Its known to suffer strong gentrification from the increasing Mainland US population moving to the Municipality (Puerto Ricans & Non-Hispanic combined) leading to higher rent prices and higher prices in other commodities such as groceries when compared to neighboring cities.

[3] Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and became a territory of the United States.

In 1899, the United States Department of War conducted a census of Puerto Rico finding that the population of Rincón was 6,641.

The municipal buildings, main central square and large Catholic church are located in a downtown barrio referred to as "el pueblo".

The construction of BONUS started in 1960, and the reactor had its first controlled nuclear chain reaction on April 13, 1964, achieving full power operation in September 1965.

Operation of the BONUS reactor was terminated in June 1968 because of technical difficulties and the ensuing need for high-cost modifications.

[21] General decontamination of the reactor was performed with the goal of meeting unrestricted use criteria in all accessible areas of the building.

Residual radioactive materials remaining in the structure were isolated or shielded to protect site visitors and workers.

During subsequent years, more radioactive contamination was identified in portions of the building, and additional clean-up and shielding activities were conducted in the 1990s and early 2000s.

[1] As of 2020, 5.1% of the population is of non-Hispanic origin, making Rincón the least Hispanic municipality on the Puerto Rican mainland.

[1] "Art Walk", a community initiative to build the social fabric of Rincón, takes places every Thursday.

Rincón rose to international recognition through the 1968 World Surfing Championship, which was held at Domes and Maria's Beaches.

Dubbed the "Caribbean's Hawaii," winter waves here can approach 25–30 feet (6.7m) in height, sometimes equaling the force of the surf on Oahu's north shore.

In 2024, Jeison Rosa and Karen Michelle Román Rodríguez, both from the New Progressive Party (PNP), were elected as District Senators.

[34] Created and designed by Angel L. Cardona Moreno, the shield consists of a green and orange Spanish blazon, with a yellow band inclined left to right.