| Next |
1920-1950
The structural changes that were made in the 1910s and 1920s by the US government had their largest effect on city structure between 1920 and 1950. To the south and east of Rio Piedras, 'picture window' suburbs of single-story residences started to spread across the coastal plain.
The three communities of San Juan, Rio Piedras, and Santurce all grew at differed rates during this period, with Rio Piedras' population quadrupling from 1940-1960, Santurce quadrupling from 1900-1940, and San Juan experiencing the slowest growth rate, with a double in population between 1900 and 1950.
This period was also marked by additional growth in urban industry and commercial development, and the commercial core to the south of Santurce began to draw the suburban workers to the central city.
Both sprawl and barriers to transportation and growth caused the center of the city to shift from Old San Juan to the commercial core on the mainland. The land to the east of Old San Juan was built up in high-rise condos and hotels, and also serves as the center for US bureaucracy.