Key Takeaways:
- Suburbanization refers to the creation of communities in an area surrounding a city.
- Some of the main causes of suburbanization include legislation, demand for housing, transportation and aspirational marketing.
- Suburbanization has both pros and cons. Some of the benefits include more space and community engagement. However, some of the negative impacts involve racial disparities and environmental impacts.
The suburbs have been a longstanding symbol of the traditional American dream. For many, the term “suburb” conjures thoughts of tree-lined streets with homes with manicured lawns and white picket fences. However, these seemingly perfect communities have significantly changed over the last few decades to fit the changing needs of residents.
Ahead, we discuss what suburbanization is, the driving forces behind suburbanization and how it differs from urbanization. In addition, we will explore the benefits and negative impacts of this phenomenon.
What Is Suburbanization, and What Are Its Causes?
Put simply, suburbanization is the development of communities on the fringes of a city. This phenomenon is the result of social, economic and cultural factors.
The following are some of the main causes of suburbanization that have shaped the suburban landscape in states across the U.S. Over the last few centuries, these driving forces have had a significant impact on the country’s social, economic and infrastructure development.
Legislation
In 1934, Former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) as part of his New Deal program. Today, it remains an agency within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and was a contributing factor to suburbanization. One of the main goals of the FHA was to create job opportunities in the construction industry following the Great Depression, which led to more housing. In addition, the agency was developed to standardize neighborhood design and make mortgages more affordable.
Housing Demand
According to data from the Oxford University Press, there was a shortage of 5 million homes across the U.S. in 1945. When soldiers returned home at the end of World War II, many of them were unable to find housing in overcrowded cities. To address this issue, the government contributed funds to initiatives, similar to those aforementioned, that boosted the construction of affordable homes and increased mortgage lending to families. These efforts made homeownership more accessible.
Transportation
The creation of transportation and related infrastructure has been a critical element of suburban development. As the population of cities grew, pathways for transportation were modernized to accommodate the increased number of traveling citizens. Railroads, trolleys and streetcars are all methods of transportation that evolved to serve the immediate needs of individuals in cities.
The eventual mass production of cars in the U.S. and the establishment of a network of sizable roads and highways provided families with the ability to travel from the city to the suburbs. Additionally, the development of U.S. freeways and highways in the late 1950s dramatically impacted suburbanization because it provided a way for people to easily commute to and from the city for work.
Aspirational Marketing
To inspire urban dwellers to move to the suburbs, companies and government agencies used marketing with motifs that played on the idea of the American Dream. This approach reinforced the belief that all individuals can acquire success and upward mobility in society. At the time, marketers made it seem that moving to a quieter, more “family-friendly” environment would help people lead better, happier lives. These marketing ploys played a significant role in motivating urban residents to move to the suburbs.
What Is the Difference Between Urbanization and Suburbanization?
Urbanization and suburbanization represent opposite ways in which communities develop. Urbanization describes the growing concentration of people in cities and the infrastructure implemented to accommodate them. In cities, you will see taller buildings, more people walking on sidewalks and stores that offer amenities placed closer together to make them more accessible.
On the other hand, suburbanization is the expansion of urban populations into surrounding areas. Suburban areas typically have houses with bigger green spaces, and they are often quieter compared to cities. Another way to think about it is that urban areas are typically melting pots of cultures and economic possibilities, which can be impacted by gentrification, while suburban areas are more homogenous, family-focused communities.
Benefits of the Suburbs
While suburban areas may offer some advantages, it is important to note that these benefits vary depending on individual preferences and other factors, such as infrastructure. Some of the most common include:
- More space for the money: Urban areas are more densely populated than suburbs, which means there is more competition for housing. As a result, urban housing is expensive, making it harder for residents to afford large spaces to fit their needs. In some suburbs, the cost of housing is lower compared to urban areas. For the same cost as a small apartment in a city center, a person may be able to find a house with a yard in the suburbs.
- Access to better schools: Suburban public schools are sometimes more advantageous than those in urban areas. To be clear, this is not true of every school district. However, since suburban areas are not as densely packed, schools usually have fewer students. This creates a better student-to-teacher ratio, which provides each student with more individual attention and a greater possibility of better academic success.
- Community engagement: Some suburban areas have a strong sense of community. Oftentimes, suburban communities host local events like parades, picnics and festivals, which provide residents with opportunities to gather and engage with one another.
Negative Effects of Suburbanization
There are some benefits to suburban areas, but there are drawbacks, too. Some of the negative effects of suburbanization include:
- Traffic: Over the last few decades, the population of suburban areas has increased. However, the suburban population growth and aging road infrastructure have led to significant traffic congestion. According to 2023 data from transportation analytics company INRIX, the average U.S. driver spent 51 hours in traffic congestion in 2022. This is an increase of 15 hours from 2021, which has cost each driver an estimated $869 in lost time.
- Environmental impact: Since suburban areas are more spread out than urban areas, it has led to the development of a car-dependent society. The need for people to drive or use public transportation to get anywhere contributes to air pollution. In addition, the use of home appliances is another big source of carbon emissions. Residences across suburban areas tend to release more carbon emissions than large buildings in urban areas.
- Racial disparities: Many of the policies developed by the federal government to make suburban housing more accessible were not available to Black Americans. In fact, government agencies developed discriminatory policies to intentionally prevent them from being able to buy homes in certain areas or take out a mortgage. While these practices are now outlawed, the ramifications are still felt today. These include disparities in homeownership and generational wealth.
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