Boomburbs: The Rise of America's Accidental Cities

Title Page, Copyright Page

Boomburbs JAMES A. JOHNSON METRO SERIES The Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution is integrating research and practical experience into a policy agenda for cities and metropolitan areas. By bringing fresh analyses and policy ideas to the public debate, the program hopes to inform key decisionmakers and civic leaders in ways that will spur meaningful change in our nation's communities. As part of this effort, the James A. Johnson Metro Series aims to introduce new perspectives and policy thinking on current issues and attempts to lay the foundation for longer-term policy reforms. The series examines traditional urban issues, such as neighborhood assets and central city competitiveness, as well as larger metropolitan concerns, such as regional growth, development, and employment patterns. The James A. Johnson Metro Series consists of concise studies and collections of essays designed to appeal to a broad audience. While these studies are formally reviewed, some will not be verified like other research publications. As with all publications, the judgments, conclusions, and recommendations presented in the studies are solely those of the authors and should not be attributed to the trustees, officers, or other staff members of the Institution. Also available in this series: On growth and development Edgeless Cities: Exploring the Elusive Metropolis Robert E. Lang Growth and Convergence in Metropolitan America Janet Rothenberg Pack Growth Management and Affordable Housing Anthony Downs, editor Laws of the Landscape: How Policies Shape Cities in Europe and America Pietro S. Nivola Reflections on Regionalism Bruce J. Katz, editor Sunbelt/Frostbelt: Public Policies and Market Forces in Metropolitan Development Janet Rothenberg Pack, editor On transportation Still Stuck in Traffic: Coping with Peak-Hour Traffic Congestion Anthony Downs Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes, editors On trends Redefining Urban and Suburban America: Evidence from Census 2000, vol. 1 Bruce Katz and Robert E. Lang, editors Redefining Urban and Suburban America: Evidence from Census 2000, vol. 2 Alan Berube, Bruce Katz, and Robert E. Lang, editors On wealth creation Building Assets, Building Credit: Creating Wealth in Low-Income Communities Nicolas P. Retsinas and Eric S. Belsky, editors The Geography of Opportunity: Race and Housing Choice in Metropolitan America Xavier de Souza Briggs, editor Low-Income Homeownership: Examining the Unexamined Goal Nicolas P. Retsinas and Eric S. Belsky, editors Savings for the Poor: The Hidden Benefits of Electronic Banking Michael A. Stegman On other metro issues Evaluating Gun Policy: Effects on Crime and Violence Jens Ludwig and Philip J. Cook, editors Boomburbs The Rise of America’s Accidental Cities Robert E. Lang Jennifer B. LeFurgy BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESS Washington, D.C. Copyright © 2007 THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 www.brookings.edu All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the Brookings Institution Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data Lang, Robert, 1959– Boomburbs : the rise of America’s accidental cities / Robert E. Lang and Jennifer B. LeFurgy. p. cm. Summary: "Addresses the issue of ‘boomburbs,’ large suburbs of more than 100,000 residents, and examines who lives in them, what drives their development, and how they are governed. Explains why America’s suburbs are thriving and how they are shaping the lives of millions of residents"—Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8157-5114-4 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8157-5114-1 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Suburbs—United States. 2. Suburban life—United States. I. LeFurgy, Jennifer B. II. Title. HT352.U6L35 2007 307.760973—dc22 2007008338 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 The paper used in this publication meets minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials: ANSI Z39.48-1992. Typeset in Sabon Composition by R. Lynn Rivenbark Macon, Georgia Printed by R. R. Donnelley Harrisonburg, Virginia ...