Puerto Rican migration began at a slow rate in the 1890s but ballooned after the Great Depression and World War II.  This “Great Migration” resulted from economic woes on the island and encouragement from the US government to immigrate.  The US initiated “Operation Bootstrap” which focused on changing the Puerto Rican economy from an agricultural one to an industrial one.  Many people were unemployed on the island and began a chain migration to New York and other cities.  

By the 1950s, the influx of immigrants from the island reinforced and expanded the Puerto Rican presence in East Harlem.  Puerto Rican immigrants were attracted to the neighborhood because of the existing Puerto Rican presence and its cheap housing.  Most immigrants worked in laboring jobs and tried to work their way out of poverty in El Barrio.  Their children were educated in the New York City Public schools and were consequently better skilled than their parents. 

Though Puerto Rican immigrants were US citizens because of the 1917 Jones Act, they did not vote in large numbers after their arrival.  There was a great deal of political apathy despite the election of Puerto Ricans to public office.  There was a sentiment in El Barrio that the elected Puerto Rican officials did not accomplish their goals once in office.  Along with elected officals and other groups, the Young Lords Party of the late 1960s and early 1970s witnessed the height of political empowerment in El Barrio.  This grassroots movement of college students and neighborhood people helped to attract attention to the health care and other needs of the community, and promoted the movement for independence on the island.

The pressing issues currently facing El Barrio are the threats of gentrification and ethnic displacement.  Following the pattern set by previous ethnic group inhabitants, Puerto Ricans who are upwardly mobile are moving out and other immigrants, along with middle class whites, are moving in. Arlene Davila, author of Barrio Dreams, believes that gentrification by middle class whites is inevitable because of the increased cost of living in New York City.  The Puerto Rican community could also possibly be replaced by a new working class immigrant group, like the Mexicans, who are a growing force in the community.

The Spanish United Methodist Church was taken over by the Young Lords in the 1970s.

El Museo Del Barrio was founded in 1969.