Condado (Santurce) Facts for Kids

"El Condado" redirects here. For the parish in Laviana, Asturias, Spain, see El Condado (Laviana).

Quick facts for kids Condado
Subbarrio
Arial view of Condado and Condado Beach; and Skyline views of Condado
Locator map of Condado within the barrio of Santurce
Commonwealth	Puerto Rico
Municipality	San Juan
Barrio	Santurce
Area
• Total	.79 sq mi (2.0 km²)
• Land	.48 sq mi (1.2 km²)
• Water	.31 sq mi (0.8 km²)
Elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	4,908
• Density	15,832.3/sq mi (6,112.9/km²)
	Source: 2010 Census
Time zone	UTC−4 (AST)

Condado is a beautiful, fancy neighborhood right by the ocean in Santurce. It's known for its tree-lined streets and is a great place to walk around. Condado is one of the many smaller areas that make up Santurce, a bigger part of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Exploring the Condado Neighborhood
- Where is Condado Located?
- Condado's History in the 20th Century
Who Lives in Condado?
- Condado Today: The 21st Century
- Getting Around Condado
Images for kids
See also

Exploring the Condado Neighborhood

Condado is a very popular and upscale area located right on the beach. It sits to the east of the historic Old San Juan area. Condado covers about 203 acres of land.

Where is Condado Located?

The eastern edge of Condado is marked by De Diego Avenue. To the south, you'll find streets like Wilson Street and the Condado Lagoon. The Dos Hermanos Bridge is at the western end. This bridge connects Condado to Old San Juan. To the north, you'll find the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. This area is full of hotels, fun nightclubs, casinos, shops, and restaurants. Condado is one of the main places tourists love to visit in Puerto Rico.

In recent years, Condado has become known as a place where wealthy people live. Properties here are hard to find and very expensive. Some people even call it the "Manhattan of Puerto Rico" because homes can cost millions of dollars. It's one of the most desired places to live on the island.

Condado's History in the 20th Century

Cornelius Vanderbilt, a famous railroad businessman.

Condado started to develop in 1908. Two American businessmen, Hernan and Sosthenes (known as the Behn Brothers), helped it grow. It became a neighborhood where people could live and easily travel to the main city center of Old San Juan by streetcar. The area grew quickly with a planned street layout.

Condado saw a big economic boom in the early 1900s. Many of the richest families built their homes here. For example, the Vanderbilts built a summer home in 1919. Today, this home is a fancy hotel called the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. The Behn Brothers also built their home in Condado. The Dos Hermanos Bridge (which means "Two Brothers Bridge") is named after them. They were important because they started Puerto Rico Telephone and a new electric tramway line that connected Condado to Old San Juan.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Condado boomed again. Puerto Rico was growing fast, and Condado became a popular spot for tourists. Big hotels like the Caribe Hilton Hotel and La Concha Resort were built with government support. A convention center was also built for events. Many families started moving into new high-rise apartment buildings. Ashford Avenue, a main street in Condado, was named after Dr. Bailey Ashford, another well-known resident.

Who Lives in Condado?

In 2010, Condado had about 4,908 people living there. This means it's a very busy area, with many people living close together.

Condado Today: The 21st Century

The skyline of Condado in 2008.

Condado looks very different now compared to 100 years ago. Some of the old, luxurious homes are still there, nestled between tall apartment buildings. Many of these old homes have been turned into small inns, shops, museums, or restaurants. Dr. Bailey Ashford's home has been updated, and there are plans to make it a museum.

Condado's main public park is called La Ventana al Mar. This park was designed by architect Andrés Mignucci. It is located between two famous hotels: the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel (built in 1919) and the La Concha Hotel (built in 1957).

One of the first schools built by the United States in Puerto Rico is located in Condado. In November 2020, it was recognized as a historic site by the Puerto Rico Planning Board.

Getting Around Condado

You can get around Condado using public buses. The Puerto Rico Metropolitan Bus Authority has two bus routes, T21 and D53, that serve the area.