It began just nine months after World War II ended. In 1946, 3.4 million babies were born—a 20% jump from the year before. For nearly two decades, the "cry of the baby" was heard across the land, fueled by a booming postwar economy and a newfound confidence that families could support more children.
: Families migrated from cities to new suburban developments, sparking a building boom for housing and shopping malls. A Childhood of Freedom baby-boom generation
Because there were so many of them, the world had to physically change: It began just nine months after World War II ended
: Enrollment nearly doubled, leading to "teaching in shifts" and classes held in barber shops or portable units to handle the overcrowding. : Families migrated from cities to new suburban
The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom | by Frank Diana
Growing up in the 1950s and early '60s meant a life lived largely outdoors.