Effects of Urban Sprawl

The first effects of urban sprawl started over 50 years ago. Shortly after WWII, community developers began buying cheap tracks of rural land to build housing developments outside of the city limits. Thousands of Americans responded by leaving the cities in favor of the cheaper housing, and they've been pouring out ever since. Urban sprawl has some advantages. Suburban houses are often cheaper than inner-city housing, and suburbs typically have a lower crime rate. However, urban sprawl has taken its toll on the environment.

Effects of Urban Sprawl

Loss of Farm and Rural Lands

One of the most noticeable effects of urban sprawl is the loss of farm land. Urban developments, or suburbs, are built on large tracks of undeveloped land, which immediately results in the loss of trees and wildlife habitats. By over-developing urban areas, we run the risk of endangering the wildlife native to the area and a lack of trees and plant life leads to lower air quality. Urban sprawl can also result in a decrease in local farming. Many local farmers choose to sell their land to developers or are out bid on new land contracts.

Increased Pollution

Urban developments lead to pollution. The increased traffic from commuters and shipping companies causes airborne pollution and increases greenhouse gas emissions. The increase in air pollution is one of the inevitable effects of urban sprawl. Urban developments lack the public transportation found in major cities and are typically located far from office parks and universities, forcing many of their residents to drive several miles a day to and from work and school. Urban sprawl also leads to water pollution. The runoff from landscape chemicals used on the lawns inside the neighborhoods and in front of the retail centers pours into local rivers and streams. Pollution runoff in the water can lower the water quality in the area and kill wildlife.

Increased Waste

Many of the homes in suburban areas are built larger than inner-city homes. Furthermore, several homes in neighborhood developments are built before they have a buyer, and can sit empty for several months or years. All of this building uses natural resources and leads to the depletion of natural forest areas. As more residents choose to leave the city limits for the suburbs, homes inside the city become vacant, leading to more waste. Many retail stores, grocery chains and restaurants often open stores closer to newly built neighborhoods, which also adds to use of natural resources and increased waste.

Haya El Nasser and Paul Overberg, A Comprehensive Look at Urban Sprawl in America, USA Today.