Despite the fact that Puerto Rico has never had a statehood referendum, it is still part of the United States.

The US government provides billions of dollars of federal funding each year to Puerto Rico.

It is roughly rectangular in shape, stretching up to 111 miles from east to west and 39 miles from north to south. Its capital is San Juan.

The federal government has a significant presence on the island, as well as an integrated postal and telephone system.

Puerto Rico has a history of colonialism dating back to European exploration of America.

For more than four centuries, the island was ruled by the Spanish, until it was handed over to the U.S. after the Spanish-American War.

The United States was in a period of territorial expansion in the nineteenth century, and most of North America was granted statehood.

However, some territories were annexed without any plans to extend their enfranchisement.