Sprawling
Sprawling is an adjective describing something that spreads over a wide area, often in an irregular way. In urban planning, sprawl refers to low-density, car-dependent development that extends outward from a city's core, frequently crossing farmland or natural land and producing discontinuous land uses. The term gained prominence in the mid-20th century as observers described outward growth of cities in North America and elsewhere.
Typical features include large residential lots, single-use zoning, heavy reliance on private cars, and growth linked
Impacts can be ecological, economic, and social. Environmentally, sprawl increases land consumption, habitat fragmentation, and transportation
Causes include rising car ownership, highway expansion, zoning practices that separate housing, commerce, and industry, and
Examples of sprawling patterns are commonly cited in parts of the United States, such as Los Angeles