Sprawl

Sprawl refers to the growth of urban areas into surrounding rural lands, resulting in low-density, spread-out communities. It often involves the expansion of suburbs and residential neighborhoods that are geographically distant from town centers, commercial hubs, and jobs. This pattern can lead to increased reliance on automobiles, longer commute times, and greater infrastructure costs. While it can offer more space and affordability, sprawl may also contribute to environmental degradation, loss of farmland, and inefficient land use. Essentially, sprawl describes the outward expansion of cities into natural or undeveloped areas, often characterized by dispersed, automobile-dependent development.