Rainbow City

The town was originally referred to by various names like Folks River end of Manzanillo Island or Silver City. The area began to be officially called “Rainbow City” in May 1952 after a poll was conducted among its residents, who chose the name due to the new, colorfully painted houses in a recent town extension.

In the early 1950s, the town saw significant improvements, notably, a new swimming pool, bathhouse, and luncheonette were built in 1951. In 1951, construction began on an extension to increase housing, featuring duplex-type houses painted different colors. In 1953, older wooden quarters were replaced with 230 masonry quarters.

The Canal Zone, including Rainbow City, was segregated until 1954. Housing, schools, and facilities were separate for “gold” and “silver” roll employees, essentially divided by race and nationality. The “gold roll” was for white US citizens, while the “silver roll” was mostly black workers, many from the Caribbean islands.