Building Suburbia: Green Fields and Urban Growth, 1820-2000

A lively and provocative history of the contested landscapes where the majority of Americans now live.

From rustic cottages reached by steamboat to big box stores at the exit ramps of eight-lane highways, Dolores Hayden defines seven eras of suburban development since 1820. An urban historian and architect, she portrays housewives and politicians as well as designers and builders making the decisions that have generated America’s diverse suburbs. Residents have sought home, nature, and comm...