Christopher Columbus' first landing in 1493 occurred at the shores of the island's northwestern coast. The climate is tropical. Sugarcane was long the chief agricultural product, but livestock and dairy production have surpassed it in importance. Coffee, tobacco, and fruits are other leading crops.
Tourism is also a major source of revenue.
The Puerto Ricans are descended from Spanish colonists, with admixed aboriginal native and African strains. Spanish and English are the official languages, but Spanish is predominant. Sugar and coffee plantation culture was introduced shortly thereafter. African slaves were later brought in to replace the annihilated Arawaks as workers in a growing sugar and coffee plantation culture. The island itself was renamed Puerto Rico, taking on the name of the original northern port.