"I remember when this used to be all farmland!" (transplants, new home)

[subject2change]

Drive through the suburbs with anyone except the very young, and you might hear that said.
What metropolitan area do/did you live in? What suburb can you remember as being the country, mostly farms, where there is now development after development? And (about) how old are you?

[LakeShoreSoxGo]

One time back in the mid 90's my parents took me camping in Crystal Lake, on the 4th of July week end.

There were cornfields and the locals looked like rural types. Some of the kids I saw had the baggy jncos, mushroom haircuts, and looked like they had actual dirt on their faces and shirts.

Now the area is total suburbia. Stepford wives and SUV's.

[annie_himself]

Baton Rouge metro area. I remember when are latest mall was just a huge lot of trees by I-10, now that area is mostly full of crap. When I moved to the suburbs, it was empty and fairly country. Now it's booming and my town is now the largest in the parish. Full of subdivisions and a few grocery stores. And I'm pretty young..

[Mr Floyd]

From the rancheros in the shadows of the Verdugos where land was owned by Spanish decendents...As late as 1900...to the 6 square miles surrounded by two freeways we see today.

I came to Eagle Rock in 1959. By then, all of the ranch land was gone. My dad showed me a lot of pics of the area from 1920 - 1945 where there were now paved streets and mostly bungalows dotting the landscape. Earlier pictures show vast ranchland and orchards nestled into the foothills with dirt roads and horse buggies.

I spent the first 18 years of my life in ER, moved away to college and other stuff, and then came back in 1988 and have been there since. A few landmark events...

1968? - The Old High School was torn down and replaced by the current one.

1970 - Several families lost their homes to eminent domain and the construction of the 134 Fwy (northeast border of town). This was part of the east / west connection of Cal Trans Fwys.

1974 - More eminent domain and several blocks of home are razed for the new mall.

1975? - Again more eminent domain and the 2 fwy cuts through the hills, eliminating "G" Hill, a popular BMX area and connecting the north / south Fwy network.

A lot has changed in 100 years...including the north south corridor from San Diego to Los Angeles. Were it not for Camp Pendelton, the Marine Base, it would probably all be built up.

Ah...progress...

[TheWereRabbit]

If someone says "I remember when this used to be all farmland" in New England, chances are they are standing in the middle of a forest. Over the last few generations much of the farmland has been reclaimed by 2nd growth forest.

The town I grew up in was damn close to completely built out when I was born in the 80s so it hasn't changed much. Most of the immediate suburbs of Boston are in similiar shape. The town centers have been there for hundreds of years as have many houses. In most towns there were a few remaining small farms that got gobbled up in the 90s/2000s but its a small part of the land. No "subdivisions" anywhere nearby. Now, as you go further out from Boston into exurb territory, the OPs image probably applies a lot more, but still less than in other metros.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by LakeShoreSoxGo

One time back in the mid 90's my parents took me camping in Crystal Lake, on the 4th of July week end.

There were cornfields and the locals looked like rural types. Some of the kids I saw had the baggy jncos, mushroom haircuts, and looked like they had actual dirt on their faces and shirts.

Now the area is total suburbia. Stepford wives and SUV's.

Crystal Lake was already getting populated and built up by then. Its not like it was Harvard, IL. The general proximity to major offices of companies in Schuamburg and Hoffman Estates has made Crystal Lake an attractive place to relocate to starting in the 80s. (Although not to the extent it is now).

And there are still some farm fields around. But I do agree about the "stepford wives" It is very "suburban-conservative" there.

[debzkidz]

I can drive through most all of the suburbs of Dallas and Fort Worth and say that. I grew up there in the 60's and 70's. When I was growing up, even many areas within the cities themselves, were still farmland. We would go from Dallas to visit relatives in Fort Worth and it was like a road trip, passing miles and miles of nothingness, with a couple of small towns in between. Now its just one giant metropolitan area.

[bentstrider]

The area west of Apple Valley Rd and north of Bear Valley in Apple Valley CA used to be an alfalfa field complete with one old farmhouse in the middle.
This was as far back as I could remember.

Then the early 00s set in and the transplants from the 'urbs down the hill wanted cheaper homes.
Along with the cookie cutters, big-box stores and Stater Bros got put in.
And just a few miles down the street, some foppish n00b residents put in complaints about the OK Corral ostrich farm and got it moved.

I will say though that the only thing good that came out of it was the 24 Hr Fitness Super-Sport that opened in '09.
That's about the only "urban/suburban-centric" thing I ever partake in.

[CookieSkoon]

Where I grew up in New York has changed a lot in the last decade.

I grew up in Schuyler county near Seneca lake. Where there was once nothing but trees or fields there are now wineries and new homes.

And many of the old dirt roads have been paved.

I hate it. ;-;

[west336]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Crystal Lake was already getting populated and built up by then. Its not like it was Harvard, IL. The general proximity to major offices of companies in Schuamburg and Hoffman Estates has made Crystal Lake an attractive place to relocate to starting in the 80s. (Although not to the extent it is now).

And there are still some farm fields around. But I do agree about the "stepford wives" It is very "suburban-conservative" there.

My parents tell me they remember Schaumburg, IL used to be all farmland. THAT's a pretty dramatic change from now, to me!