Urban history can be "read" on Main Street and every Main Street has its own story to tell. Many factors shaped urban America--the expanding frontier, the development of transportation, industrialization and the exploration of natural resources and suburbanization, to name a few--and these were reflected in the appearance of the landscape, the impact of built forms and the patterns of growth and change. Covering from 1850 to 1975 and containing 259 contemporary photographs of American villages, towns and cities, this book is a vivid profile of architecture and building styles, of life, activity and commerce. The author explores the roots and traditions of American town-building, showing historical, regional and cultural similarities and variations.--From publisher description.