This chronology explores the development of housing in the United States from the arrival of the first settlers through the present day. It traces America's growth from its rural beginnings to its present suburban sprawl and discusses how the nation has dealt with the three major issues of housing development: water supply, sanitation and, to a continually decreasing degree, defense. Additional topics include the effects of technological advances in the field of transportation; the influence of political issues such as the Civil War (especially emancipation); the entry of the government into housing finance; and the continued influx of immigrants.