The growth of suburbia, particularly in the United States, resulted from a combination of societal, economic, and political factors. When WWII veterans returned stateside, they started families and the need for housing exploded. The demand for housing exceeded the rental housing options available in urban areas. Thus, the advent of modern conveniences, coupled with a desire for more space and perceived safety, led many to seek out the suburban lifestyle.
This demand resulted in the development of federal programs that encouraged the construction of housing developments and home ownership. Developers saw this need as an opportunity to use the new assembly line production methods in housing.
The affordability of homes became a key issue, and home ownership became the standard for success.
Keep reading to learn more about the growth of suburbia in the 1950s, the effects, and more.
Suburbia is a term used to describe the areas outside of an urban center that is mostly comprised of housing and few commercial buildings.
Reasons for the Growth of Suburbia
A combination of WWII veterans returning to the Homefront and the initiation of federal programs to promote home ownership provided a perfect environment for the creation and growth of suburbia. The creation of the Veteran's Administration, as well as the Federal Housing Administration, enabled more Americans than ever before to purchase homes in lieu of renting apartments. Advances in manufacturing made new construction affordable whereas previously, more than half of the cost would need to be provided upfront.
Let's take a look at a summary table about the reasons for growth in suburbia below before exploring the points in more detail.
| Reasons for the Growth of Suburbia |
|---|
| Reason | Explanation |
| Economic Prosperity | The post-World War II era brought about a period of significant economic growth, which resulted in increased buying power for many American families. This allowed more people to afford their own homes. |
| Automobile Ownership | The rise of the automobile made living outside of city centers and commuting for work a feasible option for many families. Car ownership became widespread and facilitated the growth of suburbs. |
| Infrastructure Development | The development of extensive road and highway systems, particularly the Interstate Highway System initiated in 1956, enabled easier commutes between suburban homes and urban job locations. |
| Government Policies | The GI Bill (Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944) provided low-interest loans to veterans, which many used to buy homes. The Federal Housing Administration also insured mortgages, making them more accessible for many Americans. |
| Housing Development | Mass-produced, affordable housing developments like those created by William Levitt (often known as "Levittowns") made owning a home in the suburbs achievable for many American families. |
| Societal Desires | The desire for more space, perceived safety, and the ability to own a home were significant drivers that pushed many families towards suburban life. This was coupled with a cultural idealization of the suburban lifestyle, emphasizing family life, comfort, and leisure. |
WWII Veterans & New Families
The return of WWII veterans caused a massive uptick in young families. These young families had housing needs that surpassed the housing available in urban centers. The federal government responded by passing laws that encouraged the construction of housing developments as well as guaranteed loans for Veterans. The population boom occurred when WWII veterans returned to the Homefront overstretched the available housing to the limit. Young families would double up in rented apartments in crowded city blocks.
Government Policies & Federal Programs
Government policies and federal programs played a key role in the growth of suburbia.
The federal government saw that home ownership was an important part of the economic growth of the United States. Many WWII veterans who returned to the Homefront started families and desperately needed housing. The newly formed VA (Veterans Administration) issued the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, commonly known as the GI Bill. This act guaranteed home loans to veterans and banks could offer mortgages with little to no money down. This low or negligible down payment allowed for a large number of Americans to purchase homes.
Compared to the previous average down payment of 58% of the home’s value, these terms enabled the average working American to afford purchasing a home.
Construction firms used support provided by the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and the VA (Veterans Administration). Levitt & Sons is the most notable example of a company designing its product to match newly initiated federal housing programs. The affordable and quick-to-build design appealed to young families who needed low monthly payments. Levitt & Sons began building suburban communities across the United States and many continue to exist today.
Additionally, the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which funded the creation of the Interstate Highway System, made commuting from suburbs to cities more feasible.
Developments in Architecture & Construction
Mass production allowed for the use of cheaper materials and houses were built quicker. This innovation was not missed by other sectors of business. The Levitt & Son’s construction company applied assembly line principles to construction which was a drastic improvement on efficiency. This increase in efficiency translated into affordable housing that was accessible to the standard American family.
Housing developers continue to use this method today to construct large housing communities. The Levitt method has not been surpassed in efficiency and is accepted as the standard of modern large-scale builds.
Fig. 1 - Suburbia is a term used to describe the areas outside of an urban center that is mostly comprised of housing and few commercial buildings.
Growth of Suburbia in the 1950s
The 1950s were a significant decade for the growth of suburbia in the United States. Following World War II, there was a major shift in population from cities to suburbs, thanks to a booming economy, the availability of affordable housing (particularly due to the GI Bill), and the increasing prevalence of car ownership. This decade also saw the birth of the idealized "suburban lifestyle," characterized by single-family homes, manicured lawns, and an emphasis on family life.
Levitt & Sons was a large construction firm that created the first huge suburban housing developments. In the early 1950s Levitt & Sons envisioned an extensive housing development on the outskirts of New York City and soon purchased 4000 acres of potato fields to use.
By 1959 the first “Levittown” had completed an expansive housing community marketed towards returning WII veterans. Between the start of construction in the late 1940s and the end of the 1950s the former potato fields were home to a community of 82,000 people.
Fig. 2 - The growth of suburbia helped shape the ideal of the 'American Dream' which often involved owning a home in the suburbs.
This rapid growth was possible due to the assembly line production method used in constructing the Levittown homes and the availability of livable land.
Car culture began to gain popularity in the 1950s. The ability to own a car enabled the middle-class American to commute from a suburban home to an urban job.
Growth of Suburbia and the Baby Boom
The baby boom increased the demand for housing beyond what was available. Newlywed couples would double up with other families in small, cramped apartments.
The Baby Boom of post-war America expanded the population and its needs. The uptick in young families surpassed the present housing options. These young families were mostly WWII veterans, their wives and children.
Population growth during the post-war baby boom was exponential. An estimated total 80,000 Americans were born at this time.
The demand for housing implored developers to quickly and cheaply produce large scale housing developments, or suburbs.
Growth of Suburbia: Post-war
In post-war America WWII veterans returned to a country of possibilities. The federal government had passed laws which guaranteed veterans home loans as well as the new availability of credit to middle class families. The post-war housing market was now an avenue to success for the plethora of young families.
Post-war America was a time to expand out of the tight quarters of the urban centers. WWII veterans had access to resources that had never before existed, and these resources rendered home ownership into an achievable dream for standard Americans. The post-war structure of the American family was also shaped by the growth of suburbia.
By the end of the 1950s almost 15 million housing units were under construction nationwide.
Effects of the Growth of Suburbia
The effects of the growth of suburbia include:
- The growth of suburbia was a sharp shift in the number of homeowners in the United States. These homeowners were part of a huge population spread from the overcrowded cities.
- More Americans began to commute to work from suburban areas rather than renting accommodation in close proximity to the workplace.
- Architecture was also deeply affected by the demand created by suburban growth. New styles of houses and methods were required to produce the amount of housing needed.
- The Levitt house model was created and has dominated mass housing construction even into modern day.
Population Spread
After the massive relocation to the cities due to the need for industrial workers Americans were used to living in rented housing and home ownership was far out of reach. In the following decades the image of a white picket fence and 2.5 children (the average number of children in American families) persisted as the image of American success and the possibilities of Americans. This “American Dream” had been marketed towards not only Americans since its inception; immigrant families see the “American Dream” as an example of the success possible in the United States.
Architecture: Levitt Model
The need for affordable housing could not be fulfilled without a low-cost way to build houses. Houses were constructed on site with teams of tradesmen which can be a lengthy and expensive endeavor. The advent of the assembly line and scientific applications to be more efficient proved to be applicable to housing construction.
The Levitt & Sons construction company saw an opportunity to apply the assembly line technology to housing construction. On a normal assembly line, the product moves while the workers do not. Abraham Levitt devised an assembly line-like system where the product was stationary, and the workers moved from site to site. The Levitt & Sons house model was constructed in 27 steps from pouring the foundation to interior finishes. Today this is the prevalent method for mass housing construction projects.
Abraham Levitt created the open-concept single family home design that has been copied by architects since its unveiling.
Fig. 3 - The growth of suburbia was also responsible for a large population shift from urban centers.
The growth of suburbia, therefore, had a significant impact on American society. It helped shape the ideal of the "American Dream," which often involved owning a home in the suburbs. However, the move to the suburbs also contributed to issues like urban decline, racial and socioeconomic segregation, and environmental problems related to urban sprawl. Furthermore, it shaped societal norms and expectations around family structures and gender roles, influencing decades of cultural and societal developments.
Growth of Suburbia - Key takeaways
- The growth of suburbia was caused by a combination of population boom and economic opportunity.
- Federal programs allowed for more Americans to purchase homes than ever before.
- Mass housing development would not have been possible without the construction process improvements by Abraham Levitt.
- The growth of suburbia was also responsible for a large population shift from urban centers.
- The idea of commuting to work versus renting accommodation close to work began to gain traction.
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