Does ancestry have records from Puerto Rico?

We’ve just launched a new collection with more than 5 million vital records from Puerto Rico. Civil registration began in Puerto Rico in 1885, and the records can contain rich details, sometimes even mentioning several generations.

When was the first census in Puerto Rico?

1899
Puerto Rico was first enumerated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the U.S. War Department in 1899. Puerto Rico has been included as part of the decennial census since 1910. The Census Bureau conducted the first economic census in Puerto Rico in 1909.

What year did the US take ownership of Puerto Rico?

1898
On October 18, 1898, American troops fighting in the Spanish-American War raised the United States flag in Puerto Rico formalizing U.S. control of the former Spanish colony.

Who settled Puerto Rico around 4000 years ago?

Puerto Rico’s first known settlers were the Ortoiroid people, a group of Amerindian hunters and fishermen who traveled from the South American continent and arrived on the island around 4,000 years ago.

How do I find public records in Puerto Rico?

Use the PACER system to search for Federal civil & criminal court records in Puerto Rico by case number, party name, filing date, or last update. Provides dockets and documents. Registration with PACER and a small fee required.

What census region is Puerto Rico in?

Census Bureau-designated regions and divisions Region 2: Midwest (Prior to June 1984, the Midwest Region was designated as the North Central Region.) Puerto Rico and other US territories are not part of any census region or census division.

What was the population of Puerto Rico 1898?

953,243
1899 Puerto Rico census

Why did the US invade Puerto Rico in 1898?

On July 25, 1898, 16,000 U.S. troops invaded Puerto Rico at Guánica, asserting that they were liberating the inhabitants from Spanish colonial rule, which had recently granted the island’s government limited autonomy.

Why did US acquire Puerto Rico?

From the landing of Columbus in 1492 until 1898, Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain. In 1898, Spain lost the Spanish-American war and gave Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States. Cuba was made a protectorate of the U.S., and the U.S. bought the Philippines.

When was Puerto Rico established?

1508
Puerto Rico/Founded

In 1508, Juan Ponce de León founded the first European settlement, Caparra, near a bay on the island’s northern coast; Caparra was renamed Puerto Rico (or “rich port”) in 1521. Over time, people began referring to the entire island by that name, while the port city itself became San Juan.

When was the last census taken in Puerto Rico?

Census data are available for Puerto Rico from periodic censuses, beginning with a census taken by the War Department in 1899. The 1920 and earlier censuses were enumerated on Jan. 1, 1920; Apr. 15, 1910; and Nov. 10, 1899. Earlier data are available from censuses conducted by the government of Spain from 1765 to 1897.

What kind of records are there in Puerto Rico?

Births, marriages, deaths, indexes and other records created by civil registration offices in Puerto Rico. Some records may date prior to 1885 as a few municipalities began civil registration before that date. Some of these records have been indexed and are searchable as part of this collection.

When did Puerto Rico become part of the United States?

Congress granted the people of Puerto Rico United States citizenship in 1917. The area became a commonwealth on July 25, 1952, with the right to internal self-government. Census data are available for Puerto Rico from periodic censuses, beginning with a census taken by the War Department in 1899.

What is the 1930 nonfarm livestock census of Puerto Rico?

The 1930 nonfarm livestock census of Puerto Rico is a microfilm publication (M1896) consisting of two rolls of film. These records consist of Form 15-60, Tabla Para Ganado Fuera de Fincas–Puerto Rico, which measures about 8.25 by 11 inches, with space for 28 proprietors of livestock on each side.