THE G

ROWTH

(AND

DECLINE?)

OF

THE

SUBURBS

AP

HU

MA

N G

EO

GR

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BACKGROUND INFO

1850-1950: People leave rural areas for urban and cities such as Chicago experience rapid growth.

1950 (post-WWII): 20% of American’s live in suburbs, 40% in small towns and 40% in big cities.

2000: 50% live in suburbs, 30% in cities, 20% in small towns and rural areas.

The pattern? First the growth of cities, then the growth of suburbs, and now the decline of suburbs?

LEVELS OF URBANIZATION

City- independent, self- governing unit.Ex. Chicago

Urbanized area- central city and surrounding suburbs.

70% live in urbanized areas (30% in city, 40% in burbs)

Ex. Chicago and surrounding suburbs

Metropolitan statistical area (MSA)The area of influence of a city (functional area)

Ex. Chicagoland area, including parts of Indiana and Wisconsin.

LEVELS OF URBANIZATION

A string of MSA’s that overlap, creating one large, connected urban area.

U.S. East coast from Boston to Washington DC.

Think of cookies melting together.

MEGALOPOLIS

EDGE CITY

Concentration of business, shopping, and entertainment outside a traditional urban area in what had recently been a residential suburb or semi-rural community.

Develops on the periphery of a larger city.

SUBURBAN SPRAWL

Sprawl refers to the spread of urbanized areas, specifically the suburbs, into undeveloped rural areas.

Suburbs grew rapidly following WWII and were still growing at a rapid pace until the housing crisis of the mid-2000’s.

Now, suburban housing developments sit vacant and have been foreclosed by banks.

SPRAWL IN LAS VEGAS

FORECLOSURES

END OF THE SUBURBS?

Many experts believe that the expansion of the suburbs in the U.S. has come to an end.

Why?

Baby boomer generation getting old

People having fewer population

Cities are desirable for younger people