Final answer:
Levittown, built by William Levitt, is the name of the suburban community built in 1946 on Long Island, New York, known for its mass-produced homes that were affordable due to assembly-line techniques and financial assistance provided by the GI Bill.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prototypical suburban community built in 1946 in Long Island, New York, is known as Levittown. This was a revolutionary development by William Levitt who applied mass-production techniques to quickly build affordable housing for the post-World War II population. Levittown became a symbol of postwar suburbanization and was significant in shaping the concept of American suburbs. Levitt's innovative approach catered primarily to veterans initially, using an assembly line process that ensured homes could be built quickly and at a lower cost.
Despite the efficiency and affordability of these homes, it's important to note that Levittown and many other suburban developments at the time were marked by racially restrictive covenants that prevented African American families from purchasing homes in these new suburbs. These subdivisions embodied the postwar American Dream for many families but also reflected the era's social and racial exclusions.
Essentially, Levittown is recognized as one of the first mass-produced suburbs in the United States, with its standardized and identical homes affordable to many thanks to assembly-line construction, Federal Housing Administration loans, and the GI Bill.