Contemporary American Suburbs

Contemporary American suburbs are as diverse as the urban neighborhoods from which many of their inhabitants originally came. The many different American suburbs can be grouped into five main categories. These include elite suburbs, middle-class-family suburbs, working-class suburbs, specialized suburbs, and suburban cosmopolitan centers.

The first three types can be distinguished on the basis of the socioeconomic status of typical residents. Residents of elite suburbs are at the very top of the socioeconomic ladder. These suburbs are characterized by extremely expensive homes. Some are inhabited by celebrities who may spend little time socializing within their communities.

Rather, their social contacts are scattered across the country and around the world. Examples of elite suburbs are Beverly Hills and Palos Verdes near Los Angeles. The name of the elite suburb of Carefree. Arizona, and those of its primary business streets. Ho Street and Hum Street, are a clue to the life-style of the inhabitants.

The middle-class-family suburb is lower on the socioeconomic scale. Typical inhabitants include business executives, physicians, attorneys, engineers, and other white-collar professionals. Residents of many middle-class-family suburbs gear many of their activities to the rearing of children. Scouting organizations. Little League, school athletic teams, and parent-teacher associations flourish in middle-class-family suburbs. Indeed, many adults form social contacts through social activities of their children.

Working-class suburbs are another step lower on the socioeconomic ladder. Many are inhabited by people in skilled trades and blue-collar occupations, such as skilled factor) workers, plumbers, house painters, and carpenters. The social life of residents of working-class suburbs centers on activities geared to adults, including softball. bowling, and other sports. Many of these suburbs include large ethnic-minority populations.

Specialized suburbs cater to individuals with particular hobbies, interests, or needs. Many suburban developments have been constructed around country clubs and golf courses. Catering to avid golfers, developers include club membership in the price of a suburban home, enabling residents to play golf whenever they wish.

Other specialized suburbs emphasize boating, fishing, tennis, and other recreational activities. The suburb of Venice, California, although technically a part of the city of Los Angeles, was originally developed in order to give homeowners the opportunity to moor their boats near their homes (Figure 10-10). The canals that were constructed for the convenience of boat owners gave rise to the name Venice.

Figure 10—10 Venice, California. Named for the Italian city of canals, Venice was originally developed to accommodate boat owners. Some of the canals have since been abandoned, although many residents continue to moor their boats behind their homes

Some specialized suburbs were developed specifically for elderly or retired residents. Sun City. Arizona has readily available medical services, alone with its golf courses and other recreational opportunities, which attracts older Americans from across the nation. Community regulations restrict people under the age of fifty-five from purchasing homes or living in Sun City.

Suburban cosmopolitan centers are suburbs whose economies no longer depend on central cities. Suburban cosmopolitan centers are characterized by extensive retailing and industrial development and cultural institutions that distinguish them from the central city. Some are university communities on the fringes of major metropolitan centers, such as Boulder, Colorado, and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Others have established major cultural centers to accompany independent growth in industry and retailing. A prime example is Anaheim. California. Anaheim is the home of Disneyland, a world-renowned amusement park accompanied by a host of hotels, convention facilities, and restaurants. Anaheim Stadium is home to the California Angels major-league baseball team and the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. It also boasts a world-class performing arts center.