Hoovervilles
During the Great Depression people who could not afford an apartment or house, which was most, created make-shift houses out of scrap material. Those who lived there called them, "Hoovervilles" after President Herbert Hoover who many blamed for the Great Depression. No two Hoovervilles were quite alike, and the camps varied in population and size. Some were as small as a few hundred people while others had thousands of inhabitants.
Hoovervilles were usually built near rivers to have access to water. Most Hoovervilles had gardens so that people could have a food source. However, Hoovervilles were typically grim and polluted. They posed health risks to people who lived there because of such unsanitary conditions. Hooverville residents had nowhere else to go so there was little that local governments or health agencies could do. Hoovervilles were, for the most part, tolerated.
Hoovervilles were usually built near rivers to have access to water. Most Hoovervilles had gardens so that people could have a food source. However, Hoovervilles were typically grim and polluted. They posed health risks to people who lived there because of such unsanitary conditions. Hooverville residents had nowhere else to go so there was little that local governments or health agencies could do. Hoovervilles were, for the most part, tolerated.
This is Central Park in New York, where one of the biggest and most populated Hooverville was located. This map is inserted to give you a perspective of how large Hoovervilles were.