Suburbanization Suburbanization and Urban and Urban

Components Components Mr. KellerMr. Keller

APHG 2011APHG 2011

Urban ComponentsUrban Components-CBD (central business district): location of skyscrapers and companies (would always be the center of the 3 urban models, many people commute, few actually live there)

-Central city: urban area that is not suburban; generally the older or original city surrounded by the newer suburbs.

-Inner city: urban area around the CBD; typically poorer and more run down in the US and other long-developed states; typically more rich upscale in less-developed states.

-Ghetto: inner cities that become dilapidated centers of poverty, as affluent whites move out of the suburbs (white flight) and immigrants and poorer people vie for scarce jobs and resources.-

Urban ComponentsUrban Components

Suburb: residential communities, located outside of city centers; usually homogeneous in terms of population and ethnicity.

-Exurb: ring of prosperous communities beyond the suburbs that are commuter towns for an urban area; began to emerge in the 1970s when rampant crime and urban decay (when part of a city falls into disrepair - due to deindustrialization, depopulation, high unemployment, ...) in U.S. cities were the primary push factors; more recently since house prices have skyrocketed, middle-class people who want a large yard or farm are pushed beyond suburban counties and into “exurbs”.

Urban Geography – Urban Systems

John Borchert - 1967John Borchert - 1967Recognized four epochs in the evolution of the American metropolis based on the impact of transportation & communication:

•    1) Sail-Wagon Epoch (1790-1830) – associated with low technology•    2) Iron Horse Epoch (1830-70); steam-powered locomotive & spreading rails•    3) Steel-Rail Epoch (1870-1920); full impact of Ind. Rev. (steel), hinterlands expand•    4) Auto-Air-Amenity Epoch (1920-70); gas-powered internal combustion engine•    High Technology Epoch (1970-today ); expansion of service & information industries (not part of Borchert’s model)

U.S. Urban Growth Stages

Changes in Cities in the U.S. Changes in Cities in the U.S. U.S. population has been moving out of the city centers U.S. population has been moving out of the city centers

to the suburbsto the suburbs: : suburbanization and counterurbanizationsuburbanization and counterurbanization

U.S. intraregional migration during 1990s.

Developed Countries: suburbanization wealthy move to suburbs automobiles and roads; ‘American Dream’ better services wealthy move to suburbs

counterurbanizationidyllic settingscost of land for retirementslow pace, yet high tech connections to services and markets

Inner Cities – White FlightInner Cities – White Flight• Inner-city physical problems

– Deterioration process– Urban renewal

• Inner-city social problems– Underclass– Culture of poverty– Blockbusting– Redlining

Urban Sprawl and Urban Sprawl and ResponseResponseUrban sprawl: process of expansive suburban development over large areas; the automobile provides the primary source of transportation.

Smart Growth and New Urbanism: urban design originating in the US during the 1980s to work against sprawl; characterized by organized urban planning, suburban infill (filling in unused space), and are designed to be walkable. (Celebration, Florida)

http://www.treehugger.com/urban-sprawl-america.jpg

www.cartoonstock.com/directory/u/urban_sprawl.asp

onlinegeography.wikispaces.com/S+-+Urban+Sprawl

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 QuestionSuburbanization Question

Definition Definition Movement of upper and middle-class Movement of upper and middle-class

people from core areas to surrounding people from core areas to surrounding outskirts. The process began in the mid-outskirts. The process began in the mid-nineteenth century but became a mass nineteenth century but became a mass phenomenon in the late-twentieth century. phenomenon in the late-twentieth century.

Critical elementsCritical elements Social stratificationSocial stratification Long history dating from railroad and streetcar Long history dating from railroad and streetcar

suburbssuburbs Phenomenon of the masses since 1950s Phenomenon of the masses since 1950s

Why is this a significant Why is this a significant geographic question?geographic question?

Post-War suburbanization Post-War suburbanization represents a huge change in the represents a huge change in the distribution of the nation’s distribution of the nation’s population. population.

The U. S. suburban population grew The U. S. suburban population grew from 26.7% in 1950 to 49.8% in from 26.7% in 1950 to 49.8% in 2000.2000.

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

years

In m

illion

s of

peo

ple

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

central cities

suburbs

nonmetro

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

Levittown, NYLevittown, NY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx6JSJ3l-qg&feature=related

Levittown, NYLevittown, NY 30 houses a day & still couldn’t 30 houses a day & still couldn’t

keep up with demandkeep up with demand Mass production and non-union Mass production and non-union

labor usedlabor used Houses sold for $7,990 and could Houses sold for $7,990 and could

be bought with a $90 deposit and be bought with a $90 deposit and $58 monthly payment$58 monthly payment

Post WWIIPost WWII Before the war, education and Before the war, education and

home ownership were considered home ownership were considered unattainable for many average unattainable for many average AmericansAmericans

GI Bill – 2.4 million home loans GI Bill – 2.4 million home loans backed by the Veterans backed by the Veterans AdministrationAdministration

Why is this a significant Why is this a significant geographic question?geographic question?

Post-War suburbanization Post-War suburbanization represents a huge change in the represents a huge change in the distribution of the nation’s distribution of the nation’s population. population.

It has important consequences for It has important consequences for how society uses its land resource. how society uses its land resource.

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

Suburbanization as a mass Suburbanization as a mass phenomenon after 1950.phenomenon after 1950.

Phoenix grew by 1 million Phoenix grew by 1 million between 1990 and 2000. between 1990 and 2000.

Why is this a significant Why is this a significant geographic question?geographic question?

Post-War suburbanization represents Post-War suburbanization represents a huge change in the distribution of a huge change in the distribution of the nation’s population. the nation’s population.

It has important consequences for It has important consequences for how society uses its land resource.how society uses its land resource.

It is the physical manifestation of It is the physical manifestation of changes in economy, society, and changes in economy, society, and culture. culture.

TransportationTransportation Freeways and transport corridors increased Freeways and transport corridors increased

accessibility of the suburbs. (Co-Op City)accessibility of the suburbs. (Co-Op City) Critical link between transportation Critical link between transportation

technology and urban form -- 4 stages of technology and urban form -- 4 stages of urban development --urban development --(1) pedestrian and horsecar travel from 1800 to 1890, (2) electric streetcars between 1890 and 1920, (3) recreational automobiles between 1920 and 1950, and (4) freeways from 1950 to present.

Car Culture – 1950sCar Culture – 1950shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWsxKAS4CfQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvrrMZvoHwk&feature=related

•Diners, Motels and drag races •The Impact of the intestate?

57’ Chevy BelAir 57’ Chevy BelAir

http://www.classiccarcenter.net/images/customers/1957Chevy02.JPG

4 stages of urban 4 stages of urban transportation transportation developmentdevelopment

Suburbs evolved from “sub” “urbs” Suburbs evolved from “sub” “urbs” to freestanding, self-sufficient to freestanding, self-sufficient entities.entities.Joel Garreau – Edge CitiesJoel Garreau – Edge Cities

Mass production of Mass production of housing- housing supply housing- housing supply issuesissues

Housing was produced by large developers on Housing was produced by large developers on large tracts of cheap land. 70% of new homes large tracts of cheap land. 70% of new homes were constructed by 10% of builders.were constructed by 10% of builders.

Mass produced styles made housing cheaper Mass produced styles made housing cheaper and more affordable.and more affordable.

Post-war mortgage programs. FHA and VA Post-war mortgage programs. FHA and VA loans guaranteed creditors security on their loans guaranteed creditors security on their loans by reducing down payments and loans by reducing down payments and extending repayment period. extending repayment period.

Homeownership increased from 43.6% in Homeownership increased from 43.6% in 1940 to 65.5% in 2000. 1940 to 65.5% in 2000.

American DreamAmerican Dream

Landscape preferences – Landscape preferences – housing demand issueshousing demand issues

Jeffersonian democracy fostered a powerful rural Jeffersonian democracy fostered a powerful rural ideal. Cities were a necessary evil. Urge to make ideal. Cities were a necessary evil. Urge to make them as non-city-like as possible. them as non-city-like as possible.

1818thth Century French traveler, Hector St. Jean de Century French traveler, Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur summarized American cultural values:Crevecoeur summarized American cultural values: Love of newnessLove of newness Desire to be near natureDesire to be near nature Freedom to moveFreedom to move Competitive urgeCompetitive urge Sense of destinySense of destiny

Suburbs are portrayed in the 1950s media as the Suburbs are portrayed in the 1950s media as the ideal American lifestyle -- Leave it to Beaver and ideal American lifestyle -- Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best.Father Knows Best.

Leave it to Beaver (1957-Leave it to Beaver (1957-1964)1964)

The Cleavers lived in the generic suburb of Mayfield.

Father Knows Best (1954-Father Knows Best (1954-1962)1962)

The Andersons lived in Springfield.

How about other late 20How about other late 20thth, early , early 2121stst century TV shows? century TV shows?

Friends – New York CityFriends – New York City Seinfeld – New York CitySeinfeld – New York City South Park – DenverSouth Park – Denver Gilmore Girls, Everwood – mythical Gilmore Girls, Everwood – mythical

small town idealsmall town ideal Simpsons – SpringfieldSimpsons – Springfield Smallville – the middle of nowhere? Smallville – the middle of nowhere?

Kansas Kansas

Social and demographic Social and demographic trendstrends

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

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

extended family as the ideal.extended family as the ideal. Prevailing model of male breadwinner Prevailing model of male breadwinner

and women as homemakers. Suburban and women as homemakers. Suburban location gave them home, garden, and location gave them home, garden, and automobile – cult of domesticity.automobile – cult of domesticity.

Fertility peaks at 3.77 in Fertility peaks at 3.77 in 1957.1957.

19401945

19501955

19601965

19701975

19801985

19901995

2000

Year

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Tota

l Fer

tility

Rat

e

TFR

US Total Fertility Rate1940-2000

Married women as Married women as homemakers in the 1950s.homemakers in the 1950s.

19401944

19471950

19551960

19651970

19751980

19851990

1995

year

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Per

cent Married Women

Percent of Married Women in Labor Force

Problems of SuburbsProblems of Suburbs The peripheral modelThe peripheral model

Density gradientDensity gradient Cost of suburban sprawlCost of suburban sprawl Suburban segregationSuburban segregation

Transportation and suburbanizationTransportation and suburbanization Motor vehiclesMotor vehicles Public transportationPublic transportation

Local government fragmentationLocal government fragmentation Metropolitan governmentMetropolitan government Growing smartGrowing smart

ConclusionsConclusions Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S.

became a suburban nation. 50% became a suburban nation. 50% of population lives in suburbs.of population lives in suburbs.

Growth of suburbs reveals societal Growth of suburbs reveals societal forces – transportation technology, forces – transportation technology, residential preferences, housing residential preferences, housing policy, and demographic change. policy, and demographic change.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions What are the consequences of mass What are the consequences of mass

suburbanization for N. American society?suburbanization for N. American society? Plight of central citiesPlight of central cities Urban sprawlUrban sprawl Social fragmentationSocial fragmentation Local, state, and national politicsLocal, state, and national politics

Will the trend toward suburbanization Will the trend toward suburbanization continue? Think about the forces that continue? Think about the forces that created mass suburbanization. Will they created mass suburbanization. Will they continue?continue?

US Megapolitan AreasUS Megapolitan Areas

MegalopolisMegalopolis

Fig. 13-4: The Boston-Washington corridor extends over 700 km and contains about one-quarter of U.S. population.

Megalopolis/ConurbationIllustrates the difference between strict city proper definitions and broader urban agglomerations.

To define urbanized areas, the U.S. Census Bureau uses the term Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) or Consolidated MSA (CMSA) if two of them overlap.