WHAT HAS SHAPED THE GEOGRAPHICAL LANDSCAPE OF DELAWARE AND

MARYLAND?

Delmarva’s Changing Landscape

ConditionsConditions IssuesIssues

Suburban sprawl

Loss of habitat to development

Industry crowding and polluting fertile lands

Economic and housing growth

Wildlife and natural resources preservation

Agricultural production

Past: historical overview

Key concepts

Transportation: Transportation allowed for suburbanization as it gave city residents a way to commute from the suburbs to their jobs in the city, thus permitting them the chance to live outside of the city limits.

Highways: Much suburban development is preceded by the construction of highways, allowing for businesses, neighborhoods, and strip malls to appear following and during its construction.

Suburbanization: Suburban growth is one of the factors resulting in the encroachment of agricultural landholding throughout the Delmarva region.

Key concepts continued

Dispersal: Despite the large trend towards suburbanization and development, there are regions in both Delaware and Maryland that have remained noticeably less developed than others.

Causes: The discrepancies in the development of certain regions is not only because of land fertility, but also distance from cities.

Using maps: Maps of both Delaware and Maryland illustrate the impact suburbanization has on both development and open space.

Key Concepts continued

Delaware’s program: Delaware has attempted to address the loss of open space with the implementation of the Open Space Program though it has not had much success in deciding its direction

Maryland programs: In order to control the development of open space, the Maryland state government has implemented programs such as the Program Open Space and the Smart Growth Plan.

Key Concepts continued

Impact on farmers: Suburbanization inflicts important consequences on farmers, including increased pollution, higher land prices, and even further development.

Impact on communities: Suburbanization has impacted the community in a variety of ways producing both beneficial and negative consequences.

Objective: Analyze reasons behind development in different regions

Question:How does transportation affect suburbanization?

The role of urbanization Expanding middle class Consequences

• Crowded cities• Transportation

http://www.deldot.gov/information/media_gallery/2002/85th/images/wilm_downtown_1900s.jpg

Objective: Analyze reasons behind development in different regions

Transportation and development

http://utravelpics.com/mapstates/Delaware-road-map.gif

Objective: Analyze reasons behind development in different regions

Question: Why are some regions more developed than others?

http://static.newworldencyclopedia.org

Objective: Analyze reasons behind development in different regions

http://www.umbc.edu/ges/student_projects/Ag_Atlas/pages/pdf/3/022_AGRICULTURAL_LAND_2001.pdf

Objective: Explain how development has impacted the community

Question: How does development affect the atmosphere of a community?

Objective: Discuss the programs each state has employed

How are states acting to control the loss of open space? Maryland: Legacy of Regulation

Program Open Space Environmental Precedent 1970-1992 2020 Commission 1987 Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act 1992 Smart Growth 1997

Delaware: Lukewarm Regulation Refusal before the 1960s 1961: Delaware State Planning Office Neglect: 1977-1987 Gov. Castle and Quality of Life Legislation Gov. Carper and Delawarean-conscious planning

Objective: Analyze map data to interpret changes

Maryland 1979-1997

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/education/growfromhere/LESSON2/LESSON2_1.HTM#P24

Objective: Evaluate arguments for and against development

Question: What are the benefits and drawbacks of development?

Resources

Walmart Interactive Map- http://projects.flowingdata.com/walmart/ Provides a map showing how the Walmart chain has spread to cover the

entire U.S.

Friends of Brandywine Springs- http://www.fobsde.org Shows changes of Brandywine Springs over the years

Levittown: Documents of an Ideal American Suburbhttp://tigger.uic.edu/~pbhales/Levittown/ Shows pictures of original Levittowns, from the 1950’s when suburbanization

began in full force.

DNR: Where Do We Grow From Here?http://www.dnr.state.md.us/education/growfromhere/Home.htm

Provides lesson plans for teaching about development in Maryland and different maps and other sources to enhance lessons

Suburban Sprawl in Georgia- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T2o8mRCOac Shows suburban sprawl first hand

Lesson/Activity

Role- Students will take on the role of a Developer, Farmer, Conservationist, or Politician

Audience- The City Council Board

Format- Propose your argument to the council in a debate

Topic- Decide whether to preserve the open space next to the park as a wildlife habitat or develop it into a Wal-Mart Superstore

Connections

To prior units: Manifest Destiny The 1950s: Levittowns and suburbanization The 1970s: environmentalism

RegionallyNationallyGlobally

Importance in a U.S. History course

Connections to Students

Students from MD and DE will be aware of differences between regions.

Many students live in suburbs and may have parents that commute to cities.

Changes in the community are happening every day and students have probably experienced development first hand.

Importance for Students

Students and their generation will have to deal with the issue of losing open space and other environmental problems.

Development and programs to control development can affect where students live and their daily lives.