Suburbs existed before WWI, but didn't explode until afterwards due to a combination of increased wages and the beginning of the baby boom. Apples to apples, there is far less construction of new suburbs being built today then back then. But Atlanta's housing market has been demanding for a long time as industry has made the city grow and the increased jobs have brought more people to the tri-county area all seeking a place to live atop of the people already living there. Thus the only available land to build is on the outskirts forcing a longer and longer commute. I mean if your really wanted to nit pick you could also blame the building of the Perimeter (I-285) as another reason for the explosion of suburbia, as it aided the commuter beginning in 1969.
Clearly, not everybody lives in a sub-division. Nobody could make me live in a cookie-cutter house.
Subdivisions became popular after WW2 when massive numbers of soldiers came home from the war, married and began having children. Cramped urban quarters were not ideal, and wages were greatly improved from the Great Depression before the war so families could afford better housing. Suburbs rose up to meet the fantastic housing demand. It was quick, easy and cheap to build a lot of homes from just a couple of floor plans. The subdivision was born, along with millions of baby-boomers.
Subdivisions go back to at least the early 20th century, but it was the aftermath of the Depression followed by WW2 that really accelerated them. In short, a great increase in housing demand combined with the increased availability of automobiles (and the roads to drive them on) are the catalysts for "suburban sprawl."
Suburban sprawl brought about subdivisions.
I don't live in a suddivision. I hate them.
They started in the 50's and a lot of people like them because the housing is literally cheaper then a custom built home.
Were there any subdivisions 50? 60? Years ago? Why are there more subdivisions now then back then? Why does everyone now live in a subdivision?
