1. Improved Transportation: The invention and普及of the automobile, combined with the construction of roads and highways, made it easier for people to live farther from their workplaces and access different parts of the city. This allowed cities to expand beyond their traditional boundaries.
2. Population Growth: Rapid population growth in the 20th century increased the demand for housing, leading to the expansion of cities into surrounding areas.
3. Industrialization and Suburbanization: The growth of industries and manufacturing created jobs in suburban areas, attracting people to move away from the congested and crowded city centers. Affordable housing developments were built in these suburbs to accommodate the growing population.
4. Infrastructure Development: The expansion of essential infrastructure, such as water supply, sanitation systems, electricity, and public transportation, enabled the growth of residential areas in outlying districts.
5. Zoning Laws and Land Use Planning: Zoning laws and land use regulations influenced urban expansion by determining the permitted uses of land in different areas. They shaped the development patterns of residential, commercial, and industrial zones.
6. Urban Sprawl: As cities continued to expand outward, the phenomenon of urban sprawl occurred, characterized by the unchecked spread of development into rural areas. This often led to the conversion of farmland, natural habitats, and open spaces into residential developments and commercial zones.