- Puerto Rico’s history started with the Taíno people, then Christopher Columbus claimed it for Spain in 1493, naming it San Juan Bautista; Juan Ponce de León established the first Spanish settlement, naming the island “Rich Port” (Puerto Rico) after gold was found. Spain ruled for centuries, bringing enslaved Africans, but lost the island to the U.S. after the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1917, Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens, and today it’s a U.S. territory with a mix of Spanish, African, and Taíno cultures, known for its unique identity, baseball, and delicious food.
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The History of Puerto Rico
Jan 29, 2026
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