[bombcar]

So lawns are literally natural in some parts of the country; you can grind the land down to dirt and it'll grow a grass and become a meadow if you do nothing; if you mow it it'll be a lawn.

Those areas were instrumental in the "American Dream"-style imagery so the rest of the country imitated it, even though it's absolutely insane in some places.

Also the amount yards are used varies greatly by area, and by family size.