1953 Map of Manati

About this map

The coastal plains of northern Puerto Rico are defined here by a series of agricultural colonies and the prominent Laguna Tortuguero wetland system. In the mid-twentieth century, this landscape was a mosaic of sugar cane production and growing settlements centered around Manatí and the American Railroad corridor. The map details numerous named agricultural outposts such as Colonia Felix Cordova Dávila and Colonia Coto Norte, illustrating the rural economic structure of the era. Military and transport infrastructure is also significant, with the presence of Camp Tortuguero and the Vega Baja Airstrip near the coast. Along the Atlantic shore, features like Pta Chivato and Puerto Nuevo provide a clear view of the natural coastline before modern development, while inland, family and community landmarks such as Capilla de la Virgen del Carmen and the Escuela Alejandrina Benítez anchor the local neighborhoods.