Lakewood has been recognized as being a counterculture and alternative haven for Northeast Ohio residents, as opposed to the outer-ring suburbs.

Once she graduated and got an administrative job at a center for mentally disabled adults, she began scouring the outer-ring suburbs of Albuquerque for a home.

The parklands stretch southwest through Minneapolis' outer-ring suburbs to Jordan, Minnesota.

Ms. Lippman's latest novel is set in one of those outer-ring suburbs where houses have great-rooms and the high school boasts of its early decision admissions.

Other so-called outer-ring suburbs - about a half dozen around the Twin Cities - have undertaken development projects.

When 706 was first put into service, several residents of Atlanta's outer-ring suburbs complained about no longer being associated with the more prestigious 404 area code.

"I'm not so sure it's going to increase the power of those outer-ring suburbs by leaps and bounds," Mr. Maloney said.

Today, the town retains this "post-war look," with small houses of different designs on large lots, in contrast to stereotypical neighborhoods of outer-ring suburbs.

Chad - young, white, from an outer-ring suburb of Atlanta, GA.

As a result, most of St. Louis' outer-ring suburbs were switched to area code 636 on May 22, 1999.