The urban origins of suburban autonomy / Richardson Dilworth.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dilworth, Richardson, 1971- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Metropolitan areas--United States--History.

Metropolitan areas.

Suburbs--United States--History.

Suburbs.

Infrastructure (Economics)--United States--History.

Infrastructure (Economics).

Annexation (Municipal government)--United States--History.

Annexation (Municipal government).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (280 pages)

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, [2005]

Summary:

Using the urbanized area that spreads across northern New Jersey and around New York City as a case study, this book presents a convincing explanation of metropolitan fragmentation--the process by which suburban communities remain as is or break off and form separate political entities. The process has important and deleterious consequences for a range of urban issues, including the weakening of public finance and school integration. The explanation centers on the independent effect of urban infrastructure, specifically sewers, roads, waterworks, gas, and electricity networks. The book argues that the development of such infrastructure in the late nineteenth century not only permitted cities to expand by annexing adjacent municipalities, but also further enhanced the ability of these suburban entities to remain or break away and form independent municipalities. The process was crucial in creating a proliferation of municipalities within metropolitan regions. The book thus shows that the roots of the urban crisis can be found in the interplay between technology, politics, and public works in the American city.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Urbanism, Infrastructure, Politics

CHAPTER 1 Private Benefits, Public Goods

CHAPTER 2 Independent Yonkers, Expansionist New Yor

CHAPTER 3 Greater New York and Later Annexation Schemes

CHAPTER 4 Expansionist Jersey City and Its Discontents

CHAPTER 5 The Rise and Fall of Greater Newark

Conclusion: The Evolution of Urban Politics

Notes

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [203]-255) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780674272064

0674272064

OCLC:

654566226