Are we overusing "exurb?" (Houston, College Station: college, live in, housing)

[texas7]

Houston is built in concentric rings. At one point, areas that were considered far suburbs (in the 60's as the city was beginning to develop) are now considered to be "near urban". After the completion of 610 (ring 1), the suburbs became areas far outside of loop 610, after the completion of BW-8 (ring 2), the suburbs again moved to areas beyond BW-8. Exurbs are areas that are beyond the suburbs. From my understanding, an exurb is a region lying beyond the suburbs of a city. I would still consider Sugarland, Pearland, Spring, etc. to be suburbs (a region that is adjacent to a city whether it is in an incorporated area or not). The exurbs would begin after the suburbs that are adjacent to Houston city limits.

[sbhubbell]

Yes! I don't consider Katy to be an exurb, but some folks here refer to it as such frequently.

[JL]

Fulshear is an exurb though.

[chris_ut]

The way Houston is sprawling out you could say College Station is an exurb of Houston :P

[tyger7000]

People who live inside the loop consider everything a exburb . All of us suburb people are missing out on the inner Loop SMH .

[jd2008]

I consider basically almost all of Houston a suburb because of the development pattern. Like many other sunbelt cities, most of the city proper (even inside the loop) are burbs. So, given that reality, most of the outer fringes are most certainly exurbs.

[modster]

Originally Posted by tyger7000

People who live inside the loop consider everything a exburb . All of us suburb people are missing out on the inner Loop SMH .

The world is flat and it falls off just past Post Oak.

[AK123]

I think it's probably overused by one or two posters.

For example, I don't consider Sugar Land an exurb. Or Clear Lake. Both being only 20 miles out from downtown, I think they are suburbs. Jersey Village is about 18 miles out. Kingwood is 28 miles out. Katy is 30 miles, and the Woodlands is close to 35 miles out.

But I suppose it depends one what the cut-off line is on distance from downtown Houston in consideration of the place being a suburb or exurb. Fulshear, Magnolia, Conroe, Alvin I would all consider exurbs.

[chris_ut]

Hard to call Kingwood an exurb when its in the Houston city limits...

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by jd2008

I consider basically almost all of Houston a suburb because of the development pattern. Like many other sunbelt cities, most of the city proper (even inside the loop) are burbs. So, given that reality, most of the outer fringes are most certainly exurbs.

same here. if you have grassy vacant lots or single story housing near you youre in the 'burbs. it maybe be a more 'happening' burb. might as well wave at a neighbor passing by