The Suburban Sprawl

By Allison Peuterbaugh

The Suburban Sprawl in the

1960’s forever influenced the way families live today.

Background Information about the Sprawl

Baby Boomers:The baby boom and suburban boom

went hand in hand.By the 1960’s, suburban baby

boomers and their parents made up one-third of the United States population.

As the baby boomers grew older they began to fight for the rights of African Americans, young people, gays, women, and lesbians.

In 1964, the “baby boom” finally tapered; there were 76.4 million “baby boomers” during that time, making up 40% of the nation’s population.

Other important Information on the 60’s

At first the suburban baby boom was encouraging women to stay at home and be a mother and wife. Then after the war, the women decided they didn’t want to stay at home. This started the feminist movement in the 60’s.

June 27, 1969, the police raided a gay bar in New York City called Stonewall Inn. The people in the bar were tired of being harassed so they fought back. People believe that this marked the beginning of the gay rights movement.

Explanation of the Suburban Sprawl

After World War 1, there was an economic boom and unprecedented population growth.

Population growth is the most significant factor effecting Urban Sprawl.

An escalation of birth and marriage rates grew after 16 million soldiers returned home. This caused a sudden need for more housing.

The trend had been to quickly develop farms and forests into housing developments or strip malls.

The soldiers came back from war and wanted to start families. It was cheaper to buy a suburban house rather than rent an apartment.And the houses were perfect for young families because of the open

floor plans and backyards.So they abandoned the cities for greener pastures.Since the end of the war, the American dream has been defined as a

house in the suburbs and two cars in the driveway.

Top 10 things that influenced the Suburban Sprawl

1. Interstate highway and the automobile 2. FHA mortgage financing and subdivision regulation3. Deindustrialization of central cities 4. Urban renewal 5. Levittown and mass-produced suburban tract home6. Racial segregation and job discrimination in cities

and suburbs 7. Enclosed shopping malls8. Sun-belt style sprawl9. Air-conditioning 10. The Urban Riots of the 1960’s

How the Suburban Sprawl impacted today

Suburbs TodayThe USA’s urban core is denser, while far-

flung suburbs are watching their growth dwindle.

The trend is driven by increasing numbers of young delaying or forgoing manage and childbirth, which often prompt moves to the suburbs.

What the Suburban Sprawl did for us todayIn its path, the sprawl consumed thousands of

acres of forests and farmland, woodlands and wetlands.

The sprawl created a hidden debt of unfunded services, social dysfunction, urban decay, and environmental degradation.