1953 Map of Arecibo

About this map

The coastal city of Arecibo and its industrial surroundings are documented here just after the post-war era, showing a landscape defined by the sugar industry and rail transport. The American RR of Porto Rico serves as a primary artery, connecting the town to the massive Central Cambalache sugar mill and the Estación Cambalache rail junction. Agricultural activity is dense along the Río Grande de Arecibo and near Central Los Caños, while the inland barrios like Domingo Ruiz and Arenalejos show a developing network of rural schools and settlements. Of particular note for local historians is the depiction of the Caño Tiburones wetlands and the Arecibo Airport during its mid-century operation. The map reveals the intricate water management system of the era, including the Planta de Filtración and El Dique, which managed the flow of the Río Tanamá.