A prosperous area beyond the suburbs of a city where wealthy people live in spacious homes on large plots of land.
Coined in the 1950s from 'ex-' (beyond) + 'suburb,' creating a term for areas beyond traditional suburbs. The word reflects post-WWII American urban expansion patterns where affluent residents sought countryside living with city access.
Exurbs represent a fascinating third ring of American development—not quite rural, not suburban—and they've created a whole new pattern of sprawl that city planners still grapple with today. The term emerged exactly when American car culture and interstate highways made it possible for the wealthy to live 30+ miles from downtown.
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