Is the Experience of Suburbia Uniquely different to Either that of City or Country life?

Through a multitude of significant changes physically, conceptually, economically, and more, the societal reformation of cities in the Progressive Era had set themselves as the foundations of American civilization. The juxtaposition between the rich and poor statuses in these urban areas show the drastic separation within developing cities. Through this division caused a wide variety of living conditions, the majority of which held the overcrowded sections of cities where the population mostly stayed while the higher end communities had more luxurious lives. Through this success of entrepreneurship and economic growth from all aspects in cities, the entire landscape, both physically through innovative architecture and the perspectives outside rural and suburban areas had on them, had transformed for the better in these areas.

The country and the city both offer a place to live, but the pollution, entertainment, crime and education; are all reasons why the country is a better place to live and raise a family. A country girl myself, I currently live in the city with my family, but I would give anything to raise my sons in the country. Although much can be learned in the city, you cannot get that small town morale here nor the manners that come from being raised in a small southern town.

Originally, suburbia was supposed to be a form of country living in proximity to the city. The first suburban communities in the U.S. were just small towns located just outside of the city center and many of them were connected to the downtown core with light rail transit ways. They were very similar to any other rural town. The little shops created a small town atmosphere and I assume that some of these suburbs even had their own municipal councils. They must have been great places to live in, but only the upper middle class could afford to live in these quaint communities.

During the “Baby Boomer” era, following WWII, America underwent one of the largest demographic shifts and population growths in history. Huge amounts of home construction on the outskirts of America’s largest cities, known as “levittowns” became the new staple of the American dream, with the houses sporting two car garages, and white picket fences. These low density, predominantly middle class residential districts, were America’s first true suburbs. These suburbs were constructed mainly in response to the new postwar consumerism that enveloped the parents of the baby boomers. With the new economy, affordable housing, and most families becoming single income dependent, families grew bigger and bigger. The 1947 passing of the bill that lead to the interstate highway system, only added fuel to the fire of suburbanization. With the new interstate highway system, more affordable and fuel efficient automobiles, and the government aiding in the financing of new suburban homes, the choice seemed elementary. All of these factors pushing to the suburban movement, only spurred the baby boomers on, and between 1940-50, there was an 835% percent increase in living births with nearly 4 million children being born every year. In 1940, 19.5% of the United States population lived in what would be considered to be suburban areas outside of large metropolitan areas, however, by 1960; the number was pushing nearly 40%. The postwar suburbanization of America during the baby boomer

Recent events that have highlighted racial tension in the United States have had even a larger number of opinions that vary regarding why the nation continues to struggle with such a challenging issue. In our text Chapter 6 titled “The City/Suburban Divide” (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015, p. 136) identifies a subject that very well may contribute to the tension. A reference to the “urban crisis” describes a landscape that is littered with “high levels of segregation, inequality and poverty, along with racial and ethnic tensions.” (Judd, et al., p. 165) Many scholars argue that the crisis was a result of the demographic changes the nation experienced following World War II as advancements in technology and infrastructure aided White Mobility. The term “White Flight” has been used to describe a massive relocation early in the twentieth century when the White Middle-Class population left the cities for suburban areas following the great migration.

This historical study will define the increased economy prosperity of the Gilded Age and the development of suburban planning in the American middle classes. During the late 19th century, the massive growth of the American economy was dominantly formed in urban industrial centers, yet the wealth generated from the upper and middle classes allowed them to move out into rural areas near major cities. More so, the development of public transportation, such a trolleys and trains, helped the middle classes to plan suburban housing to escape the overpopulation and poverty of urban areas. Economic growth inspired the idea of the “suburbs” as a convenient residential area for the middle classes that sought greater individualism, which separated them from the masses of working-class urbanites. The expansion of American suburbs defines the growth of the administrative/managerial classes that was able to utilize public transportation to shift urban residential quarters to semi-rural neighborhoods at the fringes of American cities. Also, the issue of urban pollution was major incentive for the middle classes to seek out semi-rural residencies to escape the city. In essence, a historical analysis of the increased economic prosperity of the Gilded Age and the development of suburbs for the American middle classes will be defined in this study.

Urbanization in America was driven by the massive unskilled immigrants who wanted jobs and an opportunity to start their new life in a country known to most as “The land of opportunity”. Urbanization have made many changes to America. The cities have become a place to look for opportunities and a popular place to migrate for work either for the people from the rural area or immigrants from outside the county. Which will then lead to political issues and finally the restriction of immigration itself. The process of Urbanization started in the late 1800’s triggered by the Industrial Revolution and Industrialization. Several factors played in the process one of which is the Gilded Age who had a crucial importance in relation to the shift from

Due to house shortages on the inner city, a massive pop up of suburban housing grew on the edge of the city limits. increase d vehicle production, federal highway system expansions, and veteran mortgage programs encouraged the newly created middle to buy larger family homes on the outskirts of the city.

Before diving into the relevant action steps, it is important to understand the history that led to this crisis. Thompson (2010), states that after World War II, cities were highly valued and popular until conflict, poverty, and distress led to the demise of these cities; thus increasing the value of suburban

During the 1960s baby boomers were dropping $20 billion every year in to the U.S. economy. In the 1950s and 1960s all the people in the U.S. caused the construction industry to grow as all new houses were being built.(AP Study Notes) With the economy making more money the G.I. Bill helped returning soldiers get a suburban house cheaper than they could get a house in the city. These houses were perfect for the young families and by 2000 half of America was living in the suburbs. Since the

There are many advantages and disadvantages of choosing to live in the country or to live in the city. But the advantages of living in the country definitely outweigh the advantages of living in the city.

If you had the choice to live in the city or in the country, which would you choose? Are you the hustle-bustle type who cannot seem to find enough hours in one day? Or are you someone who is much more easy-going and would rather have all of the time in the world to finish one assignment? City dwellers and country dwellers may be only a few miles apart, but what they do in their leisure time is often be completely different.

After World War II, the United States of America became a much wealthier nation. As America gained wealth and the populations in urban cities and transportation technology increased, many Americans spread out, away from the urban cities, to fulfill the common dream of having a piece of land to call their own. The landscape constructed became known as the suburbs, exclusive residential areas within commuting distance of a city. The popularity and success of the suburban landscape caused suburbs to sprawl across the United States, from the east coast to the west coast and along the borders between Canada and Mexico. By the 1990s, many suburbs surrounding major urban cities developed into being more than merely exclusive residential areas.

Everyone has a different lifestyle. People sometimes have to decide where they want to live. Some people prefer to live in the city while other people choose to live in the countryside. Their choice depends upon their bachground. City lifestyle and country lifestyle are two different types of living. Although, these two types of living differ from each other by environment, job opportunities and cost of living; they also have similar features such as daily routine, values and people live and work in these areas.

Way of life differs when people live in different places. No doubt that people lifestyle will be influenced by the society and surrounding environment where they live in. City life and countryside life are obviously very different in several ways, such as population, environment, and utilities.