Petaling Jaya, Commercial metropolis in Selangor, Malaysia
Petaling Jaya is a large city in Petaling District within the Malaysian state of Selangor, located immediately west of Kuala Lumpur, with which it has merged into a continuous built-up area. The city is divided into numerous sections with distinct names, each containing residential neighborhoods, commercial zones, and public facilities.
The shift from rubber plantations to an urban structure started in 1952 when the first 800 houses were built in what is now Old Town to reduce overcrowding in the capital. Over the following decades, development expanded westward and southward, with new sections emerging in the 1970s and 1980s.
The name comes from the Petaling River, which flows through the region and refers to the traditional washing of tin ore in its waters. Today, shopping malls such as One Utama and The Curve shape daily life, while street markets in older quarters offer local cuisine and fresh produce.
The different sections are linked by a network of roads, highways, and public transport, with travel time varying according to the time of day and chosen route. Major shopping malls and train stations offer parking facilities, while many residential areas have their own local shops and restaurants.
Many street names originally followed a simple numbering scheme that was later replaced by names commemorating individuals and historical events. Sections such as SS2 and Section 17 still carry their original alphanumeric designations, which serve as navigation aids within the urban layout.
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