Levittown Compare And Contrast

Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, many U.S. cities experienced rapid change. After World War II, many suburbs began to grow and develop across the United States. These suburbs represented a new modern and affluent life. However, they were also very exclusive and homogeneous. Most of the residents were, white and, middle-class families. In contrast, the inner city became entangled with cycles of poverty and urban decline. Despite the improvement in sanitation, their residents, most of them people of color, faced not only economic and housing problems, but also were victims of environmental racism. In response, many residents of the inner city began to demand better conditions and equality. The contrast between suburbs and

Levittown was the largest planned community constructed by a single builder in the United States. By the time it was completed in 1958, the development occupied over 5500 acres in lower Bucks County and included churches, schools, swimming pools, shopping centers and 17,311 single-family homes ("Levittown"). To its residents, Levittown represented the American Dream of homeownership, the homes with their green gardens, new appliances, attached garage and family rooms offered the possibility to raise a family in what was considered a "safe" space. The population of Levittown was very homogenous. Many residents were similar in age, stage in the life cycle, socioeconomic level and race (Kelly

St. Louis, Missouri, for example, was one of four cities to experience a downturn in population. Alarmed at the potentially significant population loss, the local government realized they had to do something about it. In 1947, the St. Louis government took action to remedy population loss and declared a restructuring of certain neighborhoods. In 1950, the city of Saint Louis was known as a place of segregation and abandonment. Due to the need for better living conditions, restoration of Central Saint Louis, and overall population decline, the city decided it was time for a change. They came to a final decision to build an eleven story, fifty-seven-acre apartment building, which consisted of thirty-three buildings. The city believed constructing these new homes would renew their population growth and overall improve the city; however, that was not the case