 In New York City, which has the largest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the United States, they began running for elective office in the 1920s, electing one of their own to the New York State Assembly for the first time in 1937.Important Puerto Rican institutions have emerged from this long history.ASPIRA was established in New York City in 1961 and is now one of the largest national Latino nonprofit organizations in the United States.