There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

At the turn of the 19th century, cities were vibrant with strong economies, increasing populations, large building movements and most importantly, technological innovations. Availability of frequent and efficient transportation was key to the sustenance and growth of cities. This thesis is an exploration of the impact the street and interurban railway systems made on the city of Indianapolis and its suburbs during their heyday of service between 1864 and 1930.To verify the value of railway locations in relation to the direction of Indianapolis suburb growth, an effort to conduct quantifiable research was applied. First, population growth in Marion County, Indiana and its surrounding eight counties was studied. Evidence of significant growth in areas served by streetcar and interurban systems in comparison to areas that were served only by steam railroad or no service were highlighted. Second, historical land use change research was conducted to determine how land along Indianapolis corridors served by the streetcar railway system was affected by the introduction of such service. Finally, a review of popular response to the systems was undertaken to better understand the effects of the railways on the population. / Department of Architecture