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Amazing Historical Photos Of Puerto Rico From 1930s and 1940s That Depict Everyday Life

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Puerto Rico is a self-governing island located in the northeast Caribbean Sea. It is primarily composed of mountainous and hilly terrain, and steep slopes cover one-fourth of the island. Christopher Columbus first arrived in this area in 1493, and he named the island San Juan Bautista, in honor of St John the Baptist. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Spanish people began to colonize the island. In 1952, Puerto Rico became a self-governing territory, and the U.S. granted Puerto Ricans the right to elect their own governor democratically. During the 1950s and 1960s, the island became industrialized, and the economy was shifted from agriculture to manufacturing.

Here below are some stunning historical photos of Puerto Rico from 1930s and 1940s show street scenes, landmarks and everyday life of people.

#1 Family of a FSA borrower, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Family of a FSA borrower, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, December 1941

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#2 Train loaded with cane on a sugar plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Train loaded with cane on a sugar plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

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#3 One of the mills in the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company plant, Ensenada, Puerto Rico, January 1942

One of the mills in the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company plant, Ensenada, Puerto Rico, January 1942

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#4 Proprietor of a small general store, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Proprietor of a small general store, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, December 1941

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#5 Women workers sewing dress in a factory, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Women workers sewing dress in a factory, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

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#6 Women in the needlework factory, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Women in the needlework factory, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

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#9 A worker making cigars in a small cigar factory, Yauco, Puerto Rico, January 1942

A worker making cigars in a small cigar factory, Yauco, Puerto Rico, January 1942

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#10 Native sailboats, San Juan, Puerto Rico circa 1906

Native sailboats, San Juan, Puerto Rico circa 1906

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#11 Calle de San Francisco, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1906

Calle de San Francisco, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1906

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#12 Interior of workers’ shack, Porta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Interior of workers' shack, Porta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 1938

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#13 Cultivating tobacco at the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration experimental area, vicinity of Cayey, December 1941

Cultivating tobacco at the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration experimental area, vicinity of Cayey, December 1941

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#14 Agricultural workers on a sugar plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Agricultural workers on a sugar plantation near Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

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#15 In an apothecary store, Lares, Puerto Rico, January 1942

In an apothecary store, Lares, Puerto Rico, January 1942

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#16 A boy in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, January 1942

A boy in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, January 1942

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#17 A row of station wagons or ‘publicos’ waiting for loads and passengers, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, January 1942

A row of station wagons or 'publicos' waiting for loads and passengers, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, January 1942

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#18 The beginning of the cockfight, Puerto Rico, December 1937

The beginning of the cockfight, Puerto Rico, December 1937

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#19 Funeral of a child, Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Funeral of a child, Ponce, Puerto Rico, January 1938

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#20 Bird’s eye view of San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Bird's eye view of San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

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#23 Family of a sugar worker living in one of the company houses behind the mill, Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, January 1942

Family of a sugar worker living in one of the company houses behind the mill, Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, January 1942

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#24 Priest who conducted a Mass and baptism and blessing of the houses at the tenant purchase celebration, Corozal, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Priest who conducted a Mass and baptism and blessing of the houses at the tenant purchase celebration, Corozal, Puerto Rico, December 1941

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#26 Burning a sugar cane field., Guanica, Puerto Rico, January 1942

Burning a sugar cane field., Guanica, Puerto Rico, January 1942

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#27 Apartment houses near the cathedral in old part of the city, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

Apartment houses near the cathedral in old part of the city, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 1941

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#28 Workers in a tobacco field, Puerto Rico, January 1938

Workers in a tobacco field, Puerto Rico, January 1938

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#29 Child of a Farm Security Administration rural rehabilitation borrower in front of his house in Puerto Rico, December 1941

Child of a Farm Security Administration rural rehabilitation borrower in front of his house in Puerto Rico, December 1941

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#30 Gamecocks in the training arena in Puerto Rico, December 1937

Gamecocks in the training arena in Puerto Rico, December 1937

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#31 Women in evening gowns on waterfront, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 1946

Women in evening gowns on waterfront, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 1946

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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