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Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s rich history has contributed to its unique cul- European immigrants. The islands’early economic diversity helped
tural and racial mix. Early Spanish settlers who came to work create an ethnic blending that is unique to Puerto Rico. The result
the gold mines often took Taino Indian women as brides. African today is a contemporary blend of many cultures — without racial
slaves were brought in by the Spanish military to help build the tension. Spanish and English are the official languages, but Span-
massive garrisons still visited by tourists today. Slave labor was also ish is predominant.
used to launch the lucrative sugar-cane industry. Coffee, tobacco
and other agricultural endeavors provided jobs for Chinese and
