How did Paris Grow and Change in the 1900s?

Paris is a city along the Seine River in France that has many famous landmarks. It is very rich in art and culture. I wrote this report about twenty five years ago. It's about how this famous city grew and changed over the last few thousand years, since 1900, and through both World Wars.

Paris is an old city that grew from an island in the Seine River. During the last century, it became a large city. Almost one-fifth of the nation's total population is in the Paris metropolitan area. To many visitors, the city itself is like a museum. The city has many gardens and tree lined boulevards. One third of the surface is buildings.

To get from one major city to another in France, it is usually necessary to go through Paris. Famous monuments, palaces, museums, theaters, and restaurants are found in the city. Paris has more art than Rome. The major landmarks are along the banks of the Seine River. The Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Sainte Chapelle, the Palais de Justice, and many buildings from the nineteenth century.

Paris is the center of French art, education, government, communications, banking, business, and tourist trade. It has the main rail, canal, and highway systems of France. Paris has two main airports. Le Bourget Airfield is on the North side of the city. Orly Airfield is on the South side of the city. There is also another airport. Paris is not free of city problems. It suffers from air pollution, traffic noise, and high-rise construction.

In 1911, Paris became a great idustrial center. Manufacturing, trades, and services developed on a large scale. The population reached 2,888,100. In 1914, French railways and the national highway system grew and expanded. The city reached its maximum population of the early 1900s in 1914. The population was 3,000,000.

World War I caused destruction to Paris from air raids and long range artillery. The population decreased when people left because of the war. After 1920, the suburbs of Paris began to grow, but the population within the city continued to decline. By the end of World War II, the population was 2,725,400.

In 1951, Paris celebrated its two thousand year anniversary. The last thousand years have been significant in the city's history. Offices, entertainments, and cultural establishments continued to grow within city limits. Residential and manufacturing expansion occurred in the suburbs. By 1960, Paris was overcrowded again. The population was 3,050,000.

Many famous people have lived and worked in Paris. It is full of monuments and historic sites. Parisians try to conserve every existing building and they resist change.