Vintage photos that show what life was like in America's first suburb in the '50s

Frank OlitoSep 14, 2020, 22:00 IST

A family in front of their new home in Levittown.Bernard Hoffman/ Getty

As a result of the GI Bill that guaranteed home loans, the post-war Baby Boom, and low housing prices, families in the 1950s started to move to the suburbs.
Levittown in Long Island, New York, is widely recognized as the first modern American suburb. It had swimming pools, shopping centers, and backyards.
Each home looked the same in Levittown — they were all built in the Cape Cod-style and featured the same floorplan. They each cost around $7,000.

As World War II came to an end, families looked for ways to start over. One way they did that was by moving out of the cities and into newly developed suburban communities.

In fact, the suburbs expanded by 47% during the 1950s.

Levittown in Long Island, New York, was one of the first to introduce the idea of a pre-planned, mass-produced uniform suburban community. Families started moving there on October 1, 1947.

Here's what it was like to live in that neighborhood in the 1950s.

Before the 1950s, people mostly lived in cities to be close to factory jobs.

A family outside an urban apartment building in the '40s. Historical/ Getty

Everything changed in the 1950s when soldiers returned from World War II, sparking the great migration to the suburbs.

A soldier returns from war. Irving Haberman/ IH Images/ Getty

The GI Bill made it easier to afford a new home, prompting this transition from urban to suburban.

A family moving into suburban Levittown. Newsday LLC/ Getty

The GI Bill made it easier to afford a new home, prompting this transition from urban to suburban.

A family moving into suburban Levittown. Newsday LLC/ Getty

The Baby Boom started at the same time, causing many families to outgrow their city apartments.

A couple with their children in front of their new home in Levittown. Joseph Scherschel/ Getty

In response to this growing need for space, suburban communities popped up at faster rates in the '50s.

An aerial view of a suburban community. Hulton Archive/ Getty

Levittown in Long Island, New York, is widely recognized as the first modern American suburb.

Levittown in the 1950s. Tony Linck/ Getty

The community grew fast. In fact, a house was built every 16 minutes in Levittown.

Building Levittown. Tony Linck/ Getty

People flocked to home sale events to get themselves a slice of suburbia.

A home sale in Levittown. Al Fenn/ Getty

Every house in Levittown was identical. The Levitt family called it "the best house in the US."

Levittown in the 1950s. Joseph Scherschel/ Getty

The picturesque community was lined with greenery. In fact, a tree was planted every 28 feet in Levittown.

Levittown in the 1950s. Newsday LLC/ Getty

Outdoor spaces, like backyards, became focal points.

Levittown residents hanging out on their sidewalk. Robert W. Kelley/ Getty

Inside each home, there were four rooms, a built-in TV set, and Hi-Fi for the radio.

The interior of a Levittown home. Joseph Scherschel/ Getty

The community prided itself on neighborhood amenities, like this mobile public library.

A Levittown mobile library. Joseph Scherschel / Getty

Levittown also had seven shopping centers within its community.

One of the Levittown shopping centers. Underwood Archives/ Getty

The suburbs were also known for being a safe alternative to the gritty city streets.

A schoolyard in Levittown filled with bikes. Joseph Scherschel/ Getty

Levittown was also known as a cheaper option compared to an apartment in the city.

A family in front of their new home in Levittown. Bernard Hoffman/ Getty

With all the amenities and perks, the community grew rapidly. In less than a decade, there were 82,000 people living in Levittown.

An aerial view of Levittown in the 1950s. Bettmann/ Getty

As a result, Levittown became a model for other suburban communities in the US during the 1950s.

A suburban community in the 1950s. Joseph Scherschel/ Getty

Although suburban communities boomed in the '50s, the shift was reserved for white Americans.

A white family in Levittown in 1957. Joseph Scherschel/ Getty

During a typical day, the streets of Levittown were filled with women, as the men were mostly off working in the city.

Women in Levittown in the 1950s. Bettmann/ Getty

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Vintage photos that show what life was like in America's first suburb in the '50s

Before the 1950s, people mostly lived in cities to be close to factory jobs.

Everything changed in the 1950s when soldiers returned from World War II, sparking the great migration to the suburbs.

The GI Bill made it easier to afford a new home, prompting this transition from urban to suburban.

The GI Bill made it easier to afford a new home, prompting this transition from urban to suburban.

The Baby Boom started at the same time, causing many families to outgrow their city apartments.

In response to this growing need for space, suburban communities popped up at faster rates in the '50s.

Levittown in Long Island, New York, is widely recognized as the first modern American suburb.

The community grew fast. In fact, a house was built every 16 minutes in Levittown.

People flocked to home sale events to get themselves a slice of suburbia.

Every house in Levittown was identical. The Levitt family called it "the best house in the US."

The picturesque community was lined with greenery. In fact, a tree was planted every 28 feet in Levittown.

Outdoor spaces, like backyards, became focal points.

Inside each home, there were four rooms, a built-in TV set, and Hi-Fi for the radio.

The community prided itself on neighborhood amenities, like this mobile public library.

Levittown also had seven shopping centers within its community.

The suburbs were also known for being a safe alternative to the gritty city streets.

Levittown was also known as a cheaper option compared to an apartment in the city.

With all the amenities and perks, the community grew rapidly. In less than a decade, there were 82,000 people living in Levittown.

As a result, Levittown became a model for other suburban communities in the US during the 1950s.

Although suburban communities boomed in the '50s, the shift was reserved for white Americans.

During a typical day, the streets of Levittown were filled with women, as the men were mostly off working in the city.