.34
Jayuya PPD 16,642
$ 629,946
$ 37.85
$
$
Juana Díaz PPD 79,897
$ 32,789,400
$ 97.89
$ 22,005,000
$ 433.62
Juncos PPD 40,290
$ (2,994,898)
$ (74.33)
$ 44,404,819
$ 1,102.13
Lajas PPD 25,753
$ (1,988,168)
$ (77.20)
$ 11,075,000
$ 430.05
Lares PNP 30,753
$ (3,361,629)
$ (109.31)
$ 5,339,000
$ 173.61
Las Marías PPD 9,881
$ 660,746
$ 66.87
$
$
Las Piedras PNP 38,675
$ 362,063
$ 9.36
$
$
Loíza PNP 30,060
$ (3,171,401)
$ (105.50)
$ 9,207,000
$ 306.29
Luquillo PPD 20,068
$ 1,646,739
$ 82.06
$
$
Manatí PNP 44,113
$ (12,622,526)
$ (286.14)
$ 52,688,487
$ 1,194.40
Maricao PNP 6,276
$ (1,812,106)
$ (288.74)
$ 10,928,300
$ 1,741.28
Maunabo PPD 12,225
$ (2,678,351)
$ (219.09)
$ 8,600,000
$ 703.48
Mayagüez PPD 89,080
$ 10,816,117
$ 121.42
$
$
Moca PNP 40,109
$ 632,570
$ 15.77
$
$
Morovis PNP 32,610
$ (3,742,360)
$ (114.76)
$ 20,239,020
$ 620.64
Naguabo PNP 26,720
$ (3,737,140)
$ (139.86)
$ 7,905,100
$ 295.85
Naranjito PNP 30,402
$ 1,581,161
$ 52.01
$
$
Orocovis PNP 23,423
$ 367,461
$ 15.69
$
$
Patillas PPD 19,277
$ (6,001,248)
$ (311.32)
$ 17,179,000
$ 891.17
Peñuelas PPD 24,282
$ 4,106,788
$ 169.13
$
$
Ponce PNP 166,327
$ (18,480,789)
$ (111.11)
$ 190,625,905
$ 1,146.09
Quebradillas PPD 25,919
$ 2,327,410
$ 89.80
$
$
Rincón PPD 15,200
$ 1,992,326
$ 131.07
$
$
Río Grande PPD 54,304
$ (4,147,852)
$ (76.38)
$ 32,059,000
$ 590.36
Sabana Grande PPD 25,265
$ (2,835,535)
$ (112.23)
$ 10,176,423
$ 402.79
Salinas PPD 31,078
$ (8,546,853)
$ (275.01)
$ 14,650,000
$ 471.39
San Germán PPD 35,527
$ 760,077
$ 21.39
$
$
San Juan PPD 395,326
$ (45,455,571)
$ (114.98)
$ 668,238,329
$ 1,690.35
San Lorenzo PPD 41,058
$ (2,998,994)
$ (73.04)
$ 27,034,000
$ 658.43
San Sebastián PNP 42,430
$ 2,296,524
$ 54.13
$
$
Santa Isabel PNP 23,274
$ (3,900,907)
$ (167.61)
$ 23,273,736
$ 999.99
Toa Alta PPD 74,066
$ (3,387,399)
$ (45.73)
$ 33,140,000
$ 447.44
Toa Baja PNP 89,609
$ (10,543,311)
$ (117.66)
$ 116,363,919
$ 1,298.57
Trujillo Alto PPD 74,842
$ (1,736,394)
$ (23.20)
$ 55,516,000
$ 741.78
Utuado PPD 33,149
$ (3,007,984)
$ (90.74)
$ 8,174,000
$ 246.58
Vega Alta PNP 39,951
$ 3,408,501
$ 85.32
$
$
Vega Baja PPD 59,662
$ (1,849,612)
$ (31.00)
$ 44,303,000
$ 742.57
Vieques PPD 9,301
$ (6,672,774)
$ (717.43)
$ 12,420,100
$ 1,335.35
Villalba PPD 26,073
$ (2,228,520)
$ (85.47)
$ 9,969,216
$ 382.36
Yabucoa PPD 37,941
$ (2,216,509)
$ (58.42)
$ 17,394,380
$ 458.46
Yauco PNP 42,043
$ (5,049,263)
$ (120.10)
$ 39,904,000
$ 949.12

Amalgamation

In October 2009, a Puerto Rican legislator proposed a bill that would reduce the current 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico down to 20. The bill called for a referendum to take place on June 13, 2010, which would let the people decide on the matter. However, the bill never made into law.

It was not the first time that an attempt to consolidate municipalities had failed. In 1902 the Puerto Rico legislature, under pressure from the US.-appointed governor of Puerto Rico, passed a law consolidating the then-76 municipalities of Puerto Rico into 46. The law was repealed three years later.

USA Puerto Rico consolidation
A legislator's proposal of Puerto Rico's future set of municipalities and their boundaries

The proposed twenty new municipalities (in bold) and the existing municipalities that would have made them up:

Images for kids

  • Condado

    San Juan, the largest municipality and capital of Puerto Rico.

  • Bayamon Puerto Rico aerial view

    Bayamón, the second largest municipality of Puerto Rico and largest suburb of San Juan.

  • Isla verde

    Carolina, the third largest municipality of Puerto Rico and second largest suburb of San Juan.

  • Partial view of the City of Ponce, looking SSW from Cerro El Vigía, Barrio Portugués Urbano, Ponce, Puerto Rico

    Ponce, the fourth largest municipality of Puerto Rico and the largest municipality outside the San Juan metropolitan area.

  • Valle de Caguas3

    Caguas, the fifth largest municipality of Puerto Rico and the largest landlocked municipality.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Municipios de Puerto Rico para niños

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