Suburbanization
Definition
Suburbanization is the process by which populations move from urban areas to suburban areas—residential communities located outside of city centers.
Analogy
Picture suburbanization as an overflowing cup of water (the city), with people (water droplets) spilling over into surrounding saucers (suburbs).
Related terms
Urban Sprawl: This term describes uncontrolled expansion of urban areas. It’s like spreading out cookie dough too thin—it covers more area but may lack depth or quality.
Levittown: Named after its builder William Levitt, Levittowns were planned suburban communities built in the post-WWII era for returning veterans. Think of them as the early versions of cookie-cutter housing developments.
White Flight: This term refers to the migration of white populations from urban centers to suburban areas, often associated with racial tension. Imagine a flock of birds (white population) flying away from a scarecrow (racial tension) in a field (urban center).
"Suburbanization" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (1)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (3)
- Which of the following best characterizes the environmental impact of suburbanization in the post-World War II era?
- What factor led to widespread suburbanization in post-WWII America?
- What was a principal effect of suburbanization during Postwar era?
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