Suburbanizatio Suburbanizatio n and Urban n and Urban Components Components Mr. Keller Mr. Keller APHG 2011 APHG 2011
Dec 16, 2015
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”.
John Borchert - 1967John Borchert - 1967
Recognized 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)
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 ResponseResponse
Urban 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)
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 phenomenon in the late-twentieth century. century.
Critical elementsCritical elements Social stratificationSocial stratification Long history dating from railroad and Long history dating from railroad and
streetcar suburbsstreetcar suburbs 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
illio
ns o
f people
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
central cities
suburbs
nonmetro
Pop. in Cities, Suburbs, and Nonmetro Areas1950 to 2000
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.
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.
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 Freeways and transport corridors
increased accessibility of the suburbs. (Co-increased accessibility of the suburbs. (Co-Op City)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 – 1950s
http://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?
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 Housing was produced by large developers on large tracts of cheap land. 70% of new on large tracts of cheap land. 70% of new homes were constructed by 10% of builders.homes 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.
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.
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 F
ert
ility
Rate
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?
MegalopolisMegalopolis
Fig. 13-4: The Boston-Washington corridor extends over 700 km and contains about one-quarter of U.S. population.