Puerto Ricans have been migrating to the United States since the island became a commonwealth of the United States and the signing of the Jones-Shafroth Act in 1917, granting all residents U.S. citizenship. According to the Census, Puerto Ricans are the second largest Hispanic community accounting for 9.2% of the 50.2 million Hispanics in the United States.

Most have settled in New York City with a population of 1,070,558. Other metropolitan states that Puerto Ricans have settled in include Florida, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, and Texas. The median household income of Puerto Rican American families is $37,654.

An estimated 2,512,115 Puerto Rican Americans, 25 years and over, have some educational attainment. From that estimate, 16% of Puerto Ricans have a bachelor’s degree or higher and 28.5% have attended some college or obtained an associate’s degree.

The most common occupations of Puerto Rican Americans include management, business, science, art, service, sales and office positions. The most common industries include manufacturing, retail, scientific, managerial, administrative, entertainment, food, educational, recreation and social assistance.

Puerto Rican Americans assimilated within their environments and continue to advocate for their social and political rights. Puerto Rican Americans are very connected to Puerto Rico and their cultural heritage. Most households are bilingual with 65.2% of Puerto Rican Americans speaking a language other than English.

Some of their most celebrated holidays are El Dia de los Tres Reyes (Three Kings Day Parade), El Dia de la Raza (The Day of the Race- Columbus Day), and La Fiesta del Apostal Santiago (St. James Day). Puerto Ricans also celebrate such Christian holidays such as Christmas, Easter and New Years. Puerto Ricans are also renowned for their National Puerto Rican Parade which is held in New York City which celebrates Puerto Rican achievements, cultural pride and growth within the community.

Some of the most notable Puerto Rican Americans we know today are Sonia Sotomayor, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Tito Puente, Latin jazz and salsa musician and composer, and Maurice Ferre, former Mayor of Miami.