How ranch-style homes helped make the American dream a reality

Ranch-style homes – with their single-story construction, attached garages, open floor plans, and flat roofs – are among the most popular home styles in the United States.

“The homes we now classify as ranch-style became increasingly popular in the 1930s because they were cheaper to build than the traditional Colonial Revival or Cape Cod styles,” says Mary A. van Balgooy, a historic home researcher and consultant.

“The ranch house of today is a uniquely American invention,” said van Balgooy. “It required minimal decoration, looked very spacious and therefore seemed a wonderful solution for people who wanted to afford a home of their own.”

A particular design by builder Cliff May shaped the form. “Cliff May is what we call the ‘father of the ranch house,'” said van Balgooy.

May began as a furniture maker and began building homes influenced by Spanish colonial architecture and California adobe in the 1930s. Although he was not a licensed architect, he managed to get his designs published in notable magazines such as Architectural Digest and Sunset.

“In my opinion, he was the best promoter,” said van Balgooy. “By 1955, 8 out of 10 houses built in the United States were ranch houses.”

Ranch homes became popular at a time when more Americans were buying homes than ever before. As the population moved into the suburbs, ranch homes spread across the country.

“The ranch house, to me, symbolizes the dream of a generation to have their own home and to live in it,” said van Balgooy. “It is the face of American suburbia.”

Tell us your property or housing story using the form below and you could be featured in a future issue of Adventures in Housing.