American City Life and Rural Life Essay

Was life in an American city better or worse than life on the farm for the average American? † Substantiate your answer with facts/examples. (Ch. 18) Does it really make a difference where you live? Is there any change in people’s lives if they live in the city or the country? With no pun intended, this is a chicken and egg question – do urban and rural residents choose where they want to live based on their lifestyle preferences or do lifestyles change because of the environment? The word Rural† is defined by population density which means how many people are there in a given square mile. Urban areas are defined by the â€Å"census blocks† that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile. The life in a city and on a farm has its own pros and cons. Even though my life is in the city (suburban) area, I prefer to live life on a farm. There are different aesthetic experiences between city and farm life. Even the prepositions show the difference-The farmer lives â€Å"ON† a farm and the urban friend lives â€Å"IN† a city. The cities attracted people from the countryside looking for higher wages and cultural enlightenment (Brinkley p496). In addition, life in an American City was visualized as an escape for many citizens, an escape from what they considered â€Å"The Boredom of Rural Life† (p. 502). Also, the city was preferred because people can experience the new forms of entertainment, amenities and cultural experiences unavailable in rural areas. People moved to cities because new forms of transportation made it easier for them to get there. (pg 503) but this also was a cause for increased crowding in the cities. The unemployment rate is also much higher than in the city. Some differences between city and farm life: First of all, countryside is not polluted,so you can breath there fresh air. Besides, the road traffic is much lesser compared to cities, thus you can enjoy silence in the country. You can also relax and go for a nice walk in the forest or in the meadows. What is more important, is that the country people can grow their own fruit and vegetables which are healthier than those you can buy in the greengrocer’s in the city. Another advantage of country life is it is safer than life in a metropolis. In small towns or villages, crime rate is usually very low and people need to be afraid of having their house broken into or of being attacked and robbed in the street. In addition, it seems that in the country the relationship between people are more genuine as people are more friendly and open there. On the other hand, divorce rates in rural areas are generally lower, in part because couples don’t move around as much. While incomes tend to be lower in rural counties, the cost of living is also proportionally lower. As they become older, people are tired with the hectic and stressful city life and often decide to move outside the city. All things considering, it is obvious that both country and city life have their advantages and disadvantages. Some people find city life more exciting and appealing than small towns but others prefer beauty and tranquility of the countryside, but a lot of people prefer city life because it is much easier. The choice whether to live in a city or country side depends on every person’s character and preferences.