Chapter 16, Student Web Activities, Sociology and You, Glencoe, 2003

Chapter 16: Population and Urbanization
"Suburbanization and Decentralization"

Introduction
In this chapter you learned about the population processes, population trends, and the development and growth of modern cities. The shift from rural, agricultural societies to industrial, urban cities began with the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s. Unlike cities in the developing world, however, cities in the United States today are losing population, not gaining. Since 1950 the proportion of the United States’s population living in the suburbs has more than doubled. In this activity you will take a closer look at the impact of suburbanization on the San Francisco Bay area and the ways in which suburbanization came about.

Destination Title: Suburbanization and Decentralization

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Directions
Start at the top of the “Suburbanization and Decentralization” Web site.

Scroll down the page to read the full text of the article “Suburbanization and Decentralization.” Take notes as you browse the site.

Use what you have learned to answer the following questions.

1. According to Joel Garreau, what are the three waves of suburbanization in the United States since World War II?

2. What are the four major categories of historical urban growth?

3. How are businesses influencing the movement toward the suburbs?

4. How can major cities retain their populations in the face of massive suburbanization?

5. Use the information provided in the article and your own personal experiences to decide where you would rather reside: in the suburbs or the city. Make a list of the reasons for your choice and the factors which influenced you.