The rise of suburbia in the United States began in the middle of the last century because of a variety of socio-economic factors, technological developments and an ever-growing population.
The first suburbs appeared relatively early in America’s history, with a few developing in the early part of the 19th century. It wasn’t, however, until the arrival of rail networks nearly a century later that they became a practical place for people to live. From the late part of the 19th century onwards, what we would describes as suburbs started growing on the outskirts of most major cities.
The growth of suburbia large scale however, began in the 1950s, and was caused by a number of things, including a population spurt (the baby boom that followed the second world war), the rise of the automobile, the growth of the middle class, and, unfortunately, racial issues. The government of the time also played a crucial role in encouraging mass migrations.
From 1946 there was a rapid increase in young families. Returning GIs got married, and had babies, at younger ages and in greater numbers than the generation before them. The appeal of spacious, low cost housing just outside the city was tremendous. The government of the time was anxious to encourage this and provided low cost mortgages and subsidised development.
Inextricably linked to the rise of suburbia was the rise of the automobile. Cars had been around for decades but now were being mass produced so efficiently they became an affordable option for the middle and lower middles classes. They enabled people to living in suburban developments and commute easily to work in the inner city. Suburbs were designed with the automobile in mind, and even today it is extremely difficult to live in the suburbs without driving.
Playing a less obvious but also playing a key part in suburban growth was the image of suburban homes being a way for normal people to get a dream lifestyle. This was certainly encouraged by the government, but depictions of suburban living as a very positive thing were found throughout popular culture.
The image of suburbia might be very different now, with people viewing it in a variety of less than positive ways, ranging from bleak and soulless, to conformist and stifling. Back in the 1950s it was seen, with fairly good reason, as a way for young families to move up in the world and enjoy a far greater standard of living.
The downside to the rapid rise of suburbia became evident not long afterwards. The white flight from the inner city led to a segregated society of a white middle class suburbia with the inner cities mainly populated by minorities. Rather than dissipating, the racial prejudices that partly caused the segregation in the first place were if anything exacerbated. The result was an ‘us and them’ mentality that continues to this day.
Finally, over sixty years later, this issue may be lessening, although it is far from gone yet. However we are becoming aware of the other downsides. Class may replace race as the major inequality in the future. Income segregation results in less and less social mobility. Children who attend poor schools in high crime areas are highly unlikely to obtain the jobs or qualifications that would allow them to leave their background behind.
Of immediate concern is of course the damage to the environment that comes from automobile dependence. Most people living in modern day suburbia have no choice, they have to drive. The resultant carbon and other emissions contribute to air pollution, acidification of the oceans, and climate change. The need for constant supplies of fossil fuels leads to an oil dependent economy.
Suburbia may have seemed like the American Dream to begin with, then looked more and more like the American Nightmare. In fact it is neither, and there are ways to mitigate the downsides, and make the most of the positives. Changes in design, reducing the need for cars, and creating more culturally and economically diverse communities are already happening.
