Once the American Dream

Inner-Ring Suburbs of the Metropolitan United States

Bernadette Hanlon

• Publisher: Temple University Press
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9781592139378, 9781592139361
• eBook ISBN: 9781592139385
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: City Planning & Urban Development
• Index: Social Sciences

At one time, a move to the suburbs was the American Dream for many families. However, despite the success of Levittown, NY,impoverished "inner-ring" suburbs—those closest to the urban core of metropolitan cities—like Lansdowne, MD, are in decline. As aging housing stock, foreclosures, severe fiscal problems, slow population growth, increasing poverty, and struggling local economies affect inner-ring suburbs, what can be done to save them?

Once the American Dream analyzes this downward trend, examining 5,000 suburbs across 100 different metropolitan areas and census regions in 1980 and 2000. Hanlon defines the suburbs' geographic boundaries and provides a ranking system for assessing and acting upon inner-ring suburban decline. She also illuminates her detailed statistical analysis with vivid case studies. She demonstrates how other suburbs, particularly those in the outer reaches of cities, flourished during the 1980s and 1990s. Once the American Dream closes with a discussion of policy implications and recommendations for policymakers and planners who deal with suburbs of various stripes.

Table of contents

• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• List of Tables
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Once the American Dream
• 2. Decline Is a New Suburban Reality
• 3. Defining Inner-Ring Suburbs
• 4. Forces Shaping Inner-Ring Suburbs
• 5. Sidestepping Inner-Ring Suburbs
• 6. Declining Inner-Ring Suburbs
• 7. Suburbs in Crisis
• 8. Different Types of Inner-Ring Suburbs
• 9. Fixing Inner-Ring Suburbs
• 10. Conclusion
• Appendix
• References
• Index