Suburban Sprawl

Urbanization: The process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.

Gentrification: The process of renovating deteriorated urban neighborhoods through the influx of more affluent residents, which increases property values but often displaces lower-income families.

Zoning Laws: Legal regulations defining how specific geographic zones can be used - for example, whether a zone can be used for residential or commercial purposes.