Puerto Rico (Spanish for "Rich Port") is the newest state in the United States of America. Prior to statehood, Puerto Rico was an unincorporated territory of the United States, a situation that persisted until statehood was accepted in 2005 following a plebiscite in 2004. The state is located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida.
An archipelago among the Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller ones, including the former US Virgin Islands territory which were ceded to Puerto Rico as a condition of statehood. The capital and most populous city is San Juan. Its official languages are Spanish and English, and while Spanish predominates, English is gaining more widespread use as it is the language of the public school system. The island's population is approximately 3.4 million. Puerto Rico's history, tropical climate, natural scenery, traditional cuisine, and tax incentives make it a destination for travelers from around the world.
