Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Santurce
Aerial view of Santurce in 2008
Location of Santurce shown in yellow within San Juan shown in light gray
CommonwealthPuerto Rico
MunicipalitySan Juan
Area
  Total
8.70 sq mi (22.53 km2)
  Land5.24 sq mi (13.57 km2)
  Water3.46 sq mi (8.96 km2)
Elevation
49 ft (15 m)
Population
  Total
69,469
  Density13,257.4/sq mi (5,118.7/km2)
 (US Census 2020)
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
ZIP Codes
00907, 00908, 00909, 00911, 00912, 00913, 00914, 00915, 00916, 00936, 00940

Santurce (Spanish pronunciation: [sanˈtuɾse], meaning Saint George from Basque Santurtzi) is the largest and most populated barrio of the municipality of San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico. With a population of 69,469 in 2020, Santurce is also one of the most densely populated areas of the main island of Puerto Rico (13,257.4 persons per square mile (5,178.6/km2)) with a population larger than most municipalities of the territory.

Founded as San Mateo de Cangrejos in the 1760, Santurce officially became part of the municipality of San Juan in 1863. From its original settlement, its history has been marked by diverse waves of immigration, particularly of Afro-Puerto Rican, Chinese, Jewish and Dominican communities who have left a cultural imprint in the area. In the 20th century, it grew as a key economic and cultural center of San Juan with an influx of businesses, theaters, and hotels, making it one of the most significant cultural districts in Puerto Rico. Today, Santurce's neighborhoods like Condado and Miramar have become popular tourist and commercial areas.