THE POST-SUBURBAN ERA COMES TO RICHMOND - CITY DECLINE, SUBURBAN TRANSITION, AND EXURBAN GROWTH

The Richmond, Virginia region is an example of a metropolitan area tha t has entered the post-suburban era. We define the post-suburban era i n terms of inner suburban population loss and relative income decline, suburban employment increase, suburban outcommuting reduction, exurba n population and income increase, and farmland conversion. The post-su burban era involves the maturing of many suburbs. Maturing suburbs usu ally increase employment within their borders. The necessity for subur banites to commute to central cities declines. However suburban maturi ty also is associated with diminished capacities. Relative income decl ine in numerous suburbs is the most prominent feature of diminished su burban capacities. Ironically, the stage for relative suburban income decline is set by suburban job increases which expand the commuting zo ne 20 or 30 more miles into rural territory, greatly enlarging the zon e of exurban population growth. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.