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This is probably one of those threads that rural people just don't understand. Out here, most fences are woven wire field fence, some with barbed or electric wire on top. We fence to keep our animals in and other people's animals out. I used a nice "yard and garden" wire fence around our front yard to look nicer than standard farm fence. Chain link is quite expensive comparatively, especially for big areas, and would be found only in better-than-average places. I see a lot of places, suburban and rural, and marvel at what some people get upset about. People are nothing, if not funny!
I love the look of chain link fences in front of prisons .... not so much in my neighborhood.
I could see that comparison if it were a six-foot fence in a front yard... but not the typical 3-4 foot residential fence I see in many old neighborhoods with tidy flower gardens and well kept homes. Chain link was put in to replace the original pickets that wore out decades ago, it's practical and tidy and lasts forever.
It seems there are 3 reasons for chain link fence.
1) Dogs. Pets are a luxury expense and imply well to do neighbors. Social media family portraits with goldenDoodles and such.
2) Hurricane protection from debris.
3) Crime security. This makes no sense. Anyone can bypass the fence by hopping over it. Or simply opening the gate.
It seems there are 3 reasons for chain link fence.
1) Dogs. Pets are a luxury expense and imply well to do neighbors. Social media family portraits with goldenDoodles and such.
2) Hurricane protection from debris.
3) Crime security. This makes no sense. Anyone can bypass the fence by hopping over it. Or simply opening the gate.
Property sizes are the same. Some parts of town, there are zero chain link fences in any front yards.
Other parts of town, half of homes have enclosed chain link fences.
What is the pattern here?
As a Latino, I'll answer:
It's a Latino thing (primarily first generation/immigrants).
Go to the Latino, immigrant-heavy parts of any city and you'll see this.
Why do they do it? I'll speculate that it's because they take the "my home is my castle" notion very seriously. They also tend to have more children and like the fence as a boundary for the children. Conversely, it also serves as a boundary to potential trespassers.
I'm fifth generation Latino Californian. I do not have a fence around my yard. I think they are ugly, personally.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook
I could see that comparison if it were a six-foot fence in a front yard... but not the typical 3-4 foot residential fence I see in many old neighborhoods with tidy flower gardens and well kept homes. Chain link was put in to replace the original pickets that wore out decades ago, it's practical and tidy and lasts forever.
Tall wood fences are not allowed in most jurisdictions due to blocking driver sights, so chain link and iron bar are the acceptable substitute. Though still not high enough in most cases to prevent burglars, it will at least slow them down, and encourage them to look for a house without them. Most people do not fence the front to keep kids and pets in, and the old picket fences were more for "style" and even today some people like them.
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Out here, most fences are woven wire field fence, some with barbed or electric wire on top. We fence to keep our animals in and other people's animals out. I used a nice "yard and garden" wire fence around our front yard to look nicer than standard farm fence. Chain link is quite expensive comparatively, especially for big areas, and would be found only in better-than-average places. 
I see a lot of places, suburban and rural, and marvel at what some people get upset about. People are nothing, if not funny! 
