Suburbanization

Ken Keller DHS - 2004

Suburbanization Question
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) (2) (3) (4) Transportation Housing production Landscape preference Social and demographic trends

Definition
Movement of upper and middle-class people from core areas to surrounding outskirts. The process began in the mid-nineteenth century but became a mass phenomenon in the late-twentieth century. Critical elements

Social stratification Long history dating from railroad and streetcar suburbs Phenomenon of the masses since 1950s

Why is this a significant geographic question?

Post-War suburbanization represents a huge change in the distribution of the nations population.

The U. S. suburban population grew from

26.7% in 1950 to 49.8% in 2000.
Pop. in Cities, Suburbs, and Nonmetro Areas
1950 to 2000
160 140

In millions of people

120 100 80 60 40 20 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

central cities suburbs nonmetro

years

Why is this a significant geographic question?

Post-War suburbanization represents a huge change in the distribution of the nations population. It has important consequences for how society uses its land resource.

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

Suburbanization as a mass phenomenon after 1950.

Phoenix grew by 1 million between 1990 and 2000.

Why is this a significant geographic question?

Post-War suburbanization represents a huge change in the distribution of the nations population. It has important consequences for how society uses its land resource. It is the physical manifestation of changes in economy, society, and culture.

Transportation
Freeways and transport corridors increased accessibility of the suburbs. Critical link between transportation technology and urban form -- 4 stages of 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.

4 stages of urban transportation development

Suburbs evolved from sub urbs to freestanding, self-sufficient entities.

Mass production of housinghousing supply issues

Housing was produced by large developers on large tracts of cheap land. 70% of new homes were constructed by 10% of builders. Mass produced styles made housing cheaper and more affordable. Post-war mortgage programs. FHA and VA loans guaranteed creditors security on their loans by reducing down payments and extending repayment period. Homeownership increased from 43.6% in 1940 to 65.5% in 2000.

American Dream

Landscape preferences housing demand issues

Jeffersonian democracy fostered a powerful rural ideal. Cities were a necessary evil. Urge to make them as non-city-like as possible. 18th Century French traveler, Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur 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 the ideal American lifestyle -- Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best.

Leave it to Beaver (19571964)

The Cleavers lived in the generic suburb of Mayfield.

Father Knows Best (19541962)

The Andersons lived in Springfield.

How about todays TV shows?

Friends New York City Will and Grace New York City ER Chicago Providence Providence Ed, Gilmore Girls, Everwood mythical small town ideal

Social and demographic trends

High fertility of the baby boom era raised the demand 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 location gave them home, garden, and automobile cult of domesticity.

Fertility peaks at 3.77 in 1957.

US Total Fertility Rate
1940-2000
4

Total Fertility Rate

3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995

TFR

Year

Married women as homemakers in the 1950s.

Percent of Married Women in Labor Force
70 60
Percent

50 40 30 20 10 1940 1947 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 1944 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 year Married Women

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.

Discussion Questions

What are the consequences of mass suburbanization for N. American society?

Plight of central cities Urban sprawl Social fragmentation Local, state, and national politics

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