7/29/2019 suburb

1/24

SuburbanizationKen Keller

DHS - 2004

7/29/2019 suburb

2/24

The development of suburbs in North American

metropolitan areas has greatly accelerated since the

1950s and 1960s.How have the following

contributed to this acceleration.

(1) Transportation(2) Housing production

(3) Landscape preference

(4) Social and demographic trends

Suburbanization Question

7/29/2019 suburb

3/24

Definition

Movement of upper and middle-class peoplefrom core areas to surrounding outskirts.The process began in the mid-nineteenthcentury but became a mass phenomenon inthe late-twentieth century.

Critical elements

Social stratification Long history dating from railroad and streetcar

suburbs

Phenomenon of the masses since 1950s

7/29/2019 suburb

4/24

Why is this a significantgeographic question?

Post-War suburbanization represents ahuge change in the distribution of the

nations population.

7/29/2019 suburb

5/24

The U. S. suburban population grew from

26.7% in 1950 to 49.8% in 2000.

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

years

Inmillio

nsofpeople

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

central cities

suburbs

nonmetro

Pop. in Cities, Suburbs, and Nonmetro Areas1950 to 2000

7/29/2019 suburb

6/24

Why is this a significantgeographic question?

Post-War suburbanization represents ahuge change in the distribution of the

nations population. It has important consequences for how

society uses its land resource.

7/29/2019 suburb

7/24

Phoenix as a case study.Suburbanization is a land-hungry

process.

7/29/2019 suburb

8/24

Suburbanization as a massphenomenon after 1950.

7/29/2019 suburb

9/24

Phoenix grew by 1 millionbetween 1990 and 2000.

7/29/2019 suburb

10/24

Why is this a significantgeographic question?

Post-War suburbanization represents ahuge change in the distribution of the

nations population. It has important consequences for how

society uses its land resource.

It is the physical manifestation ofchanges in economy, society, andculture.

7/29/2019 suburb

11/24

Transportation

Freeways and transport corridors increasedaccessibility of the suburbs.

Critical link between transportationtechnology and urban form -- 4 stages ofurban development --(1) pedestrian andhorsecar travel from 1800 to 1890, (2)electric streetcars between 1890 and 1920,

(3) recreational automobiles between 1920and 1950, and (4) freeways from 1950 topresent.

7/29/2019 suburb

12/24

4 stages of urbantransportation development

7/29/2019 suburb

13/24

Suburbs evolved from sub urbs tofreestanding, self-sufficient entities.

7/29/2019 suburb

14/24

Mass production of housing-housing supply issues

Housing was produced by large developerson large tracts of cheap land. 70% of newhomes were constructed by 10% of builders.

Mass produced styles made housing cheaperand more affordable.

Post-war mortgage programs. FHA and VA

loans guaranteed creditors security on theirloans by reducing down payments andextending repayment period.

Homeownership increased from 43.6% in

1940 to 65.5% in 2000.

7/29/2019 suburb

15/24

American Dream

7/29/2019 suburb

16/24

Landscape preferenceshousing demand issues

Jeffersonian democracy fostered a powerful ruralideal. Cities were a necessary evil. Urge to makethem as non-city-like as possible.

18th Century French traveler, Hector St. Jean deCrevecoeur summarized Am. cultural values: Love of newness

Desire to be near nature

Freedom to move

Competitive urge

Sense of destiny

Suburbs are portrayed in the 1950s media as theideal American lifestyle -- Leave it to Beaver and

Father Knows Best.

7/29/2019 suburb

17/24

Leave it to Beaver (1957-1964)

The Cleavers lived in the generic suburb

of Mayfield.

7/29/2019 suburb

18/24

Father Knows Best (1954-1962)

The Andersons lived in Springfield.

7/29/2019 suburb

19/24

How about todays TV shows?

Friends New York City

Will and Grace New York City

ER Chicago

Providence Providence

Ed, Gilmore Girls, Everwood mythicalsmall town ideal

7/29/2019 suburb

20/24

Social and demographictrends

High fertility of the baby boom era raised thedemand for housing.

Large families demanded large homes. The nuclear family replaced the extended

family as the ideal.

Prevailing model of male breadwinner and

women as homemakers. Suburban locationgave them home, garden, and automobilecult of domesticity.

7/29/2019 suburb

21/24

Fertility peaks at 3.77 in 1957.

1940

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

Year

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

To

talFertilityRate

TFR

US Total Fertility Rate1940-2000

7/29/2019 suburb

22/24

Married women ashomemakers in the 1950s.

1940

1944

1947

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

year

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Percent

Married Women

Percent of Married Women in Labor Force

7/29/2019 suburb

23/24

Conclusions

Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S.became a suburban nation. 50% of

population lives in suburbs. Growth of suburbs reveals societal

forces transportation technology,

residential preferences, housing policy,and demographic change.

7/29/2019 suburb

24/24

Discussion Questions

What are the consequences of masssuburbanization for N. American society? Plight of central cities

Urban sprawl

Social fragmentation

Local, state, and national politics

Will the trend toward suburbanizationcontinue? Think about the forces thatcreated mass suburbanization. Will theycontinue?