These large, outlying developments, and the new freeways linking them with the center city, led to the development of the suburban shopping center or "mall," as we came to know it.

A circa-1958 view of homes in Levittown, Long Island, the first of four planned communities built by the Levitt & Sons firm. Defining the term "postwar suburb," Levittowns were built on Long Island, New York (1947-1951), Pennsylvania (1951-1958), New Jersey (1958-1963) and Puerto Rico (1963-1970).
Photo from Library of Congress

An aerial view of Levittown, Pennsylvania. Located 20 miles northeast of Center City Philadelphia, this moderne metropolis contained over 17,000 homes; all built within a period of six years.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Shauni"


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