Suburbanization in the United States and its challenges

Abstract

The article briefly reviews the history of suburbanization, its challenges and consequences using the example of cities
in the United States of America. A number of studies have shown that the negative aspects of living in urbanized cities: the
high cost of living, socio-economic inequality, less access to nature, noise, social isolation, poverty, inadequate housing,
unemployment, pollution, high crime, political unrest, and others, have led to mental health problems for people living in
cities. As a result, since the 1940 s, the so-called suburbanization process began to develop. The population from cities began to
move to their suburbs, some in search of more affordable housing, some in search of better living conditions. In addition to the
aforementioned reasons, the article describes other factors causing suburbanization. Initially, the process of suburbanization
brought positive results, both in terms of the creation of housing stock, and in the development of infrastructure, industry and
the economy, although in the long term it is still referred to as a negative process. This “American dream”, as it was called, had
many unfavorable consequences. First of all, it was racial inequality. On the other hand, the deterioration of life in large cities.
Cities were under an urgent obligation to ensure integration with the suburbs with appropriate public transport systems, as a
result of which the increase in carbon emissions had a negative impact on the landscape of both urban and suburban
environments. Infrastructural and other types of construction in the existing landscapes of the suburbs, the increase in car
traffic, completely changed their character and contributed to their degradation. The process has created an economic and
demographic crisis in the central districts of cities, significantly reduced green and blue surfaces and their quality through land
use changes, and damaged sustainability and climate adaptation capabilities.