Urban Sprawl
A Middle School Level Website
Northwestern Tucson seen from Picture Rocks Road on the east side of the Tucson Mountains. This area was mostly open
desert and ranch lands a little more than a decade ago. The population boom experienced by the southwest U.S. has not
missed Tucson.
desert and ranch lands a little more than a decade ago. The population boom experienced by the southwest U.S. has not
missed Tucson.
Here is another example on the eastern side of Tucson
where housing is pushing against the mountains.
where housing is pushing against the mountains.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
It is cheaper to develop subdivisions on flat land than it is on rocky slopes. Fertile farmlands and ranch lands are usually
the first to go. This land, once productive in providing food for the local population, has been altered to where it is used for
housing, with the closest agricultural use being horse acreage.
the first to go. This land, once productive in providing food for the local population, has been altered to where it is used for
housing, with the closest agricultural use being horse acreage.
What is Urban Sprawl?
Urban - of or having to do with a city. Sprawl - to spread out. Urban sprawl: the haphazard (not well-planned) growth of a
city extending outward from its edges.
Most towns and cities like to have growth. It brings in additional taxes, new businesses, and gives young people, as they
mature, a place to build their own homes and families. When the population continues to grow, it has to spread
outward. In many areas, the land next to the towns was either prime farm land or ranch land. Undeveloped agricultural
land is generally the least expensive and easiest on which to build. A farm developed into a subdivision here, a ranch
over there. It adds up.
city extending outward from its edges.
Most towns and cities like to have growth. It brings in additional taxes, new businesses, and gives young people, as they
mature, a place to build their own homes and families. When the population continues to grow, it has to spread
outward. In many areas, the land next to the towns was either prime farm land or ranch land. Undeveloped agricultural
land is generally the least expensive and easiest on which to build. A farm developed into a subdivision here, a ranch
over there. It adds up.
Why is there a problem?
We are studying ecology here, so we look at it from that viewpoint. Adding more people and spreading out across the
land means:
land means:
- more cars on the roads (congestion)
- increased costs on the school system
- loss of habitat for the animals still in the area
- disappearing corridors where animals travel between areas (corridors are similar to paths)
- loss of agricultural lands (food has to come from somewhere)
- increased pollution (air, soil, water)
What does Urban Sprawl Look Like?
Urban sprawl is sometimes apparent as we drive down our streets, and sometimes not. It is always apparent from the
air. It looks like subdivisions that eat up as much space as possible, not planned to consume as little space as
possible. Urban sprawl looks like subdivision after subdivision connected by pavement. More strip malls to take
advantage of the population in a particular area is another indicator. The whole point is "sprawl" or the spreading out of
the urban area.
air. It looks like subdivisions that eat up as much space as possible, not planned to consume as little space as
possible. Urban sprawl looks like subdivision after subdivision connected by pavement. More strip malls to take
advantage of the population in a particular area is another indicator. The whole point is "sprawl" or the spreading out of
the urban area.
Web-Science.net
More Info (Local):
Reports & Factsheets
Sierra Club website
Sierra Club website
Glossary
Environmental
Health Center
Environmental
Health Center
| Arizona Deserts |