Municipalities of Puerto Rico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Municipalities of Puerto Rico
Location	Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Number	78
Populations	From 1,818 pop. in Culebra to 395,326 pop. in San Juan
Areas	From 4.84 square miles (12.5 km2) in Cataño to 125.95 square miles (326.2 km2) in 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. 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:

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. 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 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.

Municipalities

For a list of municipal demonyms

Puerto Rico is administratively divided into the following 78 municipalities (alphabetically ordered):

Municipalities of Puerto Rico
Name	Location	Flag	Coat of Arms	Title	FIPS code	Population (2020)	Population (2010)	Area	Founded	Barrios
Adjuntas Adjuntas				Town	001 001	18,020	019,483 19,483	066.69 66.69 sq mi (172.73 sq km)	1815 1815	List
Aguada Aguada				Town	003 003	38,136	041,959 41,959	030.85 30.85 sq mi (79.90 sq km)	1639 1639	List
Aguadilla Aguadilla				City	005 005	55,101	060,949 60,949	036.53 36.53 sq mi (94.61 sq km)	1775 1775	List
Aguas Buenas Aguas Buenas				Town	007 007	24,223	028,659 28,659	030.09 30.08 sq mi (77.92 sq km)	1838 1838	List
Aibonito Aibonito				Town	009 009	24,637	025,900 25,900	031.31 31.31 sq mi (81.10 sq km)	1824 1824	List
Añasco Añasco				Town	011 011	25,596	029,261 29,261	039.29 39.29 sq mi (101.75 sq km)	1733 1733	List
Arecibo Arecibo				City	013 013	87,754	096,440 96,440	125.95 125.95 sq mi (326.20 sq km)	1616 1616	List
Arroyo Arroyo				Town	015 015	15,843	019,575 19,575	015.01 15.01 sq mi (38.87 sq km)	1855 1855	List
Barceloneta Barceloneta				Town	017 017	22,657	024,816 24,816	018.69 18.69 sq mi (48.41 sq km)	1881 1881	List
Barranquitas Barranquitas				Town	019 019	28,983	030,318 30,318	034.25 34.25 sq mi (88.71 sq km)	1803 1803	List
Bayamón Bayamón				City	021 021	185,187	208,116 208,116	044.32 44.32 sq mi (114.80 sq km)	1772 1772	List
Cabo Rojo Cabo Rojo				Town	023 023	47,158	050,917 50,917	070.37 70.37 sq mi (182.27 sq km)	1771 1771	List
Caguas Caguas				City	025 025	127,244	142,893 142,893	058.60 58.60 sq mi (151.77 sq km)	1775 1775	List
Camuy Camuy				Town	027 027	32,827	035,159 35,159	046.36 46.35 sq mi (120.06 sq km)	1807 1807	List
Canóvanas Canóvanas				Town	029 029	42,337	047,648 47,648	032.87 32.87 sq mi (85.12 sq km)	1909 1909	List
Carolina Carolina				City	031 031	154,815	176,762 176,762	045.32 45.32 sq mi (117.38 sq km)	1816 1816	List
Cataño Cataño				Town	033 033	23,155	028,140 28,140	004.85 4.84 sq mi (12.55 sq km)	1927 1927	List
Cayey Cayey				Town	035 035	41,652	048,119 48,119	051.93 51.93 sq mi (134.51 sq km)	1773 1773	List
Ceiba Ceiba				Town	037 037	11,307	013,631 13,631	029.04 29.04 sq mi (75.20 sq km)	1838 1838	List
Ciales Ciales				Town	039 039	16,984	018,782 18,782	066.53 66.53 sq mi (172.31 sq km)	1820 1820	List
Cidra Cidra				Town	041 041	39,970	043,480 43,480	036.02 36.02 sq mi (93.29 sq km)	1809 1809	List
Coamo Coamo				Town	043 043	34,668	040,512 40,512	078.1 78.10 sq mi (202.27 sq km)	1579 1579	List
Comerío Comerío				Town	045 045	18,883	020,778 20,778	028.40 28.40 sq mi (73.56 sq km)	1826 1826	List
Corozal Corozal				Town	047 047	34,571	037,142 37,142	042.57 42.57 sq mi (110.26 sq km)	1795 1795	List
Culebra Culebra				Town	049 049	1,792	001,818 1,818	011.62 11.62 sq mi (30.10 sq km)	1880 1880	List
Dorado Dorado				Town	051 051	35,879	038,165 38,165	023.09 23.09 sq mi (59.80 sq km)	1842 1842	List
Fajardo Fajardo				Town	053 053	32,124	036,993 36,993	029.86 29.86 sq mi (77.34 sq km)	1772 1772	List
Florida Florida				Town	054 054	11,692	012,680 12,680	015.21 15.21 sq mi (39.39 sq km)	1971 1971	List
Guánica Guánica				Town	055 055	13,787	019,427 19,427	037.05 37.05 sq mi (95.96 sq km)	1914 1914	List
Guayama Guayama				Town	057 057	36,614	045,362 45,362	064.99 64.99 sq mi (168.32 sq km)	1736 1736	List
Guayanilla Guayanilla				Town	059 059	17,784	021,581 21,581	042.27 42.27 sq mi (109.48 sq km)	1833 1833	List
Guaynabo Guaynabo				City	061 061	89,780	097,924 97,924	027.58 27.58 sq mi (71.43 sq km)	1769 1769	List
Gurabo Gurabo				Town	063 063	40,622	045,369 45,369	027.89 27.89 sq mi (72.23 sq km)	1815 1815	List
Hatillo Hatillo				Town	065 065	38,486	041,953 41,953	041.78 41.78 sq mi (108.21 sq km)	1823 1823	List
Hormigueros Hormigueros				Town	067 067	15,654	017,250 17,250	011.34 11.34 sq mi (29.37 sq km)	1874 1874	List
Humacao Humacao				City	069 069	50,896	058,466 58,466	044.75 44.75 sq mi (115.90 sq km)	1722 1722	List
Isabela Isabela				Town	071 071	42,943	045,631 45,631	055.30 55.30 sq mi (143.23 sq km)	1819 1819	List
Jayuya Jayuya				Town	073 073	14,779	016,642 16,642	044.53 44.53 sq mi (115.33 sq km)	1911 1911	List
Juana Díaz Juana Díaz				Town	075 075	46,538	050,747 50,747	060.28 60.28 sq mi (156.12 sq km)	1798 1798	List
Juncos Juncos				Town	077 077	37,012	040,290 40,290	026.49 26.49 sq mi (68.61 sq km)	1797 1797	List
Lajas Lajas				Town	079 079	23,334	025,753 25,753	059.95 59.95 sq mi (159.15 sq km)	1883 1883	List
Lares Lares				Town	081 081	28,105	030,753 30,753	061.45 61.45 sq mi (159.15 sq km)	1827 1827	List
Las Marías Las Marías				Town	083 083	8,874	009,881 9,881	046.36 46.36 sq mi (120.07 sq km)	1871 1871	List
Las Piedras Las Piedras				Town	085 085	35,180	038,675 38,675	033.88 33.88 sq mi (87.75 sq km)	1773 1773	List
Loíza Loíza				Town	087 087	23,693	030,060 30,060	019.37 19.37 sq mi (50.17 sq km)	1719 1719	List
Luquillo Luquillo				Town	089 089	17,781	020,068 20,068	025.81 25.81 sq mi (66.85 sq km)	1797 1797	List
Manatí Manatí				Town	091 091	39,492	044,113 44,113	046.13 46.13 sq mi (119.48 sq km)	1738 1738	List
Maricao Maricao				Town	093 093	4,755	006,276 6,276	036.62 36.62 sq mi (94.85 sq km)	1874 1874	List
Maunabo Maunabo				Town	095 095	10,589	012,225 12,225	021.07 21.07 sq mi (54.57 sq km)	1799 1799	List
Mayagüez Mayagüez				City	097 097	73,077	089,080 89,080	077.65 77.65 sq mi (201.11 sq km)	1760 1760	List
Moca Moca				Town	099 099	37,460	040,109 40,109	050.34 50.34 sq mi (130.38 sq km)	1772 1772	List
Morovis Morovis				Town	101 101	28,727	032,610 32,610	038.87 38.87 sq mi (100.67 sq km)	1818 1818	List
Naguabo Naguabo				Town	103 103	23,386	026,720 26,720	051.66 51.66 sq mi (133.80 sq km)	1821 1821	List
Naranjito Naranjito				Town	105 105	29,241	030,402 30,402	027.40 27.40 sq mi (70.97 sq km)	1824 1824	List
Orocovis Orocovis				Town	107 107	21,434	023,423 23,423	063.62 63.62 sq mi (164.78 sq km)	1825 1825	List
Patillas Patillas				Town	109 109	15,985	019,277 19,277	046.7 46.7 sq mi (120.95 sq km)	1811 1811	List
Peñuelas Peñuelas				Town	111 111	20,399	024,282 24,282	044.62 44.62 sq mi (115.57 sq km)	1793 1793	List
Ponce Ponce				City	113 113	137,491	166,327 166,327	114.76 114.76 sq mi (297.23 sq km)	1692 1692	List
Quebradillas Quebradillas				Town	115 115	23,638	025,919 25,919	022.68 22.68 sq mi (58.74 sq km)	1823 1823	List
Rincón Rincón				Town	117 117	15,187	015,200 15,200	014.29 14.29 sq mi (37.01 sq km)	1771 1771	List
Río Grande Río Grande				Town	119 119	47,060	054,304 54,304	060.62 60.62 sq mi (157.01 sq km)	1840 1840	List
Sabana Grande Sabana Grande				Town	121 121	22,729	025,265 25,265	035.83 35.83 sq mi (92.80 sq km)	1813 1813	List
Salinas Salinas				Town	123 123	25,789	031,078 31,078	069.37 69.37 sq mi (179.67 sq km)	1851 1851	List
San Germán San Germán				Town	125 125	31,879	035,527 35,527	054.50 54.50 sq mi (141.15 sq km)	1573 1573	List
San Juan San Juan				City	127 127	342,259	395,326 395,326	047.85 47.85 sq mi (123.93 sq km)	1519 1519	List
San Lorenzo San Lorenzo				Town	129 129	37,693	041,058 41,058	053.11 53.11 sq mi (137.55 sq km)	1811 1811	List
San Sebastián San Sebastián				Town	131 131	39,345	042,430 42,430	070.42 70.42 sq mi (182.39 sq km)	1752 1752	List
Santa Isabel Santa Isabel				Town	133 133	20,281	023,274 23,274	034.02 34.02 sq mi (88.119 sq km)	1842 1842	List
Toa Alta Toa Alta				City	135 135	66,852	074,066 74,066	027.02 27.02 sq mi (69.98 sq km)	1751 1751	List
Toa Baja Toa Baja				City	137 137	75,293	089,609 89,609	023.24 23.24 sq mi (60.19 sq km)	1745 1745	List
Trujillo Alto Trujillo Alto				City	139 139	67,740	074,842 74,842	020.76 20.76 sq mi (53.77 sq km)	1801 1801	List
Utuado Utuado				Town	141 141	28,287	033,149 33,149	113.53 113.53 sq mi (294.04 sq km)	1739 1739	List
Vega Alta Vega Alta				Town	143 143	35,395	039,951 39,951	027.73 27.73 sq mi (71.82 sq km)	1775 1775	List
Vega Baja Vega Baja				City	145 145	54,414	059,662 59,662	045.86 45.86 sq mi (118.78 sq km)	1776 1776	List
Vieques Vieques				Town	147 147	8,249	009,301 9,301	050.77 50.77 sq mi (131.49 sq km)	1852 1852	List
Villalba Villalba				Town	149 149	22,093	026,073 26,073	035.64 35.64 sq mi (92.31 sq km)	1917 1917	List
Yabucoa Yabucoa				Town	151 151	30,412	037,941 37,941	055.21 55.21 sq mi (142.99 sq km)	1793 1793	List
Yauco Yauco				Town	153 153	34,172	042,043 42,043	068.19 68.19 sq mi (176.61 sq km)	1756 1756	List

Most populated municipalities

• Municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants
• 

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

• 

  Bayamón, the second largest municipality of Puerto Rico, located just west of San Juan.

• 

  Carolina, the third largest municipality of Puerto Rico, located just east of San Juan.

• 

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

• 

  Caguas, the fifth largest municipality of Puerto Rico.

Racial composition

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

Finances

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

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. The law was repealed three years later. 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. 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. 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.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Municipios de Puerto Rico para niños