Municipalities of Puerto Rico

Last updated
Municipalities of Puerto Rico
USA Puerto Rico labeled.svg
Location Commonwealth 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

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.

Contents

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. [1] 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. [2] 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. [3]

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. [4] However, municipalities with large populations may have an urban core that consist of several barrios.

Overview

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 [5]

Having been a Spanish possession until 1898, the system of local government in Puerto Rico bears more resemblance to that of the Hispanophone nations of the Americas than to local government in the United States. Thus, there are no literal first-order administrative divisions akin to counties, as defined by the U.S. Federal Government. Instead, Puerto Rico has 78 municipalities as the secondary unit of administration. [6] 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. [7]

Every municipality is composed of barrios, except for Florida, which has only one barrio. The municipality of Ponce has the largest number of barrios, 31. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Every municipality, except San Juan, also has an urban area made up of one or more barrios. [13] 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. [14]

Municipalities

Municipalities of Puerto Rico
NameLocationCoat of ArmsFlagTitleFIPS
code [15]
Population
(2020) [3]
Population
(2010) [16]
Area [17] FoundedBarrios
Adjuntas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Adjuntas.svg Escudo de Adjuntas, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico.svg Town00118,02019,48366.69 sq mi (172.73 sq km)1815 List
Aguada Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Aguada.svg Escudo de Aguada, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Aguada (PR).svg Town00338,13641,95930.85 sq mi (79.90 sq km)1639 List
Aguadilla Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Aguadilla.svg Escudo de Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.svg City00555,10160,94936.53 sq mi (94.61 sq km)1775 List
Aguas Buenas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Aguas-Buenas.svg Escudo de Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Aguas Buenas.svg Town00724,22328,65930.08 sq mi (77.92 sq km)1838 List
Aibonito Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Aibonito.svg Escudo de Aibonito, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Aibonito, Puerto Rico.svg Town00924,63725,90031.31 sq mi (81.10 sq km)1824 List
Añasco Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Anasco.svg Escudo de Anasco, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Anasco.svg Town01125,59629,26139.29 sq mi (101.75 sq km)1733 List
Arecibo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Arecibo.svg Escudo de Arecibo, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Arecibo, Puerto Rico.svg City01387,75496,440125.95 sq mi (326.20 sq km)1616 List
Arroyo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Arroyo.svg Coat of Arms official of Arroyo.svg Flag official of Arroyo.svg Town01515,84319,57515.01 sq mi (38.87 sq km)1855 List
Barceloneta Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Barceloneta.svg Escudo de Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.svg Town01722,65724,81618.69 sq mi (48.41 sq km)1881 List
Barranquitas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Barranquitas.svg Escudo de Barranquitas, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Barranquitas.svg Town01928,98330,31834.25 sq mi (88.71 sq km)1803 List
Bayamón Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Bayamon.svg Coat of arms of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Bayamon.svg City021185,187208,11644.32 sq mi (114.80 sq km)1772 List
Cabo Rojo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Cabo-Rojo.svg Escudo de Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Cabo Rojo.svg Town02347,15850,91770.37 sq mi (182.27 sq km)1771 List
Caguas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Caguas.svg Coat of arms of Caguas.svg Flag of Caguas.svg City025127,244142,89358.60 sq mi (151.77 sq km)1775 List
Camuy Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Camuy.svg Coat of arms of Camuy, Puerto Rico.svg CamuyFlag.svg Town02732,82735,15946.35 sq mi (120.06 sq km)1807 List
Canóvanas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Canovanas.svg Escudo de Canovanas, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Canovanas, Puerto Rico.svg Town02942,33747,64832.87 sq mi (85.12 sq km)1909 List
Carolina Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Carolina.svg Escudo de Carolina, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Carolina, Puerto Rico.svg City031154,815176,76245.32 sq mi (117.38 sq km)1816 List
Cataño Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Catano.svg Escudo de Catano, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Catano, Puerto Rico.svg Town03323,15528,1404.84 sq mi (12.55 sq km)1927 List
Cayey Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Cayey.svg Escudo de Cayey, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Cayey, Puerto Rico.svg Town03541,65248,11951.93 sq mi (134.51 sq km)1773 List
Ceiba Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Ceiba.svg Escudo de Ceiba, Puerto Rico.svg CeibaFlag.svg Town03711,30713,63129.04 sq mi (75.20 sq km)1838 List
Ciales Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Ciales.svg Escudo de Ciales, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Ciales.svg Town03916,98418,78266.53 sq mi (172.31 sq km)1820 List
Cidra Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Cidra.svg Escudo de Cidra, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Cidra, Puerto Rico.svg Town04139,97043,48036.02 sq mi (93.29 sq km)1809 List
Coamo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Coamo.svg Escudo de Coamo, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Coamo.svg Town04334,66840,51278.10 sq mi (202.27 sq km)1579 List
Comerío Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Comerio.svg Escudo de Comerio, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Comerio.svg Town04518,88320,77828.40 sq mi (73.56 sq km)1826 List
Corozal Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Corozal.svg Coat of arms of Corozal, Puerto Rico.svg Corozal.svg Town04734,57137,14242.57 sq mi (110.26 sq km)1795 List
Culebra Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Culebra.svg Coat of arms of Culebra, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Culebra (Puerto Rico).svg Town0491,7921,81811.62 sq mi (30.10 sq km)1880 List
Dorado Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Dorado.svg Escudo de Dorado, Puerto Rico.svg DoradoFlag.svg Town05135,87938,16523.09 sq mi (59.80 sq km)1842 List
Fajardo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Fajardo.svg Escudo de Fajardo (Puerto Rico).svg Flag of Fajardo.svg Town05332,12436,99329.86 sq mi (77.34 sq km)1772 List
Florida Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Florida.svg Blason ville Florida (Porto-Rico).svg Flag of Florida, Puerto Rico.svg Town05411,69212,68015.21 sq mi (39.39 sq km)1971 List
Guánica Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Guanica.svg Flag of Guanica.svg Town05513,78719,42737.05 sq mi (95.96 sq km)1914 List
Guayama Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Guayama.svg Escudo de Guayama, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Guayama, Puerto Rico.svg Town05736,61445,36264.99 sq mi (168.32 sq km)1736 List
Guayanilla Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Guayanilla.svg Escudo de Guayanilla, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Guayanilla.svg Town05917,78421,58142.27 sq mi (109.48 sq km)1833 List
Guaynabo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Guaynabo.svg Escudo de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Guaynabo.svg City06189,78097,92427.58 sq mi (71.43 sq km)1769 List
Gurabo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Gurabo.svg Escudo de Gurabo, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Gurabo.svg Town06340,62245,36927.89 sq mi (72.23 sq km)1815 List
Hatillo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Hatillo.svg Hatillo coat of arms.svg Flag of Hatillo, Puerto Rico.svg Town06538,48641,95341.78 sq mi (108.21 sq km)1823 List
Hormigueros Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Hormigueros.svg Escudo de Hormigueros, Puerto Rico.svg HormiguerosFlag.svg Town06715,65417,25011.34 sq mi (29.37 sq km)1874 List
Humacao Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Humacao.svg Escudo de Humacao, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Humacao.svg City06950,89658,46644.75 sq mi (115.90 sq km)1722 List
Isabela Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Isabela.svg Escudo de Isabela, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Isabela.svg Town07142,94345,63155.30 sq mi (143.23 sq km)1819 List
Jayuya Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Jayuya.svg Escudo de Jayuya, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Jayuya.svg Town07314,77916,64244.53 sq mi (115.33 sq km)1911 List
Juana Díaz Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Juana-Diaz.svg CoA Municipio de Juana Diaz.svg Flag of Municipio de Juana Diaz.svg Town07546,53850,74760.28 sq mi (156.12 sq km)1798 List
Juncos Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Juncos.svg Coat of arms of Juncos, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Juncos.svg Town07737,01240,29026.49 sq mi (68.61 sq km)1797 List
Lajas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Lajas.svg Escudo de Lajas, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Lajas (PR).svg Town07923,33425,75359.95 sq mi (159.15 sq km)1883 List
Lares Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Lares.svg Escudo de Lares, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Grito de Lares (current, medium blue).svg Town08128,10530,75361.45 sq mi (159.15 sq km)1827 List
Las Marías Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Las-Marias.svg Escudo de Las Marias, Puerto Rico.svg LasMarias.svg Town0838,8749,88146.36 sq mi (120.07 sq km)1871 List
Las Piedras Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Las-Piedras.svg Escudo de Las Piedras, Puerto Rico.svg LasPiedrasFlag.svg Town08535,18038,67533.88 sq mi (87.75 sq km)1773 List
Loíza Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Loiza.svg Escudo de Loiza, Puerto Rico.svg Loiza Flag.svg Town08723,69330,06019.37 sq mi (50.17 sq km)1719 List
Luquillo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Luquillo.svg Escudo de Luquillo.svg Bandera de Luquillo.svg Town08917,78120,06825.81 sq mi (66.85 sq km)1797 List
Manatí Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Manati.svg Blason ville pr Manati.svg Flag of Manati.svg Town09139,49244,11346.13 sq mi (119.48 sq km)1738 List
Maricao Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Maricao.svg Escudo de Maricao, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Maricao.svg Town0934,7556,27636.62 sq mi (94.85 sq km)1874 List
Maunabo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Maunabo.svg Escudo de Maunabo, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Maunabo, Puerto Rico.svg Town09510,58912,22521.07 sq mi (54.57 sq km)1799 List
Mayagüez Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Mayaguez.svg Mayaguez seal.JPG Mayaguez-flag.svg City09773,07789,08077.65 sq mi (201.11 sq km)1760 List
Moca Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Moca.svg Escudo de Moca, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Moca.svg Town09937,46040,10950.34 sq mi (130.38 sq km)1772 List
Morovis Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Morovis.svg Escudo de Morovis, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Morovis, Puerto Rico.svg Town10128,72732,61038.87 sq mi (100.67 sq km)1818 List
Naguabo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Naguabo.svg Escudo de Naguabo, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Naguabo, Puerto Rico.svg Town10323,38626,72051.66 sq mi (133.80 sq km)1821 List
Naranjito Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Naranjito.svg Escudo de Naranjito, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Naranjito, Puerto Rico.svg Town10529,24130,40227.40 sq mi (70.97 sq km)1824 List
Orocovis Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Orocovis.svg Coat of arms of Orocovis, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Orocovis.svg Town10721,43423,42363.62 sq mi (164.78 sq km)1825 List
Patillas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Patillas.svg Escudo de Patillas, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Patillas.svg Town10915,98519,27746.7 sq mi (120.95 sq km)1811 List
Peñuelas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Penuelas.svg Escudo de Penuelas, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera-penuelas.svg Town11120,39924,28244.62 sq mi (115.57 sq km)1793 List
Ponce Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Ponce.svg Ponce, Puerto Rico Escudo.svg Bandera de Ponce, Puerto Rico.svg City113137,491166,327114.76 sq mi (297.23 sq km)1692 List
Quebradillas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Quebradillas.svg Escudo de Quebradillas, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Quebradillas.svg Town11523,63825,91922.68 sq mi (58.74 sq km)1823 List
Rincón Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Rincon.svg EscudoRincon.png Rincon Flag.svg Town11715,18715,20014.29 sq mi (37.01 sq km)1771 List
Río Grande Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Rio-Grande.svg Escudo de Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.svg Town11947,06054,30460.62 sq mi (157.01 sq km)1840 List
Sabana Grande Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Sabana-Grande.svg SabanaGrande.jpg Town12122,72925,26535.83 sq mi (92.80 sq km)1813 List
Salinas Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Salinas.svg Escudo de Salinas, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Salinas, Puerto Rico.svg Town12325,78931,07869.37 sq mi (179.67 sq km)1851 List
San Germán Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-San-German.svg Escudo de San German, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de San German.svg Town12531,87935,52754.50 sq mi (141.15 sq km)1573 List
San Juan Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-San-Juan.svg Coat of arms san juan pr.svg Flag of San Juan, Puerto Rico.svg City127342,259395,32647.85 sq mi (123.93 sq km)1519 [18] List
San Lorenzo Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-San-Lorenzo.svg Escudo de San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of San Lorenzo.svg Town12937,69341,05853.11 sq mi (137.55 sq km)1811 List
San Sebastián Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-San-Sebastian.svg Escudo de San Sebastian, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of San Sebastian, Puerto Rico.svg Town13139,34542,43070.42 sq mi (182.39 sq km)1752 List
Santa Isabel Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Santa-Isabel.svg Escudo de Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Santa Isabel.svg Town13320,28123,27434.02 sq mi (88.119 sq km)1842 List
Toa Alta Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Toa-Alta.svg Escudo de Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Toa Alta.svg City13566,85274,06627.02 sq mi (69.98 sq km)1751 List
Toa Baja Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Toa-Baja.svg Escudo de Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.svg City13775,29389,60923.24 sq mi (60.19 sq km)1745 List
Trujillo Alto Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Trujillo-Alto.svg Escudo de Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.svg City13967,74074,84220.76 sq mi (53.77 sq km)1801 List
Utuado Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Utuado.svg Escudo de Utuado, Puerto Rico.svg UtuadoFlag.svg Town14128,28733,149113.53 sq mi (294.04 sq km)1739 List
Vega Alta Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Vega-Alta.svg Escudo de Vega Alta, Puerto Rico.svg Vega Alta Flag.svg Town14335,39539,95127.73 sq mi (71.82 sq km)1775 List
Vega Baja Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Vega-Baja.svg Coat of arms of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.svg Vega Baja Flag.svg City14554,41459,66245.86 sq mi (118.78 sq km)1776 List
Vieques Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Vieques.svg Escudo de Vieques, Puerto Rico.svg Vieques Flag.svg Town1478,2499,30150.77 sq mi (131.49 sq km)1852 List
Villalba Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Villalba.svg Escudo de Villalba, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Villalba.svg Town14922,09326,07335.64 sq mi (92.31 sq km)1917 List
Yabucoa Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Yabucoa.svg Escudo de Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.svg Flag of Yabucoa.svg Town15130,41237,94155.21 sq mi (142.99 sq km)1793 List
Yauco Locator-map-Puerto-Rico-Yauco.svg Escudo de Yauco, Puerto Rico.svg Bandera de Yauco, Puerto Rico.svg Town15334,17242,04368.19 sq mi (176.61 sq km)1756 List

Most populated municipalities

Racial composition

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

Municipality (2020) White
(both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic) [19] [20]
Black
(Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic) [21]
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)
Adjuntas 22.23.44.20.165.199.7
Aguada 22.74.13.00.263.599.3
Aguadilla 21.04.13.50.262.998.4
Aguas Buenas 14.57.23.30.361.499.5
Aibonito 19.45.43.30.164.899.1
Añasco 18.45.73.40.263.999.0
Arecibo 19.04.62.20.266.699.3
Arroyo 11.512.51.90.460.499.1
Barceloneta 15.84.12.40.267.499.5
Barranquitas 20.85.22.10.166.299.7
Bayamón 17.96.23.00.362.599.0
Cabo Rojo 20.33.82.80.265.798.8
Caguas 15.96.33.10.363.999.2
Camuy 22.73.83.00.164.299.1
Canóvanas 13.415.12.60.350.399.3
Carolina 14.211.62.60.455.598.5
Cataño 13.08.22.90.362.099.0
Cayey 17.46.32.50.265.399.4
Ceiba 16.09.82.60.457.298.2
Ciales 20.82.92.10.369.699.5
Cidra 19.56.82.70.162.699.5
Coamo 20.07.42.80.261.699.4
Comerío 16.96.44.10.263.399.6
Corozal 19.83.72.50.267.799.5
Culebra 17.78.01.71.151.889.2
Dorado 17.67.53.10.658.196.6
Fajardo 14.59.32.50.461.398.2
Florida 13.82.11.40.374.999.5
Guánica 17.15.22.70.267.299.1
Guayama 19.09.62.60.256.699.3
Guayanilla 18.15.13.60.164.799.6
Guaynabo 17.24.82.60.466.297.9
Gurabo 15.27.13.30.261.899.2
Hatillo 21.23.52.50.266.199.2
Hormigueros 18.85.12.80.265.099.2
Humacao 13.58.82.50.362.498.0
Isabela 17.54.02.40.267.198.7
Jayuya 23.32.43.30.165.899.5
Juana Díaz 14.58.02.70.263.899.5
Juncos 13.09.32.90.261.099.4
Lajas 18.94.12.60.267.499.3
Lares 20.52.22.50.170.199.3
Las Marías 17.23.53.10.369.499.2
Las Piedras 15.68.32.90.260.399.4
Loíza 5.831.81.60.227.799.4
Luquillo 17.212.12.70.354.197.1
Manatí 17.14.32.20.267.899.3
Maricao 22.27.83.70.561.099.5
Maunabo 9.116.72.00.256.099.4
Mayagüez 19.74.63.00.363.298.7
Moca 17.03.12.60.170.899.6
Morovis 19.13.42.50.269.499.6
Naguabo 13.39.22.40.263.299.2
Naranjito 20.76.43.30.261.099.6
Orocovis 16.35.36.40.262.699.6
Patillas 15.912.32.60.257.299.3
Peñuelas 23.16.73.80.157.299.5
Ponce 19.04.93.00.364.499.1
Quebradillas 25.43.43.20.262.699.2
Rincón 21.45.94.90.258.594.9
Río Grande 14.714.72.60.350.498.8
Sabana Grande 19.94.02.40.266.699.4
Salinas 16.39.83.80.257.699.2
San Germán 18.54.63.80.364.199.2
San Juan 14.48.22.70.560.297.8
San Lorenzo 14.06.62.70.266.099.5
San Sebastián 19.22.12.90.170.499.4
Santa Isabel 15.78.22.60.260.899.4
Toa Alta 16.25.82.70.265.899.4
Toa Baja 16.310.12.20.359.199.0
Trujillo Alto 14.28.02.30.262.699.1
Utuado 21.62.44.00.266.399.2
Vega Alta 12.47.32.40.366.698.8
Vega Baja 18.56.43.50.261.299.3
Vieques 18.815.22.60.452.292.0
Villalba 15.56.22.90.265.499.6
Yabucoa 16.59.72.60.260.699.4
Yauco 21.44.73.20.263.599.4
Puerto Rico 17.17.02.80.362.398.9

Politics

The municipalities elect a mayor and a municipal legislature in the general elections every four years.

Finances

In 2012, 36 of the 78 municipalities (46%) were experiencing a budget deficit. [22] In total, the combined debt carried by the municipalities stands at about US$590 million. [lower-alpha 1]

  Surplus    Deficit
MunicipalityMayor's partyPopulation [16] Surplus or deficit [24] Surplus or deficit per capita [24] Public debt [24] Public debt per capita [24]
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

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. [25] The law was repealed three years later. [26] [27] 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. [28] However, the bill never made into law. [29] 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. [30] [31] 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. [32]

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 [...]" [23]

Related Research Articles

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Ponce is a city and a municipality on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The most populated city outside the San Juan metropolitan area, was founded on August 12, 1692 and is named after Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the great-grandson of Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León. Ponce is often referred to as La Perla del Sur, La Ciudad Señorial, and La Ciudad de las Quenepas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coamo, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Coamo is a town and municipality founded in 1579 in the south-central region of Puerto Rico, located north of Santa Isabel; south of Orocovis and Barranquitas; east of Villalba and Juana Díaz; and west of Aibonito and Salinas. The municipality of Coamo is spread over 10 barrios and Coamo Pueblo – the town or downtown area and administrative center of the city. The Coamo municipality is also a Micropolitan Statistical Area and as such is part of the Ponce-Yauco-Coamo Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guaynabo, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Guaynabo is a city, suburb of San Juan and municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas, south of Cataño, east of Bayamón, and west of San Juan. Guaynabo is spread over 9 barrios and Guaynabo Pueblo. Guaynabo is considered, along with its neighbors – San Juan and the municipalities of Bayamón, Carolina, Cataño, Trujillo Alto, and Toa Baja – to be part of the San Juan metropolitan area. It is also part of the larger San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area,.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peñuelas, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Peñuelas is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the Peñuelas Valley on the southern coast of the island, south of Adjuntas, east of Guayanilla, west of Ponce and north of the Caribbean Sea. Peñuelas is spread over 12 barrios and Peñuelas Pueblo. It is part of the Yauco Metropolitan Statistical Area. Peñuelas is known as "La Capital del Güiro" and "El Valle de los Flamboyanes". In 2020, Peñuelas had a population of 20,399.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canóvanas, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Canóvanas is a town and municipality in Puerto Rico, located in the northeastern region, north of Juncos and Las Piedras; south of Loíza; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Canóvanas is spread over 6 barrios and Canóvanas Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loíza, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Loíza is a town and municipality on the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico, north of Canóvanas; east of Carolina, Puerto Rico; and west of Río Grande, Puerto Rico. Loíza is spread over five barrios and Loíza Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is renowned for its rich Afro-Puerto Rican culture and heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Germán, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

San Germán is a historic town and municipality located in the Sabana Grande Valley of southwestern region of Puerto Rico, south of Mayagüez and Maricao, north of Lajas, east of Hormigueros and Cabo Rojo, and west of Sabana Grande. San Germán is spread over eighteen barrios plus San Germán Pueblo. It is both a principal city of the San Germán–Cabo Rojo Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area. San Germán is the second oldest city of Puerto Rico, after San Juan, and its historic downtown is preserved as the San Germán Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality of Puerto Rico

Florida is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the karst region north of Ciales, south of Barceloneta, east of Arecibo, and west of Manatí. Florida is not like other municipalities of Puerto Rico with multiple subdivisions called barrios. It has one barrio called Florida Adentro and two other subdivisions: Florida Zona Urbana and Pajonal comunidad. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guánica, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Guánica is a town and municipality in southern Puerto Rico, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Sabana Grande, east of Lajas, and west of Yauco. It is part of the Yauco metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatillo, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Hatillo is a town and municipality located in Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spread over nine barrios and Hatillo Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Juana Díaz is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 13 barrios and Juana Diaz Pueblo. It is part of the Ponce Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moca, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Río Grande, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guayama, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality of Puerto Rico

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pueblo, San Juan, Puerto Rico</span> Barrio of Puerto Rico

Río Piedras Pueblo, is one of 18 barrios in the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Rio Piedras Pueblo is what used to be the urban center-barrio of the former municipality of Río Piedras until 1951, when the municipality of Rio Piedras was merged with the municipality of San Juan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico</span> Barrio of Puerto Rico

Barrio Playa, also known as Playa de Ponce, Ponce Playa, or La Playa, is one of the thirty-one barrios that comprise the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Bucaná, Canas, Vayas, and Capitanejo, Playa is one of the municipality's five coastal barrios. Barrio Playa also incorporates several islands, the largest of which is Caja de Muertos. It was founded in 1831.

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San Antón is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Canas Urbano, Machuelo Abajo, Magueyes Urbano, and Portugués Urbano, San Antón is one of the municipality's five originally rural barrios that are now also part of the urban zone of the city of Ponce. It is totally enclosed within the Ponce city limits. It was founded in 1818.

The barrios of Puerto Rico are the primary legal divisions of the seventy-eight municipalities of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's 78 municipios are divided into geographical sections called barrios and, as of 2010, there were 902 of them. In the US Census a barrio sometimes includes a division called a comunidad or subbarrio. In Puerto Rico, barrios are composed of sectors. The types of sectors (sectores) may vary, from normally sector to urbanización to reparto to barriada to residencial, among others.

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References

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