What is known as the expansion of a city into surrounding rural areas?

The correct answer is urban sprawl, which refers to the spreading out of a city and its suburbs into the surrounding rural areas. This phenomenon often occurs when cities grow in population and economic activity, leading to the development of residential and commercial spaces beyond the city limits. Urban sprawl typically results in low-density housing and can lead to various environmental and social challenges, such as increased traffic congestion, loss of agricultural land, and the need for more infrastructure.

Urban renewal suggests revitalizing an urban area that has become decrepit, focusing on improving existing city structures rather than expanding outward. Suburban development refers more specifically to the construction of new housing and facilities in suburban areas rather than the process of expanding a city. Rural-urban migration involves individuals moving from rural areas to cities in search of better opportunities but does not directly describe the expansion of cities into rural areas.