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Bored Panda

Entertainment

Ilona Baliūnaitė

91 Photos Showing Just How Drastically Different American Cities Have Become Over Time

AL (Organization) Detroit Michigan The United States Peter Norton Colorado United States Bored Panda Los Angeles MO

“Turn and face the strange, ch-ch-changes

Pretty soon now you're gonna get older

Time may change me, but I can't trace time…”

David Bowie’s iconic song may have been about reinventing himself as an artist and the inevitability of aging, but it’s something that we can all relate to. We’re constantly evolving, and so is the world around us.

Below, you’ll find a list that Bored Panda has compiled of then-versus-now photos of famous places in the United States. As you’ll clearly see, these cities and landmarks have undergone massive changes, and it’s fascinating to examine how they’ve occurred. Enjoy scrolling through these images, and be sure to upvote the ones that inspire you to take a trip down memory lane too.

#1 University Of Montana ~150 Years Apart

#2 Before And After, Seattle Wa

#3 Hoover Dam Water Level July 1983 vs. December 2022

Compared to the rest of the world, the United States is a pretty young country. It’s only been around for 250 years, while some have been standing for over a thousand years. Because the nation is so young, it has transformed an incredible amount over the past two centuries. And the places that have changed the most drastically are the cities.

There are plenty of small towns in the U.S. where you can still find dirt roads today, but the nation’s largest cities are sprawling metropolises with seemingly endless highways and millions of homes. The most important and influential cities in the nation haven’t always been the same, though.

#4 2117 Vyse Ave, Bronx 1989 And Today

#5 Charlotte, NC: Unsure Of The Year, But I Found What Appeared To Be A Dirt Track Near My Workplace On Google Maps. I Did Some Research And Went To Check It Out

#6 The Fallen Monarch, Yosemite - 1899 And Nowadays. 'F' Troop Of The 6th Us Cavalry Pictured In The Older Photo

Back when the country was formed, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston, and Baltimore were powerhouses. And while they’re all still important today, some have become overshadowed by younger cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Houston.

And according to The Atlantic, the prominence of certain cities has changed drastically between 1978 and 2010 as well. Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland, New Orleans, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Buffalo have all dropped significantly in GDP rankings. Meanwhile, Washington, DC, Dallas, Phoenix, San Diego, Denver, Tampa, Portland, Orlando, and Sacramento made huge strides in improving their rankings.

#7 Manhattan In 1851 And Today

#8 1878 - 2022. Tetons. Not Much Has Really Changed In This Photo. But I Still Think It's Neat

#9 The Pines, Fallsburg, NY. (1950's-Semi Recent) Not Mine, I Thought It Belonged Here. I Borrowed This From Deadmotelsusa On Instagram

These changes are still happening today, though. Good Migrations notes that a handful of cities have rapidly changed even in the last five years. These include Boise City (ID), Provo (UT), Lakeland (FL), Austin (TX), and Huntsville (AL).

The transformations that these cities have experienced can be attributed to an increase in job opportunities, an increase in population, an increase in GDP, and more. Along with all of these changes often come more tourism, more cultural and arts events, and perhaps even happier populations.

#10 1091 E. 165th St, Bronx 1987 And Today

#11 My Family Farm C.1900/2000. It Was In Our Family For 125 Years. My Childhood Bedroom Window Is In The Top Center. It Was Also My Father’s And My Grandfather’s Bedroom

#12 Grand Central Terminal, NYC. 1912 Top, 2021 Bottom

One thing that makes the United States unique (for better or worse) is the highway system that the country has. And that has definitely changed an incredible amount over the past century. According to Vox, 48,000 miles of highways were added to the nation between the 1950s and 1970s. These gave rural residents access to cities and allowed people who worked in cities to move to suburbs, while still having easy access to their jobs and communities. But there were certainly downsides to these highways as well.

#13 My Mom And I Sitting On The Stoop Of The Bronx House That's Been In Our Family For 100 Years, Recreating A Photo Of My Great Aunt And Great-Great Grandmother Taken In The '40s

#14 What An Abandoned Mansion Looks Like As It Deteriorates When It's Not Cared For Between 1965 And 2012

#15 Theodore Roosevelt Would Be Proud

Peter Norton, a historian at the University of Virginia, told Vox that there was almost always discrimination involved when determining where these highways would go and whose communities would be impacted by them.

“The explanation, in almost every case, is that the relatively well-off, influential people in those cities were able to stop the urban highways that would have gone through their neighborhoods," Norton says. He cites the example of Wisconsin Avenue in DC, which was supposed to become a highway but never did because wealthy residents protested. "The destruction mostly happened in the most disenfranchised neighborhoods. It's astounding how selective it was."

#16 Tunnel Rock At Sequoia National Park, 1952 And 2020

#17 Once Upon A Time In America Iconic Scene Then And Now (1984-2019)

#18 Chicago In The 1930s vs. Today

Despite how much American cities have changed already, it’s likely that the transformations won’t stop any time soon. There is a movement for walkable cities that is gaining traction in the U.S., and hopefully, many more communities will have options available for transportation other than just cars.

In fact, a recent survey found that six out of 10 builders are now moving away from large homes and focusing their attention on creating walkable neighborhoods. 56% of Americans even say they would be willing to move and have a smaller yard if it meant they lived in a more walkable neighborhood. Times are changing!

#19 Woodstock Festival Site- 1969 / 2020

#20 Fresh Prince Basketball Court 1990 vs. Now

#21 Then And Now — Salem, Virginia

Are you enjoying these photos that tell stories about how much the United States has changed over time, pandas? Keep upvoting the ones that you find most fascinating, and let us know in the comments below how you’d like to see your own city transform. Then, you can find another article from Bored Panda featuring interesting American cities right here!