Kenneth Jackson contends in Crabgrass Frontier, that the development of the skyscraper with the telephone and elevator emphasized the vigor of the American city in the 19th century, “but the extraordinary prosperity and vitality of most urban cores between 1890 and 1950 cannot be understood without reference to the streetcar systems.” Unlike cable cars or the railroad, streetcars highlighted the business district and connected the people to the heart of the city.
The streetcar enabled mobilization so people had more choices about where to live which triggered growth outside of the city. Jackson further illustrates this point stating, “the tracks radiated out from the center like spokes on a wheel, tying residential areas far distant to the
The streetcar enabled mobilization so people had more choices about where to live which triggered growth outside of the city. Jackson further illustrates this point stating, “the tracks radiated out from the center like spokes on a wheel, tying residential areas far distant to the