Winsor, J. E., & Domin, D. (2014). Vocational rehabilitation closure trends for individuals with intellectual disabilities: A snapshot of five U.S. territories. DataNote series, No. 48. Boston, MA: University of Massachusetts Boston, Institute for Community Inclusion. 21
I. Geography Puerto Rico Jean E. Winsor, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Boston Puerto Rico is an archipelago located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The main island is 3,515 square miles, which is less than three times the size of Rhode Island. There are also three small islands included in the commonwealth: Vieques and Culebra to the East, and Mona to the West. The location of these islands places them within a key shipping route to the Panama Canal. The capital, San Juan, is recognized as one of the best natural harbors in the Caribbean (Central Intelligence Agency CIA, 2014). II. Economy Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. Plantation sugar production dominated Puerto Rico's economy until the 1940s. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector of economic activity and income, and economic opportunities have shifted from rural to urban and coastal areas. Encouraged by duty-free access to the U.S. and by tax incentives, U.S. firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s (U.S. minimum wage laws apply). As a result, Puerto Rico's export and import industries have prospered and the primary industries are pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, and tourism. Like much of the United States, Puerto Rico experienced a decline in economic activity as a result of the 2008 recession. The per capita income in Puerto Rico in 2012 was $16,300, and the 2011 unemployment rate was 16% (CIA, 2014). It should be noted that Puerto Ricans who reside on the island experience a higher rate of poverty (44%) compared with individuals who identify as of Puerto Rican origin in the 50 states and D.C. (24%) (Lopez & Valesco, 2011). A key difference between Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories is that United States federal minimum wage laws are applicable within the commonwealth. III. Population Puerto Rico participates in the decennial United States Census, as well as the annual Puerto Rican Community Survey, a version of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, customized for Puerto Rico. The 2010 population of Puerto Rico was 3,725,789, and the median 22
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