Street-network Sprawl in Holland, United States

What is Street-network sprawl?

Street-network Sprawl is a way to measure urban sprawl, worldwide, through the connectedness of the streets. Less sprawl means more connected, more walkable streets. Well-connected streets – like New York City’s grid – are more walkable and can be served by public transit.

The street network is permanent, and its connectivity affects the livability and environmental footprint of cities for decades and centuries to come. In places with more connected streets, residents drive less and walk more. A well-connected street network is associated with better outcomes for health, the environment, sustainable consumption, social integration, and equity.

We can quantify how connected street networks are with the Street Network Disconnectedness Index (SNDi).

SNDi -- our measure of street-network sprawl (disconnectedness)

The SNDi is a comprehensive measurement of “sprawl”. It captures:

A higher SNDi means less-connected streets – i.e., more sprawl. For the 10137 cities in our dataset, the average SNDi is 2.25, with half of the cities' SNDis falling between 1.08 and 3.25.

More information on the sprawl index can be found in these research papers:

To see the state of street-network sprawl across the globe, visit the sprawlmap.

Holland: city in Michigan, United States

What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.

View Holland, United States on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Holland as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.32, which is highly disconnected.

Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.79, 4.02, 5.49 and 6.0. In each period, new street development in Holland steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 2.23 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.51.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Holland spans a total of 517 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 4.02, which is highly disconnected.

Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 1.79, 3.02, 3.24 and 3.32. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Holland has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 1.22 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.08.

Holland and Michigan follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their street network constructions. The SNDi for both of these rose steadily.

How do development practices in Holland fare in comparison to others in Michigan? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Holland was the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 9 cities in Michigan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other cities in Michigan, street construction in Holland has become more disconnected. Holland ranked 4th in 1975, 5th in 1976-1990, 6th in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.

Holland and United States do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their street network constructions. The SNDi in Holland rose steadily, while the SNDi of street constructions in United States peaked in 1991-2000.

How do development practices in Holland fare in comparison to others in United States? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Holland was the 92nd-most disconnected out of the 315 cities in United States. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other cities in United States, street construction in Holland has become more disconnected. Holland ranked 237th in 1975, 194th in 1976-1990, 157th in 1991-2000 and 92nd in 2001-2014.

Holland and Michigan follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their aggregate street networks. The SNDi for both of these rose steadily.

To date, Holland is the 1st-most disconnected out of the 9 cities in Michigan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other cities in Michigan, the street network in Holland has become more disconnected. Holland ranked 4th in 1975, 2nd in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.

Holland and United States follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their aggregate street networks. The SNDi for both of these rose steadily.

To date, Holland is the 132nd-most disconnected out of the 315 cities in United States. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other cities in United States, the street network in Holland has become more disconnected. Holland ranked 237th in 1975, 141st in 1976-1990, 132nd in 1991-2000 and 132nd in 2001-2014.

As of 2015, Holland had a built-up area of 40.31 square kilometers, and a population of 60812 people.

These are some other cities with approximately the same population: