Building Suburbia

A lively history of the contested landscapes where the majority of Americans now live,Building Suburbiachronicles two centuries in the birth and development of America's metropolitan regions. From rustic cottages reached by steamboat to big box stores at the exit ramps of eight-lane highways, Dolores Hayden defines seven eras of suburban development since 1820. An urban historian and architect, she portrays housewives and politicians as well as designers and builders making the decisions that have generated America's diverse suburbs. Residents have sought home, nature, and community in suburbia. Developers have cherished different dreams, seeking profit from economies of scale and increased suburban densities, while lobbying local and federal government to reduce the risk of real estate speculation. Encompassing environmental controversies as well as the complexities of race, gender, and class, Hayden's fascinating account will forever alter how we think about the communities we build and inhabit.

Dolores Hayden is professor of architecture and urbanism and professor of American studies at Yale University. An urban historian and architect, she is the author of Seven American Utopias: The Architecture of Communitarian Socialism, 1790–1975; The Grand Domestic Revolution: A History of Feminist Designs for American Homes, Neighborhoods, and Cities; Redesigning the American Dream: Gender, Housing, and Family Life; and The Power of Place: Urban Landscapes as Public History. She lives with her husband and daughter in Guilford, Connecticut.<br><br><br><i>From the Hardcover edition.</i>