PUERTO RICO
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general it is a healthy climate with relatively little seasonal or anal variation.
Temperature ranges, diurnal and seasonal, are not great although evenings are generally cooler and there are summer and ter seasons. The average daily maximum is about 86°F in mmer to 82-84°F in winter and some 10-15 F lower in higher
tudes.
tal averages
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years in 1975, and the population growth rate was 2.45 annually. modified by 1.45 by migration, almost entirely to the U.S. main- land, although this has fluctuated considerably and some years the island has reflected a net gain, rather than a loss, from migration. Estimates of population in the year 2000 range from 3.7 to 5 million.
The overall population density, about 955 to the sq. mile, is one of the highest in the Caribbean.
•
1966 1967
1968 1969
1970
Population
78-9
77-9
79.2
79.2
80.0
81.2
81.0
79.5
78.9
78.3
Total
1970 2,712.033
1972 2,868,000
1974 3,031,000
1975 3,121,000
78-0
77-7
77-8
79.2
78.4
Births
78-4
78.0
78.0 78.4 78.2
Total
Per 1,000
70,000 25.8
72,000 25.1
73,000 24.0
72,000 23.0
18,000 6.6
19,000 6.6
19,000 6.2
19,000 6.0
•
3,032,628
2,347,483
2,076,710
2,306,399
2,565,900 2,539,783
2,399.533
2,359,959
Rainfall is heaviest between May and December, but it varies ery greatly in different parts of the island. It is generally avier on the north coast than on the south, ranging from 55 to n. per year on the former, 29 to 50 in. per year on the latter. wer the central mountainous region annual rainfall is as high as "U in. average in the El Yunque section and 100-120 in. in the -estern region.
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Juun
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*^a» Jqucz 42.00
1966 1967
1968 1969 1970
56.83 48.05
53.20 61.81 66.32 24.32 15.15 33.73 42.56 63-29 65.78 60.86 81.62 85.68 65-30 55.42 37.72 59.45 64.34 64.18
Hurricanes of sufficient strength to wreak extreme damage rarely
trike the island.
Since 1928 when, on September 13th hurricane damage reached suster proportions, the only visitations of note were in 1931, 912 and 1956 and these by storms of moderate intensity. The Hanger season in this part of the world runs from July to October with significantly greater frequency in August and September.
Peoples
Puerto Ricans are a happy amalgam of many races of which only a few Arawaks were indigenous. Of these earlier peoples only museum relics remain, in the form of stone axes, images, carvings and such like.
The Spanish, who settled and ruled for nearly four centuries provided the greatest influence followed, a rather poor second, by the Africans they imported as slaves. These in turn were joined by migrants from many countries in Europe and as far cust as China.
The passage of time and constant intermarriage has blurred these blood lines somewhat and the populace is now Puerto Rican in more than just the political sense.
The normal census breakdown into negro, mulatto and white, lthough of some statistical interest gives no real indication of the character of the people. They might be better summed up as a Latin-American people, with the Spanish cultural heritage, religious mores, customs and language shared in common with other Latin American peoples. All shades of skin colour between black and white are represented with those classified as pure negro only a small and diminishing proportion. Among such a people colour discrimination is an anomaly.
The population in the middle of the nineteenth century which was well under four hundred thousand. has increased steadily and has already passed the 3.2 million mark. Life expectancy was 72
BARBOTTEAU & CIE
Established 1917
POINTE À PITRE
GUADELOUPE
Commission Merchants
Insurance Agents
Deaths Total
Per 1,000 Migration Arrivals Departures
Balance
-44,082 +41,084 +36,117 +39,574
At the Census taken on April 1970, the total population was 2,712.033. Other figures are estimates, July 1, based on natural increase and migration trends.
Carolina
+
Distribution of
Population
1970.
1975
Distributing of Population
1970
1975
Adjuntas
18.691
18.000
Juncus
21.814
23.600
Aguada
25.658
28.400
Lajus
16.545
19.400
Aguadilla
51.355
56.600
Lares
25,263
26.500
Aguas Buenas
18.600
20.200
Las Marias
7.841
7.600
Aibonito
20,044
21,800
Loiza
16.044
18.900
Anasco
19.416
20.900
Las Piedras
18.112
19.700
Arecibo
73.468 83,300
Luquillo
10.390
12.400
Arroyo
13.033
15.800.
Manati.
30.559
34.800
Barceloneta
15.654
16.800
Maricao
5.991
6.200
Barranquitas
20.118
20.200
Maunabo
10.792
11.800
Bayamon
156,192
205.800
Mayagucz
85.857
99.800
Cabo Rojo
26.060
30.700
Moca
22.361
24.400
Caguas
95.661
107.500
Morovia
19.059
19.900
Camuy Canovanas
19,922
22.000
Naguabo
17.996
19,100
23,018
27.100
Naranjito
19.918 20.800
107,643
162,700
Orucovis
20.201
16,700
Catano
26.459
27.900
Patillas
17.828
18.900
Cayey
. 28.432
41.400
Penucias
15.973
17.000
10.312
13,800
158,981
188.500
Ciales
15.595
16.000
15.582
18.500
Cidra
23.892 24.900
Rincon
9.094
10.100
Coamo
26,468
29.900
Rio Grande
22.032
28.600
Comerio
18.819
18,700
Sabana Grande
16.343
17,900
Corozal
24.545
27.200
Salinas
21.837 22.900
Culebra
732
1.000
San German
27,990
31.200
Dorado
17.388
19.900
San Juan
463.242
Fajardo
23.032
31.700
San Lorenzo
27.755 30,100
Florida
5.138
5.500
San Sebastian
30.157 33.400
Guanica
14.889
16.100
Santa Isabel
16.056
17.000
Guayama
36.249
39.700
Toa Alta
18.964
23.600
Guayanilla
18.144
20.500
Toa Baja
46.384
63.600
Guaynabo Gurabo
67.042 77.200
Trujillo Alto
30.669 43.300
18.289 19.600
Utuado
35.494
36.200
Hatillo
21,913
23.800
Vega Alta
22.810
24.500
Hormigueros
10,827
12.400
Vega Baja
35.327
41.600
Humacao
36.023
43.700
Vicques
7,767
7.400
Isabela
30.430
34.600
Villalba
18.733
20.400
13.588
14,300
Yabucoa
30.165
31.700
36.270 39.200
Yauco
35,103
37.500
Ceiba
Jayuya
Juana Diaz
Ponce Quebradillas
Source: Puerto Rico Planning Board, Area of Information.
Population Economically
$18.700
Active - ,000s
1970
1972
1974
1975
Total Labor Force
765
837
884
872
Employed
686*
737
775*
738*
Sectors Providing Employment
Manufacture**
132
141
147
137
Commerce
128
135
147
141
Government
106
131
146
151
Agriculture, Forrestry and
Fishing
68
58
53
50
Other
250
272
279
256
Unemployed
79
100
109
134
Unemployed - %***
10.3
12.0
12.3
15.4
woys a most ntic or ****the
Camping Gaz International
Shell Trinidad Ltd.
Shell Antilles & Guianas Ltd.
Unilever Export Ltd.
Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Company Gillette France
Société Pour l'Utilisation Rationnelle des gaz (U.R.G.)
W.1.-24
*Because of rounding, totals are not the sum of the parts.
**
Excepting home needlework. *** Percentage of total labor force.
Source:
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1970 Census of Population; Puerto Rico Planning Board, Area of Information; Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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