Synopses & Reviews
A lively history of the contested landscapes where the majority of Americans now live,
Building Suburbia chronicles two centuries in the birth and development of Americas metropolitan regions.
From rustic cottages reached by steamboat to big box stores at the exit ramps of eight-lane highways, Dolores Hayden defines seven eras of suburban development since 1820. An urban historian and architect, she portrays housewives and politicians as well as designers and builders making the decisions that have generated Americas diverse suburbs. Residents have sought home, nature, and community in suburbia. Developers have cherished different dreams, seeking profit from economies of scale and increased suburban densities, while lobbying local and federal government to reduce the risk of real estate speculation. Encompassing environmental controversies as well as the complexities of race, gender, and class, Haydens fascinating account will forever alter how we think about the communities we build and inhabit.
Synopsis
A lively and provocative history of the contested landscapes where the majority of Americans now live.
From rustic cottages reached by steamboat to big box stores at the exit ramps of eight-lane highways, Dolores Hayden defines seven eras of suburban development since 1820. An urban historian and architect, she portrays housewives and politicians as well as designers and builders making the decisions that have generated America s diverse suburbs. Residents have sought home, nature, and community in suburbia. Developers have cherished different dreams, seeking profit from economies of scale and increased suburban densities, while lobbying local and federal government to reduce the risk of real estate speculation. Encompassing environmental controversies as well as the complexities of race, gender, and class, Hayden s fascinating account will forever alter how we think about the communities we build and inhabit."
Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments Part One THE AMERICAN METROPOLITAN LANDSCAPE
One: The Shapes of Suburbia
Two: The Suburban City
Part Two HISTORIC PATTERNS IN THE LANDSCAPE
Three: Borderlands
Four: Picturesque Enclaves
Five: Streetcar Buildouts
Six: Mail-Order and Self-Built Suburbs
Seven: Sitcom Suburbs
Eight: Edge Nodes
Nine: Rural Fringes
Part Three THE NEXT SUBURBS
Ten: Nostalgia and Futurism
Eleven: The Importance of Older Suburbs
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index