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How did the geographic extent of Chicago change between 1970 and 1990 compared with its population?

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urban sprawl Mosaic of images taken by Landsat 5 of the western portion of Las Vegas in 1984 (top), 1999 (middle), and 2009 (bottom).

Between 1970 and 1990, the metropolitan area of Chicago experienced a significant disparity between its population growth and its geographic expansion, a hallmark of urban sprawl.

During this two-decade period, the population of the Chicago metropolitan area grew by only 1 percent. In contrast, the geographic extent of the area increased by 24 percent. This trend reflects a broader pattern in the eastern and central United States, where relatively modest population increases were accompanied by substantial spatial growth as residents sought more living space and suburban amenities, facilitated by infrastructure development and increased reliance on the automobile.1