Just What is an Exurb?

[Trinity Moses]

Ive noticed some discussions about exurbs or that refer to exubria or the exurbs.

Just what is this? Something beyond a suburb, right?

I have my own ideas...whats the difference between an exurb and a suburb.

Suburbs are more built up and probably have office parks and industrail parks as well as subdivisions.

Exurbs are still more rural, a "new" suburb,

How can you tell a "real" rural area from an exurban one?

Theres' less large lot ribbon development along the country roads, the farms are real working farms not hobby farms or second income farms (and they may be larger, too), and theres less new subdivisions away from town ("town" is usually some county seat town, though there may be rural villiages around).

[Suburb Repairman]

When every subdivision name ends in "Ranchettes". Exactly what the hell is a ranchette anyway?

exurbs = gigantic lots, hobby farms, bedroom community (no real commercial to speak of), few (if any) services offered aside from a country sheriff or something, etc. The area I work in is transitioning from rural to exurb to suburb.

[Mud Princess]

There's no official Census definition of an exurb, but the word usually denotes an area outside of a suburb, but still within commuting distance of a city.

The American Heritage Dictionary, oddly enough, defines an exurb as "a region lying beyond the suburbs of a city, especially one inhabited principally by wealthy people." I'm not sure how the reference to prosperity came into the equation.

In my mind, an exurb is a rural community that is on its way to becoming a suburb due to rapid large-lot development.

[organize]

An example of an exurb is Charles Towne, WV. It's an exurb of the DC area. Most people who live that far are able to commute about an hour and a half to Northern VA or Frederick/Montgomery County, MD.

Like I said before, I love the suburbs, but this would be going too far for me personally. In my opinion, it's not connected to the DC area at all. Until they build up the area in between in the same way as the suburbs in Montgomery County, it is still disconnected.

Part of the appeal of the suburbs is being within a reasonable commuting time of a large city, but knowing you don't have to live there. Although the subdivisions of these cities in WV are attractive, it is still "rural" to me and I could not live in what is known as an exurb.

[drucee]

Naperville, IL is a classic example of an exurb AND a boomburb. Formerly a satellite farm town of Chicago, it's become the city's largest suburb and, I believe, the third-largest city in Illinois.

[teshadoh]

Beyond specific locales, towns beyond the suburban ring of a city - such as Carrollton, GA which serves Atlanta - doesn't exurb refer also to a more non-specific area? The area would start at the edge of the high concentrationed belt of subdivisions, shopping centers, & office parks & would end where commuting patterns are under 25% into the primary urban center.

So, wouldn't 'exurbia' include largely undeveloped lands, but include the scattered estate style subdivisions - often on septic system? This would be an area that is over 100 people per square mile, but just barely - under a general suburban density level of 500 people per square mile. Essentialy, whereas suburbs are mostly urban as opposed to rural - exurbs are mostly rural as opposed to urban. But due to commuting trends, they serve a suburban purpose.

Therefore - exurbia is the hardest zone to determine. It begins in a zone where suburbia tapers off into woodlands & abandoned farms. And it ends, nondramatically into a similar level of ruralness as the surrounding rural base that exists throughout the country. This to me is what the true issue of sprawl is - not subdivision upon subdivision - but in areas that lack planning / zoning and whose transportation networks depend on 2 lane country roads. The residents due to their distance from the primary city - may drive as far as downtown, or to one of a number of edge cities that circle the metro area. This area isn't a suburb specifically to the primary city downtown, but of the entire metro area.

Exurbia is what constitutes the growing number of counties that are added every 10 years to metropolitan areas. These counties aren't developed enough to be suburban, but because of high growth (which is almost arbitrary because of low populations any growth will become high growth) & commuting patterns they are recognized as 'suburban'. But they look & act like rural areas & this is why Atlanta's MSA & particularly it's consolidated metro has extended INTO Alabama and into most of the north Georgia countryside.

[mendelman]

Originally posted by drucee Naperville, IL is a classic example of an exurb AND a boomburb. Formerly a satellite farm town of Chicago, it's become the city's largest suburb and, I believe, the third-largest city in Illinois. I disagree. Naperville is probably more of an "edge city" than an "exurb" A more appropriate example of exurb in Chicagoland would be Huntley or Gilberts in the Northwest Tollway corridor.

on-topic:
I would echo teshadoh's description as pretty spot on.

[boiker]

^--- Edit: Exactly what Mendelman and Tesh say.

Originally posted by drucee

Naperville, IL is a classic example of an exurb AND a boomburb. Formerly a satellite farm town of Chicago, it's become the city's largest suburb and, I believe, the third-largest city in Illinois.

so exactly, how large-lot does a lot have to be to be an exurb? I don't recall the majority of Naperville having 1 acre or .5 acre lots. Naperville is most definetly a Boomburb.

When I think of exurbs, In Illinois, I think of Oswego, Huntley, and other small'ish old farm towns that are becoming warehouse/distro centers and bedroom communities.

[pete-rock]

Originally posted by boiker

When I think of exurbs, In Illinois, I think of Oswego, Huntley, and other small'ish old farm towns that are becoming warehouse/distro centers and bedroom communities.

I'd agree, and add places like Minooka, Channahon, Wilmington and Peotone, south and southwest of Chicago. Those places are 40 miles-plus from the Loop, and are on the cusp of becoming "suburbanized".

[JasonLB]

I definitely agree that Naperville is an edge city, particularly because of its role...and there are no towns in WV that are exurbs of DC, there all too far away and disconnected

[teshadoh]

Originally posted by JasonLB

I definitely agree that Naperville is an edge city, particularly because of its role...and there are no towns in WV that are exurbs of DC, there all too far away and disconnected

But when you have > 25% commuting to Winchester, VA from Hampshire County WV - which in turn Wincester, VA has > 25% commuting to the DC edge cities in Fairfax & Loudon counties. That becomes exurban. Exurbia is the definition of disconnected urban patterns & often being 'far away'.

[ChevyChaseDC]

Originally posted by teshadoh

But when you have > 25% commuting to Winchester, VA from Hampshire County WV - which in turn Wincester, VA has > 25% commuting to the DC edge cities in Fairfax & Loudon counties. That becomes exurban. Exurbia is the definition of disconnected urban patterns & often being 'far away'.

I tend to agree with Teshadoh about exurbs.

I would not refer to any part of the West Virginia portion of the Washington, DC CMSA as "exurban." In my mind, "exurban" is characterized by an area just beyond the _contiguous_ urbanized (suburbanized) area, more often than not within a MSA. It's not really a technical definition, but a more subjective one having to do with appearance and character, rather than population density, lot sizes, or growth rates.

I think of pastoral, idyllic places characterized by such things as horse farms, large estates, perhaps a quaint little boutique town...not necessarily currently rural areas exploding with new development.

In the DC region, for example, I think that it's safe to call the area around Middleburg, about 50 miles west of downtown, exurban. It's full of cute country lanes, beautiful old (and some new) houses on huge expanses of land..it's pretty, it's really expensive, and it's likely to retain its character for a long time. In contrast, Leesburg and other parts of fast-growing Loudon County seem rural and isolated one moment, and then suddenly become a milieu for six lane road-widenings, Lowe's and townhouses.

I think the best examples of 'exurban' areas can be found in the Pennsylvania suburbs of Philadelphia, the Hudson Valley north of NYC (upper Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess Counties), and much of Southwest Connecticut.

[Breed]

I don't really see much of a difference.

By most of the defintions, it appears as though an exurb is made up of large lot subdivisions in rural areas.

So that would make a suburb... an area of large lot subdivisions in less rural areas?

Maybe because we aren't dealing with a monstrous population in SC, most of our exurbs are suburbs by that definition. Most of our suburbs are located in rurally-oriented areas. Seems to me that exurbs and suburbs seem to be one in the same... but the term "exurb" seems to have a less negative connotation.

[teshadoh]

Originally posted by Breed

I don't really see much of a difference.

By most of the defintions, it appears as though an exurb is made up of large lot subdivisions in rural areas.

So that would make a suburb... an area of large lot subdivisions in less rural areas?

Maybe because we aren't dealing with a monstrous population in SC, most of our exurbs are suburbs by that definition. Most of our suburbs are located in rurally-oriented areas. Seems to me that exurbs and suburbs seem to be one in the same... but the term "exurb" seems to have a less negative connotation.

I can relate to SC since that's my home state. Here are some examples: the eastern developed portion of Greenville County from the city of Greenville to Pelham Rd is suburban. Simpsonville, Pickens, and the rural area between that is dotted with a small number of subdivisions & trailer parks - people that commute to the office parks, shopping centers is exurban.

Lexington is a exurb of Columbia, whereas Irmo has become suburban in the past 10 years. Summerville is becoming suburban wheras in the past - like Moncks Corner it was exurban.

I admit I'm not the most qualified to determine what the exurbs are - but I still contend it isn't strictly a developed area, but a mostly rural zone that has some dependance on a primary urban center & it's edge cities. For that matter - as my hometown of Rock Hill is evolving from a small primary city to secondary city to Charlotte, to what will eventually become a suburb, much of the surrounding area in York County could be considered exurban Charlotte.

The difference isn't so notable for smaller cities, because land value hasn't escalated into influencing suburban areas into higher densities - but there still is a distinction between the two.

[JNA]

Interesting analysis/read

The Exurban Myth at:
http://www.americanprogress.org/site...J8OVF&b=275401

[IlliniPlanner]

[QUOTE=mendelman]

I disagree. Naperville is probably more of an "edge city" than an "exurb" A more appropriate example of exurb in Chicagoland would be Huntley or Gilberts in the Northwest Tollway corridor.

Or Rondout near Libertyville. And look at what Gurnee used to be before Gurnee Mills landed. It used to be such a quiet and quaint village with maybe 10 retail stores to its name. Driving to Six Flags Great America used to take 5 minutes. Now it's more like 35.

[Plan Man]

Just as a suburb is in between urban and rural, an exurb is between suburban and rural. Typically, large "estate" lots (2-3 acres) with virtually no amenities.....

"A region lying beyond the suburbs of a city, especially one inhabited principally by wealthy people."

Originally posted by Trinity Moses

Ive noticed some discussions about exurbs or that refer to exubria or the exurbs.

Just what is this? Something beyond a suburb, right?

I have my own ideas...whats the difference between an exurb and a suburb.

Suburbs are more built up and probably have office parks and industrail parks as well as subdivisions.

Exurbs are still more rural, a "new" suburb,

How can you tell a "real" rural area from an exurban one?

Theres' less large lot ribbon development along the country roads, the farms are real working farms not hobby farms or second income farms (and they may be larger, too), and theres less new subdivisions away from town ("town" is usually some county seat town, though there may be rural villiages around).

[illinoisplanner]

Originally posted by boiker

^--- Edit: Exactly what Mendelman and Tesh say.



so exactly, how large-lot does a lot have to be to be an exurb? I don't recall the majority of Naperville having 1 acre or .5 acre lots. Naperville is most definetly a Boomburb.

When I think of exurbs, In Illinois, I think of Oswego, Huntley, and other small'ish old farm towns that are becoming warehouse/distro centers and bedroom communities.

I was flattered when I started searching the web for exurbs, and came across this site and this thread, and my hometown of Huntley, IL was mentioned as being an exurb. You guys are defintiely on the ball with Huntley being an exurb, even though it's well on it's way to becoming a suburb, and possibly even a edge city/job center.

When I think of exurbs, I think of towns where a lot of development (primarily large lot) has overtaken a small country town, and where people primarily commute to the suburbs or city center for jobs. Usually 3,000-15,000 population towns or clustered estate subdivisions. Also must be in the metropolitan statistical area on the outermost fringe. Generally surrounded by natural features, such as forest, grassland, swamp, etc.

Here's a pretty comprehensive list of exurbs in Chicagoland:
Harvard
Marengo
Hampshire
Burlington/Plato Center
Huntley
Gilberts
Elburn
Sugar Grove
Yorkville
Plano
Sandwich
Genoa
Sycamore
Wonder Lake
Richmond/Spring Grove
Antioch
Lake Villa
Fox Lake
Minooka
Manhattan
Channahon
Wilmington
Braidwood
Manteno
Peotone
Beecher
St. John's, IN
Cedar Lake, IN
Lowell, IN
Chesterton, IN

Here are some other Midwestern exurbs, based on research and experience.

MILWAUKEE, WI:
Delafield
Oconomowoc
Mukwonago
Hartford
Hartland
Port Washington
Cedarburg
Grafton
East Troy

MADISON, WI:
Sun Prairie
Oregon
Waunakee
Stoughton
Verona

ROCKFORD, IL:
Belvidere
Byron
Rockton
South Beloit
Roscoe

PEORIA, IL:
Washington
Eureka
Chillicothe
Morton

CHAMPAIGN, IL:
Mahomet
Monticello

SPRINGFIELD, IL:
Chatham
Auburn

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN:
Hudson, WI
New Richmond, WI
River Falls, WI
Rogers
Elk River
Monticello
St. Michael
Albertville
Corcoran
Chanhassen
Chaska
Shorewood
New Prague
Rosemount
Hastings
Ramsey
Oak Grove
Norwood Young America
St. Francis
E. Bethel
Stillwater
Mound
Farmington
Buffalo
Cambridge
North Branch
Princeton
Big Lake
Wyoming

[ICT/316]

One-way to explain “Exurban” areas’ (and sorry, if this was already mentioned) is a: Rural-non Urban metropolitan town. So, it’s with in a metro area by county, but still rural. Usually, under 10,000 population, separated by some distance from other towns.

These areas’ are usually just outside the outer rings of distribution facilities out near beltways. They could still be miles away from suburban areas. They are what one may imagine as “small towns”. But, they are with in a metro area, because they are in a surrounding county that makes up the metro area. Soon to be bedroom communities.

Today, a lot of these areas are more and more non-farm and more residential activity. Remember this is the fringe of a metro area? It’s not unusual for some of this “rural” land to be held by large corporations and developers.

Bill

Drucee…Naperville, Ill 40 years ago may have been a good example of an exurban area. Rural, small town feel. Still went to the local butcher. Bad example in today’s terms. It’s a full- blown suburb. Unless I miss understand you and you were talking about it use to be an example of an exurban area?

[jmello]

Originally posted by Trinity Moses

Ive noticed some discussions about exurbs or that refer to exubria or the exurbs. Just what is this? Something beyond a suburb, right?

Exurbs are the suburbs of the suburbs.

An example in Boston:

The Route 128 beltway is Boston's first ring of suburbs. The majority of people in this area used to commute to Downtown Boston for work. Now about half work along the beltway. The towns along the Interstate 495 beltway are exurbs. Most people commute to jobs along Route 128, I-495, or in between (in the suburbs). A small percentage bite the bullet and make the 45+ minute trip into Boston and Cambridge. The exurbs have a much weaker connection to the central city than the suburbs.

[the north omaha star]

Another example of an exurb would be Lawrence, KS in my opinion. It's not counted as a KC area suburb ordinarily. However, there are a lot of people who are commuting from Lawrence to Overland Park, Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO.

[plankton]

I'm not exactly sure, but when I played the word 'exurbia' in the triple word score in a recent Scrabble game for 100+ points (it got challenged by some poor schmo) I was king for a day, let me tell ya.....

[hilldweller]

Originally posted by plankton

I'm not exactly sure, but when I played the word 'exurbia' in the triple word score in a recent Scrabble game for 100+ points (it got challenged by some poor schmo) I was king for a day, let me tell ya.....

Did he bust out the dictionary on you? Was it in there? Assuming you're not kidding.

[ICT/316]

The North Omaha Star...I disagree that Lawrence is an example of an of Exurban area. Lawrence and Douglas County are it’s own MSA. Separate from KC MSA on the east and Topeka MSA to the west. Yes they have alot of connection.
Blair in the north and Plattsmouth to the south of Omaha would be exurban areas.

[illinoisplanner]

Originally posted by the north omaha star

Another example of an exurb would be Lawrence, KS in my opinion. It's not counted as a KC area suburb ordinarily. However, there are a lot of people who are commuting from Lawrence to Overland Park, Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO.

I wouldn't necessarily consider Lawrence, KS an exurban area. I don't really know what to classify cities greater than 25,000 people that commute to a larger urban center. It's kind of similar to DeKalb IL, West Bend WI, Anderson IN, Nashua NH, Athens GA. They are disattached cities that are still part of a greater metro area. What do we call them??