|
The material in this unit may be used to address the following Social Studies Standards
DEFINITION: Suburb: a housing development established at some distance from downtown and served, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, by public transportation. Suburbs allowed workers to live away from their jobs in single family homes located in natural settings. At
this time a lot in the suburbs was considered a natural setting because
it gave the owner and his family the opportunity to experience and enjoy
the landscape.
TIMEFRAME: 1830s -- horse or mule-pulled streetcar makes living away from one's workplace possible 1830s - 1880s -- Railroad-served suburbs established outside large American cities. Due to expense of fares and high cost of land, at first only affluent families can live there. 1870s -- great exodus to suburbs begins across the nation as home ownership comes within reach of the middle class 1882 -- First cable car in San Francisco, California 1888 -- First electric trolley in Richmond, Virginia. This development makes commuting easier and less expensive. 1890s -- towns of all sizes developing neighborhoods whose residents share common characteristics 1895
-- 850 electric streetcar lines in cities and towns across the nation
CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBURBS: Suburbs for the wealthy had some amenities such as parks and tree-lined boulevards. Suburbs for the middle and lower classes had few or no amenities other than platted streets and lots. Streets typically unpaved, filled with wagon ruts; sidewalks often absent Few municipal controls or services until late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; cities more likely to obtain services before small towns; wealthier families obtained services before less prosperous neighbors City working class suburbs had houses close to streets on small lots
Although situated on suburban lots of varying sizes, homesteads in towns
closely resembled rural farmsteads. Need to be self-sufficient
required each house to have produce garden, water well, privy, and variety
of other outbuildings to shelter domestic animals (horses, chickens,
etc), store fuel and carriages, etc.
ATTRACTION OF THE SUBURBS: Desire for a unique and personalized house which reflected the personality of the owner Desire for "healthy" home which provided access to sunshine and fresh air Desire for innocence and stability which Victorians perceived as threatened by Industrial Revolution Desire to shield women and children from "dangers" of downtown life Detached,
single family home was national ideal
FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF SUBURBS: Lowering of land prices and construction costs helped make home ownership possible for more people Growth of Building and Loan Associations provided financing for home purchase Home cost varied according to size and elaborateness of dwelling Costs ranged from a few hundred dollars for a laborer's cottage to $18,000 for moderately wealthy families Outside
large cities, average price for home in 1870 less than $5,000
Printable Version
|
