Exurbs are low-density communities beyond the suburbs of a city, formed when people leave cities for various reasons. They vary in character, with some being playgrounds for the wealthy, while others house middle-class families seeking more space. Many lack major industry, and rising costs of living can cause conflicts with indigenous residents.
Exurbs are inhabited regions beyond the boundaries of the suburbs of a city or large metropolitan area. In some cases, exurbs may be rural in nature, although some are more densely built and all have relatively low population densities. Many suburbs begin as exurbs, and many exurbs are slowly engulfed by the suburbs of neighboring regions as population growth expands, leading to increased demand for usable land.
These communities are formed when people leave the city for various reasons. Escape from cities in the developed world really started to take off in the 1960s and 1970s, when car ownership became viable for most people. People have begun leaving cities out of fear of rising crime rates or in response to demographic shifts such as a surge of minority residents entering cities for work. In the United States, this was called “white flight,” reflecting the fact that many suburban and out-of-town settlers were white, and that race was a major reason for abandoning urban areas.
Exurbs continue to form as people seek out smaller, safer communities than large cities in their regions. Some people believe that life in the suburbs is better for kids, giving them the ability to go to better schools and live in a community where people are more familiar with each other. Others say they dislike the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the quiet and space to garden, hike, bike, and engage in other outdoor activities in their communities.
The character of the exurbs is quite varied. In studies of these regions, residents tend to be wealthier, better educated, and members of the region’s dominant racial group, in contrast to urban residents. Some exurbs are indeed playgrounds for wealthy individuals who want the luxury of larger lots and a quieter community, while others have a more middle-class character, housing people who simply want a little more space than would be available in the city or in the surrounding area. outskirts .
Many exurbs lack major industry, meaning that most citizens are forced to travel for work. In other cases, exurbs isolate themselves from the neighboring city, with residents rarely venturing into the city and making do with any available local employment. Residents of the Esurbe tend to be less politically and socially involved in city life.
A problem for many exurbs is the rising cost of living caused by the migration of people with higher incomes from the city. When a rural area begins to be settled as an exurb, indigenous residents can find themselves priced out of the local housing market, and conflicts over social and political issues sometimes arise between the newcomers and the old.
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