Puerto Rico Status By ljhm1974 Dec 10, 1898 Puerto Rico is acquired by the U.S. after Spanish-American War Puerto Rico Mar 2, 1917 Puerto Rico becomes a Territory of the United States Territory information Jul 25, 1952 Puerto Rico becomes a Commonwealth of the United States [Office of the Historian](https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v03/d902#:~:text=(66%20Stat.,Rico%20under%20the%20new%20constitution.) Jul 23, 1967 1967 Statehood Referendum with 39% of residents voting in favor of statehood Puerto Rico Report Wikipedia Nov 14, 1993 1993 Statehood Referendum with 46.3% voting in favor of statehood Puerto Rico Report Wikipedia Dec 13, 1998 1998 Statehood Referendum with 46.49% voting in favor of statehood Puerto Rico Report Wikipedia Period: 2004 to 2020 Economic Crisis Making Puerto Rico the 51st State: Prospects under the Biden Administration Nov 6, 2012 2012 Statehood Referendum with 61.3% voting in favor of statehood Puerto Rico Report Wikipedia Jun 11, 2017 2017 Statehood Referendum with 97.2% voting in favor of statehood Puerto Rico Report Wikipedia Sep 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria Making Puerto Rico the 51st State: Prospects under the Biden Administration Period: 2019 to 2021 Numerous Earthquakes Making Puerto Rico the 51st State: Prospects under the Biden Administration 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic Making Puerto Rico the 51st State: Prospects under the Biden Administration Nov 3, 2020 2020 Statehood Referendum with 52.5% voting in favor of statehood Puerto Rico Report Wikipedia