Where the Urban Poor Lived in 19th-Century Cities

In 19th-century industrial cities, the poor were concentrated in slums—overcrowded, unsanitary districts characterized by:

• Narrow, winding streets with little light or ventilation
• Dilapidated, multi-family tenements lacking clean water, sewage, or garbage removal
• Proximity to factories, warehouses, and rail yards, exposing residents to pollution and industrial hazards

These conditions bred cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, and high infant mortality. Reform movements later in the century pushed for building codes, sanitation systems, and housing regulations, but progress was slow and uneven.