Suburbanization Suburbanization -- AP Human -- AP Human GeographyGeography

Patricia GoberPatricia Gober

Department of GeographyDepartment of Geography

Arizona State UniversityArizona State University

Greg Sherwin Greg Sherwin

AP Human Geography TeacherAP Human Geography Teacher

Adlai E. Stevenson High SchoolAdlai E. Stevenson High School

Definition of Definition of Suburbanization Suburbanization

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

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.

ClevelandCleveland’’s changing densitys changing density

Suburbanization = sprawlSuburbanization = sprawl

Density changes in citiesDensity changes in cities

1990s

Chicago-Realms/Edge Chicago-Realms/Edge CitiesCities

SuburbanizationSuburbanization

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

Surburbanization is a land-Surburbanization is a land-hungry process (sprawl).hungry process (sprawl).

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.

ChicagoChicago’’s Development-s Development-19001900

ChicagoChicago’’s Development-s Development-19501950

ChicagoChicago’’s Development-s Development-19981998

Changes in ChicagolandChanges in Chicagoland

Population of Chicago peaks in 1950 at Population of Chicago peaks in 1950 at 3.7 million3.7 million

1970: 48% of population lives in city; 1970: 48% of population lives in city; 60% of all available jobs 60% of all available jobs

1990: 38% of pop and 37% of jobs1990: 38% of pop and 37% of jobs Chicago left with economics, social and Chicago left with economics, social and

political problemspolitical problems Suburban service businesses have Suburban service businesses have

problems too!problems too!

Families of influence and affluence moved further and further away from city centers,leaving lower-income populations behind.

Without a healthy property tax base, city schools become underfunded. This patternfollows racial as well as economic lines.

-Erik Howenstein, Northeastern Illinois University

ChicagoChicago’’s problemss problems

Results in cities: Poverty; deterioration higher taxes Those left in city can’t afford suburbs or

kept out Blockbusting; redlining Public transportation

Why suburbs?Why suburbs?

TransportationTransportation Housing productionHousing production Landscape preferenceLandscape preference Social and demographic trendsSocial and demographic trends

TransportationTransportation Freeways and transport corridors Freeways and transport corridors

increased accessibility of the suburbs.increased accessibility of the suburbs. Federal Highway Act of 1956: one of the Federal Highway Act of 1956: one of the

most important government action in the most important government action in the 20th century20th century 32 billion and 40,000 miles across USA32 billion and 40,000 miles across USA ““The amount of concrete poured to form The amount of concrete poured to form

these roadways would build six sidewalks to these roadways would build six sidewalks to the moonthe moon”” IKE…but what was the original IKE…but what was the original intent?intent?

4 stages of urban 4 stages of urban transportation transportation developmentdevelopment

TransportationTransportation

•Freeways opened up large areas of Freeways opened up large areas of cheap land for development of low-cost cheap land for development of low-cost housing by developershousing by developers

Transportation againTransportation again

• Cars became more affordable, greater Cars became more affordable, greater availability/access…shift from war to availability/access…shift from war to peace time productionpeace time production

• 58 million cars sold in the 50s58 million cars sold in the 50s• -drive-thrus-drive-thrus• -curb-side service-curb-side service

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. (Levittowns)and more affordable. (Levittowns)

Post-war mortgage programs. FHA (1934) and Post-war mortgage programs. FHA (1934) and GI Bill of Rights loans guaranteed creditors GI Bill of Rights loans guaranteed creditors security on their loans by reducing down security on their loans by reducing down payments and extending repayment period. payments and extending repayment period.

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

Mass production of Mass production of housing housing

The moving van became the symbol of The moving van became the symbol of American mobility in the 1950sAmerican mobility in the 1950s

Affordability improved due to “methods”: prefab, assembled on site, division of labor into crews that cut labor costs, speed of production

Financing easier to obtain - quick system, plus federal guarantees

Loan programs that favored new construction not repairs/upgrades).

Landscape preferences Landscape preferences An anti-big city feeling: escape the built

environment and its density, pollution, congestion: rural idyll is the opposite

Desire for large home size - ranch style design as indicative of expansionist mood

Desire for single family (nuclear) Suburbs as seen in popular culture (e.g.

images in the media, “the American Way”) So, suburbs are portrayed in the 1950s media So, suburbs are portrayed in the 1950s media

as the ideal American lifestyle -- Leave it to as the ideal American lifestyle -- Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best.Beaver and Father Knows Best.

American DreamAmerican Dream

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.

What are the residential What are the residential preferences in todaypreferences in today’’s TV s TV shows? (Geographers can shows? (Geographers can predict the future)predict the future)

2000 shows2000 shows Friends – New York CityFriends – New York City Will and Grace – New York CityWill and Grace – New York City ER – ChicagoER – Chicago Providence – ProvidenceProvidence – Providence Ed, Gilmore Girls, Everwood – Ed, Gilmore Girls, Everwood –

mythical small town idealmythical small town ideal

TV shows todayTV shows today

Gossip Girl – N.Y. cityGossip Girl – N.Y. city Two and a Half Men –Malibu Two and a Half Men –Malibu

(Sprawl)(Sprawl) Modern Family - SuburbsModern Family - Suburbs Blue Bloods -City Blue Bloods -City

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.

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?