In taking Curbed readers to ten new cities across the United States, we want to underscore that, while American cities are wildly different, common themes shape the places we live. This is especially prescient in the run-up to a presidential election, when community issues become even more pressing as Americans elect their next leaders. Rather than a political story focused on residents’ fears, however, we wanted to collectively tell a story about the cities people love, and why those places are worth defending, promoting, and celebrating.

In 10 Streets That Define America, you’ll discover a narrative combining issues (rising living costs, commuting, loss of local business, historic preservation) with profiles of the Americans they affect, photos and video of the places they live, and statistics that compare data from those cities to your own city.