1946 Map of Penuelas

About this map

The Cordillera Central dominates this mid-1940s landscape, where steep mountain terrain meets the coastal agricultural valleys of southern Puerto Rico. Central to the era's infrastructure are the Salto Garzas Planta Hidroelectrica No. 1 and No. 2, marking the island's investment in hydroelectric power. The transition from industrial sugar production to varied land use is visible in the presence of Hacienda Dolores and Hacienda Burenes, while the American Railroad of P. R. skirts the southern edge near Tallaboa. The map captures a detailed social geography of the time, including specialized institutions like the Escuela Industrial de Niñas and the high-elevation Bosque Insular de Guilarte. In the valleys, established communities like Peñuelas and Seboruco are shown with their proximity to the winding Río Tallaboa, illustrating the traditional relationship between settlement and river systems.