Urban sprawl

Expansion of auto-oriented, low-density development in suburbs

Urban sprawl (also known as suburban sprawl or urban encroachment) is defined as "the rapid expansion of the geographic extent of cities and towns, often characterized by low-density residential housing, single-use zoning, and increased reliance on the private automobile for transportation". Urban sprawl has been described as the unrestricted spread over large expanses of land around an urban area of housing, commercial development, and roads, with little concern for very dense urban planning. Urban sprawl refers to a special form of urbanization, and it relates to the social and environmental consequences associated with such development.

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