The 2000 Census estimated that there are 91,527 Puerto Ricans living in Philadelphia. The largest concentration of Puerto Ricans is in North Philadelphia, though there are other large concentrations in South Philadelphia, Frankford, and Juniata Park.

Philadelphia and Puerto Rico have had a long lasting connection. The relationship began in the 18th century with trade ties. During this time, Puerto Rican pro-independence exiles and organizers, merchants, cigar makers, trades people, laborers, students, and others lived in Philadelphia. During World War II, the US government recruited Puerto Ricans to work in our country. Most of the work took place on farms, in factories, and in homes. Between 1950 and 1970, Philadelphia experienced an economic boom. This was also a time in which there was a spike in the Puerto Rican population growth. The population had grown to over 60,000. These new Philadelphians worked in the factories (particularly in the Kensington and Port Richmond sections of the city); some created their own businesses, and some organized their community. The community is still growing today. Puerto Ricans typically come from Puerto Rico directly, New York, and other cities with Puerto Rican communities. Uniquely, Puerto Ricans are a population that tends to have a circular migration. This means that it is not out of the ordinary for Puerto Ricans to frequently move between Philadelphia and Puerto Rico. This happens, in part, because Puerto Ricans are not immigrants, but United States citizens. Puerto Rico is a US territory. Among other things, this means that Puerto Ricans may pass freely between Philadelphia and Puerto Rico.

Philadelphia's Puerto Rican population is quite large. Still, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino people make some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia, and at times could use some support. One organization that supports this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso offers a broad range of services including the first Latina domestic violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case management services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise Latino) community in part because of partnerships with government agencies, health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and other community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is another organization that supports the Latino community in Philadelphia. This group has been serving the multicultural population of Philadelphia since the late 1800's. It provides services such as day care, before - and after - school care, and a food share program, educational, occupational, cultural, and recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program. One organization geared towards the advancement of Puerto Rican Philadelphians is Asociación de Puertorriqueños en Marcha. This group offers services in a number of areas including education, health, employment, housing, recreation, job training, and children's welfare programs.

To find out more about Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia and the programs that support them, please visit:

Congreso
http://www.congreso.net/
Congreso's website includes information on the programs that it provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the community it serves, and its funders.

Concilio
http://elconcilio.net/
Concilio is the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations. It is the main organization behind Philadelphia's Puerto Rican festival. Their website also contains information on community services and links to other community organizations.

Latino Philadelphia
http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=103
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.

The World Fact Book
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information about all of the countries in the world such as: history, geography, information about its citizens, government, economy, transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this country, pull it down from the menu.

Centro Nueva Creación
http://www.centronueva.org/
Centro Nueva Creación's website has information on its programs, has relevant news, the organization's history, and more.

"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
http://www.nahj.org/resourceguide/chapter_3.html
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. This section of the website contains information on various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved to the US.