Urbanization in the Southern United States: The Rise of the Sprawling South

Abstract

It may seem intuitive that cities in different regions are bound to develop in different ways, but why is it that Northern cities appear to be so starkly different from those of the South? What specifically influenced the divergence in the urban design of these regions? This paper explores the history of urbanization in the United States by examining growth patterns while considering various economic, social, and historical factors that may have influenced regional distinctions in urbanization. Evidence points towards the Civil War as a catalyst for the delay in peak urbanization in the South, and contextual technological advancements at the time resulted in the more diffuse cities we see today. Findings about the period in which peak urbanization took place in the South contributes to the understanding of what types of factors have and will shape regional/city development, and especially in a world with a rapidly growing urban population, understanding city growth and change will no doubt become an imperative part of our future.