Have you ever thought about what the world would be like without the automobile? This article will talk about the things that the automobile helped create. Inventors first began experimenting with steam engines in the late 18th century. Automobiles began to be manufactured and sold to the public in 1890 (Automotive History). The automobile is considered one of the greatest inventions of all time. As a result of the automobile, cities changed, jobs were created, and the environment was impacted. Over the past century, the automobile has had a major impact on cities. One of the effects of the automobile that we don't always think about is the formation of suburbs. Suburbs began to be built massively in the 19th and 20th centuries. “Levittown was the first prefab community, it was built in 1949.” (The automobile in American life). Levittown was the first of the largest mass-produced suburbs. Automobiles allowed people to live outside the city and still be able to go to work. This has significantly reduced the crowding of the city. The expansion of the city limits required widening of the streets. For this reason, highways and highways were formed. Highways allowed travel between cities, and interstates allowed travel across state lines. (History of the automobile). Along with this new expansion came new opportunities. Some of these opportunities include drive-in movie theaters and restaurants, drive-thru banks and restaurants, motels and convenience stores. 7 Eleven was the first convenience store with extended hours (Impact of the Automobile). This had a great impact on American culture and travel. It was the first store with extended hours. The new hours were 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. In fact, that's how the store got its name (7 Eleven). Motels just......middle of paper......wouldn't exist. Life without the automobile, suburbs, interstate travel, and drive-thru restaurants would be very different from the life people are accustomed to today. The automotive industry has expanded across every continent and continues to grow today. Works Cited “Automobile In American Life and Society.” The automobile in American life and society. NP and Web. February 16, 2014. "Automotive History." Automotive history. NP and Web. 15 February 2014. "Smithsonian Encyclopedia: Early Cars: Fact Sheet for Children." Smithsonian Encyclopedia: Early Cars: Fact Sheet for Children. NP and Web. 15 February 2014. “History”. History. 7-Eleven, nd Web. April 20, 2014. “Editorial Staff.” North Carolina State News. NP, NP Web. 17 February 2014. “The Impact of the Automobile in the 20th Century.” The impact of the automobile on the 20th century. NP, NP Web. 16 February. 2014.