Sprawling, Sprawling ...

• Environment Fragments landscapes, disrupts wildlife habitats, alters rivers and streams, increases pollution
• Cities Concentrates poverty in urban centers, hurts downtown commerce by pulling shoppers from locally owned stores and restaurants to large regional malls
• Traffic Longer commutes that take time away from families and work
• Taxes Increases taxes to pay for police and fire-department services, schools and infrastructure such as new roads and sewer construction

SPRAWL AROUND THE COUNTRY

Atlanta isn't the only U.S. city falling to sprawl. Other examples of large and medium-size sprawlers:

• Washington, D.C. Between 1982 and 1994, 69 percent increase in time commuters spent stuck in traffic
• Cincinnati, Ohio Land area increase from 335 square miles in 1970 to 573 square miles in 1996
• Kansas City, Mo. More freeway lane miles per capita than any other city
• Denver, Colo. Farmland falling to sprawl at a rate of 90,000 acres per year
• Seattle, Wash. More cars than people; twice the number of automobile trips each day per household than in 1990
• Austin, Texas From 1982 to 1992, 35 percent increase in open space lost to development
• Las Vegas, Nev. Fastestgrowing population in the United States
• West Palm Beach, Fla. Between 1990 and 1996, 25 percent decrease in urban population density
• Akron, Ohio Between 1990 and 1996, 37 percent decrease in population density and land area increase of 65 percent

Sprawl-Threatened Cities