What city has the most 1950's era feel? (motel, houses)

[vegaspilgrim]

What city do you think screams 1950's vintage the most? Where the majority of the city was built in the 1950s?

My vote would be Phoenix, AZ. Population of Phoenix in 1950 was 106,818. It was nothing but a desert agricultural and resort town, with an air force base or two. By 1960 the population rose to 439,170. The city continued to boom exponentially, until the present day (almost 4 million people), but the 1950s is when it really began to kick off. There are probably several hundred square miles of neighborhoods built in the post-war era here, with the ubiquitous 1 story ranch design. In certain neighborhoods since then, people have done extensive remodeling and additions to these houses. Homes that may have once been all tract homes now have a lot of individuality. A lot of the original 1950s era strip malls are still around, but the original tenants have been replaced with mom-and-pop businesses and restaurants. Some of these 1950's neighborhoods, such as Maryvale, have had a complete population shift, are now basically Mexican barrios. Others, like most of north-central Phoenix, are still predominantly white middle class areas. Phoenix might be the one city in America where 1950's era construction is actually designated as "historic." In fact, there's even a term that 1950's/60's buffs throw around here-- "midcentury modern." Think Frank Lloyd Wright, etc.

What cities would you guys vote?

[LexusNexus]

I was going to say Tucson, AZ. You may also want to look at Sunnyvale, CA. The cities near Sunnyvale are making big changes in how they look. For instance, Mountain View and Cupertino are modernizing their look. Sunnyvale is still trying hard to look as it did in the 50s.

[ajf131]

I think that a lot of things along Route 66 in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona has strong '50s characteristics to it. For actual cities, that is a tough one, I really couldn't answer that question.

[anonymous]

I would say that downtown Memphis, TN has a 1950's feel, at least at the the more touristy areas around Beale Street.

[tahiti]

Wildwood and Wildwood Crest NJ is known for its 50's motel (aka "Doo W O P") architecture (i can't type out W O P, lol). The streets are lined with these types of motels, and there's a preservation society in place to retain the look and feel..

Here's a sampling of pictures:

Gallery - Doo W O P Motels

[missymomof3]

Shively, Kentucky. Most of the nighborhoods here were built in the 50's (my house included) and most of the structures have been the same FOREVER lol

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by ajf131

I think that a lot of things along Route 66 in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona has strong '50s characteristics to it. For actual cities, that is a tough one, I really couldn't answer that question.

I agree completely. Towns such as Elk City Oklahoma, Amarillo Texas, Tucumcari and Grants New Mexico, and Williams Arizona downtowns steeped in 50s architecture.

[lunarshield]

Strongly agree with the fact that Arizona has many towns that feel just like walking into the '50s.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Harlan, Kentucky

Not only does it looks like the 50's, it also feels like the 50'S!

[Crew Chief]

My vote goes to the stretches of CA 99 (at least the parts that haven't been ruined by tract houses and latté bars...) still reminds me of the rich agricultural heritage of areas like the Central Valley.