The ranch debuted in the southwestern United States in the 1920s but became prominent during the 1950s and 1960s when automobiles replaced early 20th-century forms of transportion, like streetcars leading to the growth of suburbs with bigger lot sizes and bigger homes. In the 1950s, 9 out of every 10 homes constructed were ranches.

Ranches are 1-story and feature an open floor plan and casual ambiance. Sometimes called the California Ranch, the style took many of its cues from Spanish Colonial, Prairie, and Craftsman homes and were characterized by their pitched roofs, large driveways, attached garages, mixed exterior exteriors, sliding and picture windows, and sliding doors leading to backyard patios.

There are many variations of the ranch style with each featuring a slightly different aesthetic but sharing most of the main identifying characteristics.