A suburb, in the context of Advanced Placement Human Geography, refers to a residential area located on the periphery of a city. These areas are generally characterized by lower population density compared to the urban core, and often feature single-family homes, lawns, and a greater reliance on automobiles for transportation. An example is Levittown, New York, a post-World War II development that epitomized suburban growth in the United States.
Understanding the nature and evolution of these areas is crucial to studying urban spatial patterns and the factors that shape them. Their development has significant implications for transportation infrastructure, environmental sustainability, social stratification, and economic activity within a metropolitan area. Historically, suburbanization has been driven by factors such as the availability of affordable housing, increased automobile ownership, and the desire for a perceived better quality of life, often linked to access to better schools and lower crime rates.
