Municipalities of Puerto Rico

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The municipalities of Puerto Rico (Spanish: municipios de Puerto Rico) are second-level administrative divisions defined with geographic boundaries and governmental authority in the archipelago and island of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the U.S. Amounting to 78 incorporated towns and cities equivalent to U.S. counties, two of which are outside the main island, namely the smaller islands of Vieques and Culebra, the municipalities are governed by a popularly elected strong mayor and unicameral legislature. They are subdivided into 902 barrios, third-level divisions controlled by the municipal government.[1][2] As a jurisdiction under U.S. sovereignty, Puerto Rico does not have first-level administrative units akin to states or provinces.

Number78
PopulationsFrom 1,818 pop. in Culebra to 395,326 pop. in San Juan
AreasFrom 4.84 square miles (12.5 km2) in Cataño to 125.95 square miles (326.2 km2) in Arecibo
Quick facts Municipalities of Puerto Ricomunicipios de Puerto Rico (Spanish), Location ...
Municipalities of Puerto Rico
municipios de Puerto Rico (Spanish)

Map of Puerto Rico by municipality
LocationCommonwealth of Puerto Rico
Number78
PopulationsFrom 1,818 pop. in Culebra to 395,326 pop. in San Juan
AreasFrom 4.84 square miles (12.5 km2) in Cataño to 125.95 square miles (326.2 km2) in Arecibo
Government
Subdivisions
Close

The municipalities of Puerto Rico operate under the Municipal Code of Puerto Rico (Law No. 107 of 2020), which superseded the Autonomous Municipalities Act of Puerto Rico (Law No. 81 of 1991), as established by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the governmental body responsible for their organization under Section 1, Article VI of the Constitution of Puerto Rico.[3] Electorally, the municipalities are grouped into eight senatorial districts and forty representative districts, representing roughly equal populations in the Legislative Assembly.[4][5]

Map

Municipalities

The archipelago and island of Puerto Rico is administratively divided into the following 78 municipalities (alphabetically ordered):[6]

More information Name, Location ...
Municipalities of Puerto Rico
Name Location Flag Coat of Arms Title FIPS
code[7]
Population
(2020)[8]
Area[9] Founded Barrios
Adjuntas Town 72001 18,020 66.69 sq mi (172.73 sq km) 1815 List
Aguada Town 72003 38,136 30.85 sq mi (79.90 sq km) 1639 List
Aguadilla City 72005 55,101 36.53 sq mi (94.61 sq km) 1775 List
Aguas Buenas Town 72007 24,223 30.08 sq mi (77.92 sq km) 1838 List
Aibonito Town 72009 24,637 31.31 sq mi (81.10 sq km) 1824 List
Añasco Town 72011 25,596 39.29 sq mi (101.75 sq km) 1733 List
Arecibo City 72013 87,754 125.95 sq mi (326.20 sq km) 1616 List
Arroyo Town 72015 15,843 15.01 sq mi (38.87 sq km) 1855 List
Barceloneta Town 72017 22,657 18.69 sq mi (48.41 sq km) 1881 List
Barranquitas Town 72019 28,983 34.25 sq mi (88.71 sq km) 1803 List
Bayamón City 72021 185,187 44.32 sq mi (114.80 sq km) 1772 List
Cabo Rojo Town 72023 47,158 70.37 sq mi (182.27 sq km) 1771 List
Caguas City 72025 127,244 58.60 sq mi (151.77 sq km) 1775 List
Camuy Town 72027 32,827 46.35 sq mi (120.06 sq km) 1807 List
Canóvanas Town 72029 42,337 32.87 sq mi (85.12 sq km) 1909 List
Carolina City 72031 154,815 45.32 sq mi (117.38 sq km) 1816 List
Cataño Town 72033 23,155 4.84 sq mi (12.55 sq km) 1927 List
Cayey Town 72035 41,652 51.93 sq mi (134.51 sq km) 1773 List
Ceiba Town 72037 11,307 29.04 sq mi (75.20 sq km) 1838 List
Ciales Town 72039 16,984 66.53 sq mi (172.31 sq km) 1820 List
Cidra Town 72041 39,970 36.02 sq mi (93.29 sq km) 1809 List
Coamo Town 72043 34,668 78.10 sq mi (202.27 sq km) 1579 List
Comerío Town 72045 18,883 28.40 sq mi (73.56 sq km) 1826 List
Corozal Town 72047 34,571 42.57 sq mi (110.26 sq km) 1795 List
Culebra Town 72049 1,792 11.62 sq mi (30.10 sq km) 1880 List
Dorado Town 72051 35,879 23.09 sq mi (59.80 sq km) 1842 List
Fajardo Town 72053 32,124 29.86 sq mi (77.34 sq km) 1772 List
Florida Town 72054 11,692 15.21 sq mi (39.39 sq km) 1971 List
Guánica Town 72055 13,787 37.05 sq mi (95.96 sq km) 1914 List
Guayama Town 72057 36,614 64.99 sq mi (168.32 sq km) 1736 List
Guayanilla Town 72059 17,784 42.27 sq mi (109.48 sq km) 1833 List
Guaynabo City 72061 89,780 27.58 sq mi (71.43 sq km) 1769 List
Gurabo Town 72063 40,622 27.89 sq mi (72.23 sq km) 1815 List
Hatillo Town 72065 38,486 41.78 sq mi (108.21 sq km) 1823 List
Hormigueros Town 72067 15,654 11.34 sq mi (29.37 sq km) 1874 List
Humacao City 72069 50,896 44.75 sq mi (115.90 sq km) 1722 List
Isabela Town 72071 42,943 55.30 sq mi (143.23 sq km) 1819 List
Jayuya Town 72073 14,779 44.53 sq mi (115.33 sq km) 1911 List
Juana Díaz Town 72075 46,538 60.28 sq mi (156.12 sq km) 1798 List
Juncos Town 72077 37,012 26.49 sq mi (68.61 sq km) 1797 List
Lajas Town 72079 23,334 59.95 sq mi (159.15 sq km) 1883 List
Lares Town 72081 28,105 61.45 sq mi (159.15 sq km) 1827 List
Las Marías Town 72083 8,874 46.36 sq mi (120.07 sq km) 1871 List
Las Piedras Town 72085 35,180 33.88 sq mi (87.75 sq km) 1773 List
Loíza Town 72087 23,693 19.37 sq mi (50.17 sq km) 1719 List
Luquillo Town 72089 17,781 25.81 sq mi (66.85 sq km) 1797 List
Manatí Town 72091 39,492 46.13 sq mi (119.48 sq km) 1738 List
Maricao Town 72093 4,755 36.62 sq mi (94.85 sq km) 1874 List
Maunabo Town 72095 10,589 21.07 sq mi (54.57 sq km) 1799 List
Mayagüez City 72097 73,077 77.65 sq mi (201.11 sq km) 1760 List
Moca Town 72099 37,460 50.34 sq mi (130.38 sq km) 1772 List
Morovis Town 72101 28,727 38.87 sq mi (100.67 sq km) 1818 List
Naguabo Town 72103 23,386 51.66 sq mi (133.80 sq km) 1821 List
Naranjito Town 72105 29,241 27.40 sq mi (70.97 sq km) 1824 List
Orocovis Town 72107 21,434 63.62 sq mi (164.78 sq km) 1825 List
Patillas Town 72109 15,985 46.7 sq mi (120.95 sq km) 1811 List
Peñuelas Town 72111 20,399 44.62 sq mi (115.57 sq km) 1793 List
Ponce City 72113 137,491 114.76 sq mi (297.23 sq km) 1692 List
Quebradillas Town 72115 23,638 22.68 sq mi (58.74 sq km) 1823 List
Rincón Town 72117 15,187 14.29 sq mi (37.01 sq km) 1771 List
Río Grande Town 72119 47,060 60.62 sq mi (157.01 sq km) 1840 List
Sabana Grande Town 72121 22,729 35.83 sq mi (92.80 sq km) 1813 List
Salinas Town 72123 25,789 69.37 sq mi (179.67 sq km) 1851 List
San Germán Town 72125 31,879 54.50 sq mi (141.15 sq km) 1573 List
San Juan City 72127 342,259 47.85 sq mi (123.93 sq km) 1519[10] List
San Lorenzo Town 72129 37,693 53.11 sq mi (137.55 sq km) 1811 List
San Sebastián Town 72131 39,345 70.42 sq mi (182.39 sq km) 1752 List
Santa Isabel Town 72133 20,281 34.02 sq mi (88.119 sq km) 1842 List
Toa Alta City 72135 66,852 27.02 sq mi (69.98 sq km) 1751 List
Toa Baja City 72137 75,293 23.24 sq mi (60.19 sq km) 1745 List
Trujillo Alto City 72139 67,740 20.76 sq mi (53.77 sq km) 1801 List
Utuado Town 72141 28,287 113.53 sq mi (294.04 sq km) 1739 List
Vega Alta Town 72143 35,395 27.73 sq mi (71.82 sq km) 1775 List
Vega Baja City 72145 54,414 45.86 sq mi (118.78 sq km) 1776 List
Vieques Town 72147 8,249 50.77 sq mi (131.49 sq km) 1852 List
Villalba Town 72149 22,093 35.64 sq mi (92.31 sq km) 1917 List
Yabucoa Town 72151 30,412 55.21 sq mi (142.99 sq km) 1793 List
Yauco Town 72153 34,172 68.19 sq mi (176.61 sq km) 1756 List
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Most populated municipalities

Administration

Since 2020, the municipalities are organized under the Municipal Code of Puerto Rico (Law. No. 107 of 2020).[3] They were previously governed under by the Law of Autonomous Municipalities of Puerto Rico (Law. No. 81 of 1991), which established that every municipality must have an elected strong mayor with a municipal legislature as the form of government.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[8]

Except for San Juan, Ponce, Florida, and Vieques, all municipalities have a barrio equivalent to a downtown area in the U.S. called pueblo, officially known as barrio-pueblo (literally "ward-town"), which typically is the site of the historic Spanish colonial settlement, administrative center, and urban core of the municipality.[14] However, municipalities with large populations, like Ponce, may have an urban core that consist of several barrios.

In Recent Civic Architecture in Porto Rico by Adrian C. Finlayson, architect for the Insular Department of the Interior Architecture, writing for the publication Architectural Record in 1920, the Puerto Rican municipality is accurately described as:

Not merely a city, but something similar to a wide-extending township in New England—like Plymouth, Massachusetts, or Barnstable, on Cape Cod comprising a central town or city with perhaps several outlying districts or barrios, usually rural in character, and occasionally having sizeable concentrated populations in villages, the municipality bearing the name of the central urban portion and all under one local government.

Recent Civic Architecture in Porto Rico, 1920[15]

Finances

In 2012, 36 of the 78 municipalities (46%) were experiencing a budget deficit.[16] In total, the combined debt carried by the municipalities stands at about US$590 million.[a]

More information Municipality, Mayor's party ...
  Surplus    Deficit
Municipality Mayor's party Population[18] Surplus or deficit[19] Surplus or deficit per capita[19] Public debt[19] Public debt per capita[19]
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 PPD 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
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Racial composition

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

More information Municipality (2020), Black (Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic) ...
Municipality (2020)White
(both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)[20][21]
Black
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)[22]
Amerindian
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)
Asian
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)
Two or more races or some other race
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic)
Hispanic
(Of any Race)
Adjuntas22.23.44.20.165.199.7
Aguada22.74.13.00.263.599.3
Aguadilla21.04.13.50.262.998.4
Aguas Buenas14.57.23.30.361.499.5
Aibonito19.45.43.30.164.899.1
Añasco18.45.73.40.263.999.0
Arecibo19.04.62.20.266.699.3
Arroyo11.512.51.90.460.499.1
Barceloneta15.84.12.40.267.499.5
Barranquitas20.85.22.10.166.299.7
Bayamón17.96.23.00.362.599.0
Cabo Rojo20.33.82.80.265.798.8
Caguas15.96.33.10.363.999.2
Camuy22.73.83.00.164.299.1
Canóvanas13.415.12.60.350.399.3
Carolina14.211.62.60.455.598.5
Cataño13.08.22.90.362.099.0
Cayey17.46.32.50.265.399.4
Ceiba16.09.82.60.457.298.2
Ciales20.82.92.10.369.699.5
Cidra19.56.82.70.162.699.5
Coamo20.07.42.80.261.699.4
Comerío16.96.44.10.263.399.6
Corozal19.83.72.50.267.799.5
Culebra17.78.01.71.151.889.2
Dorado17.67.53.10.658.196.6
Fajardo14.59.32.50.461.398.2
Florida13.82.11.40.374.999.5
Guánica17.15.22.70.267.299.1
Guayama19.09.62.60.256.699.3
Guayanilla18.15.13.60.164.799.6
Guaynabo17.24.82.60.466.297.9
Gurabo15.27.13.30.261.899.2
Hatillo21.23.52.50.266.199.2
Hormigueros18.85.12.80.265.099.2
Humacao13.58.82.50.362.498.0
Isabela17.54.02.40.267.198.7
Jayuya23.32.43.30.165.899.5
Juana Díaz14.58.02.70.263.899.5
Juncos13.09.32.90.261.099.4
Lajas18.94.12.60.267.499.3
Lares20.52.22.50.170.199.3
Las Marías17.23.53.10.369.499.2
Las Piedras15.68.32.90.260.399.4
Loíza5.831.81.60.227.799.4
Luquillo17.212.12.70.354.197.1
Manatí17.14.32.20.267.899.3
Maricao22.27.83.70.561.099.5
Maunabo9.116.72.00.256.099.4
Mayagüez19.74.63.00.363.298.7
Moca17.03.12.60.170.899.6
Morovis19.13.42.50.269.499.6
Naguabo13.39.22.40.263.299.2
Naranjito20.76.43.30.261.099.6
Orocovis16.35.36.40.262.699.6
Patillas15.912.32.60.257.299.3
Peñuelas23.16.73.80.157.299.5
Ponce19.04.93.00.364.499.1
Quebradillas25.43.43.20.262.699.2
Rincón21.45.94.90.258.594.9
Río Grande14.714.72.60.350.498.8
Sabana Grande19.94.02.40.266.699.4
Salinas16.39.83.80.257.699.2
San Germán18.54.63.80.364.199.2
San Juan14.48.22.70.560.297.8
San Lorenzo14.06.62.70.266.099.5
San Sebastián19.22.12.90.170.499.4
Santa Isabel15.78.22.60.260.899.4
Toa Alta16.25.82.70.265.899.4
Toa Baja16.310.12.20.359.199.0
Trujillo Alto14.28.02.30.262.699.1
Utuado21.62.44.00.266.399.2
Vega Alta12.47.32.40.366.698.8
Vega Baja18.56.43.50.261.299.3
Vieques18.815.22.60.452.292.0
Villalba15.56.22.90.265.499.6
Yabucoa16.59.72.60.260.699.4
Yauco21.44.73.20.263.599.4
Puerto Rico17.17.02.80.362.398.9
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Proposed amalgamation

Multiple times, politicians have discussed and proposed consolidating Puerto Rico's municipalities but so far no proposals has been adopted. In 1902 the Puerto Rico legislature, under pressure from the U.S.-appointed governor of Puerto Rico, passed a law consolidating the then-76 municipalities of Puerto Rico into 46.[23] The law was repealed three years later.[24][25] 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.[26] However, the bill never made into law.[27] With the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis that emerged in the first half of 2010s, a new plan to consolidate municipalities was again circulated in the legislature in 2017 as a way to alleviate the government debt crisis.[28][29] In March 2019, then Governor Ricardo Rosselló created an initiative that would preserve the existing municipalities but create regional consolidation by sharing service overhead in the form of counties but he resigned prior to anything coming of his proposal.[30]

See also

Notes

  1. WAPA-TV (2014; in Spanish) "El informe sobre la medida señala que al presente los municipios arrastran una deuda agregada de aproximadamente $590 millones [...]"[17]

References

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