Early explorers, colonist and settlers came to the New World in search of property and a home of their own: what they found was a vast open wilderness waiting to be claimed, both personally and in the name of their sovereigns. This desire for property still fuels many American’s “dreams” of home ownership. (Friedenberg)

I will explore and document the history of settlement from the late 1800s to the present, concentrating on home ownership patterns and the rise of suburbia. Including the early planned communities created in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Chicago (Census Info, Jackson,)

Industrialization and with it the revolution in transportation, along with the rise in manufactured goods was a major factor in the United States becoming suburbanized. Higher wages and the ability to travel more safely and at lower costs propelled land speculators and families in search of their dreams. (Jackson, Leach, Ebner)

Government studies in the 1920s concluded a single-family home with a yard and a room for each child was the optimal condition for raising children. This would not only make better Americans, but it would help quell the spread of communism. Home ownership is good for the economy, good for the family, and makes the owner a better citizen. However, most Americans still could not afford a home of their own. (Leach, Halberstam, Jackson)

After the depression and World War II housing had reached a critically low point with housing starts dropping from one million a year to fewer than 100,000 per year. The period after World War II also saw a huge increase in birthrates. The man who had the answers was William Levitt. He had the vision and imagination to usher in affordable housing for the thousands of returning veterans.

William Levitt, government guaranteed loans, and eager would-be homeowners combined in the right place at the right time to create the new middle-class. What we think of today as the suburbs was born. The American pioneer spirit was alive and well and moving to Long Island. (Halberstam pg. 137, Jackson pg. 238, Newsday, Census Data, Baxandall & Ewen)

Large-scale suburban development became the norm and American urban areas became the place people went to work. Eventually, individuals tired of commuting and found work closer to home. This suburb to suburb lifestyle is now a way of life. Many suburbanites travel to the city only occasionally, for sporting events, restaurants, and other cultural events. Over 50% of leisure time is now spent at home, entertaining friends, watching TV, and reading. The home improvement industry is at an all time high. (Kammen pg. 25, Braus, American Demographics)

Where is suburbia heading? Many states and local communities are taking steps to curb the spread of suburban sprawl. Legislation has been introduced in Pennsylvania to control the growth of suburbia and preserve open space. Local communities are instituting programs to buy development rights and open space outright. Private non-profit organizations have stepped in on their own and in conjunction with individuals and local governments to preserve our green spaces. (Bucks County Courier Times, Bucks County Natural Resource Plan 1999, Natural Land Trust)

My conclusions: The question of open space is relative. When traveling from the city to the suburbs to the country we encounter a vast difference in “open” space. Farmland, thought desirable, is manmade. Individual property owners should have the right to sell their land to developers if they wa nt to. Still, I support efforts to preserve our natural resources. I wish money were not an issue in most decisions to sell property.

I’m also a realist and I know we live in a society that has been programmed to believe almost everything is disposable. Until we, as a society, believe used is just as good as new, and there are not enormous profits to be made, I believe we will continue to see neighborhoods growing where once we only saw trees.