Photograph Of Levittown, Pennsylvania

This photograph shows an aerial view of Levittown, Pennsylvania. The name “Levittown” became virtually synonymous with suburbia, particularly with the growth of sprawling American suburbs in the post–World War II era. The suburban homes of the era represented the fulfillment of the American dream, particularly for many men and women who had served in the military during the war, returned home, and were starting families. The suburbs, with their rows of houses, pools, community centers, playgrounds, and lawns, provided an alternative to crowded and oftentimes gritty and crimeridden cities. The three Levittown communities—this one outside of Philadelphia, along with one on Long Island, New York, and one in New Jersey—are regarded as emblematic of the growth of the suburbs, and perhaps as emblematic of middle-class conformity.