Suburbia and Post-suburbia: A Brief History

Abstract

Suburbs have existed virtually as long as cities. Since ancient times functions and activities that could not exist within the walls or limits of the dense core of the city have gravitated to the periphery. Sprawling livestock yards and brickfields as well as noxious slaughterhouses have been forced to operate on the edge of cities. In the pre-modern era they were joined by the immoral or illegal pursuits of prostitutes or unlicensed hucksters expelled from the walled core. For centuries the very wealthy sought escape from the city to outlying villas where they enjoyed summers in a semi-rural setting. The fringe represented freedom from the city — the ability to do what was not allowed or impossible within the densely-populated core.