Map with 51 States, 2051

Imagined by Rachel Helvering and the Shared Futures Lab

This 2051 United States Geological Survey map is the first government document that shows Puerto Rico as the 51st state. Following years of debate, voting, and Congressional administrative procedures, Puerto Rico became a state in time for citizens to vote in the 2052 presidential election.

What could the United States’ physical boundaries be in fifty years? Listen to Polk Home Executive Director Rachel Helvering imagine how America could change in the next half century.

Audio transcript

Curious about what alternatives exist for Puerto Rico today? This article on the Puerto Rico Report explains the options that exist under the U.S. Constitution.

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