Greenbelt, Maryland
"A utopian dream of families living in an ideal environment"
Greenbelt is a unique town in the history of the United States. It began
as an idea of Rexford Tugwell in 1933, then head of the Resettlement
Administration under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was to be a garden
city, literally surrounded by green belts. Greenbelt would be a planned
community, executed by the Federal Government, with an eye towards
providing housing efficiently and economically.
Built on a natural ridge, Greenbelt featured a combined community center
and elementary school, along with recreation facilities. The town was
structured so that pedestrians would not have to fear being struck by
cars. There were plenty of sidewalks, and several underpasses under the
main thoroughfares.
The income of the new residents ranged from 800-2000 dollars. Roughly
sixty-three percent of the original residents were Protestant, thirty
percent Catholic, and seven percent Jewish. No blacks were allowed, nor
were women to work outside of the home. Greenbelt, as a unit, valued
family and recreation. Out of necessity, it also seems to have valued
economy.
Work Consulted
Barnes, Sarah. Greenbelt: The Ideal Community. 1991.
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