This section provides information about urban, suburban, and rural contexts as they relate to the theory and practice of CSS. To simplify access to information, this site has developed its own definition of urban, suburban, and rural, recognizing that the boundaries and distinction between types of land use patterns is often blurred. Explore links to CSS issues and case studies as they relate to types of overall settlement patterns.
By "suburban" we mean areas that are defined as metropolitan areas that are lower density than cities and where land uses are often auto-oriented and segregated. However, suburban areas also encompass pre-World War II smaller towns and cities, as well as mixed-used activity centers.
"Rural" is a term we use to characterize areas with large expanses of undeveloped or agricultural land, dotted by small towns, villages, or any other small activity clusters.
