URBAN PATTERNSCHAPTER 12

“Cities have always been the fireplaces of civilization, whence light and heat radiated out into

the dark, cold world.”

- Theodore Parker

STATISTICS OF URBANIZATION

Total population of the world and the US - 6,215,000,000 - 287,400,000

Total urban population of the world

- 2,800,000,000 or 45%

Total urban population of the US

- 225,000,000 or 78%

CHARACTERISTICS OF URBANIZATION

SITE – the physical characteristics of a specific area

Originally located for commerce and defense- peninsulas and islands for

earliest cities (Venice, Paris)- hills useful because of defense

and drainage (Rome, Houston)

CHARACTERISTICS OF URBANIZATION

SITE – the physical characteristics of a specific area

Fresh water access- domestic consumption- level of industrialization, standard of living, and population growth

CHARACTERISTICS OF URBANIZATION SITE – the physical characteristics of a

specific area

Transportation - Access to water routes more

important prior to railroads- NYC, Pittsburgh, San Francisco- Fall Line cities – NYC, Philadelphia,

Washington DC, Richmond Va., Columbia SC, Columbus Ga.

CHARACTERISTICS OF URBANIZATION

SITE – the physical characteristics of aspecific area

Geological character- Manhattan Island on stable bedrock- Venice, Los Angeles, Mexico City are on earthquake and flood plains

CHARACTERISTICS OF URBANIZATION

SITUATION – relative location of a place

Mumbai, India – adjacent to cotton fieldsBirmingham, England – near coal deposits Johannesburg, South Africa – centrally

located around diamond mines

Houston, Tex. – near oil fields in Gulf of Mexico

Chicago, Ill. – major manufacturing adjacent to Corn Belt

CHARACTERISTICS OF URBANIZATION

SITUATION – relative location of a place

Situation can change over time – + discovery of new resource+ construction of new recreational

lake- change in transportation patterns- agricultural areas effected by

drought

FUNCTIONS OF A CITYJobs and Services

Residential

Trade and Commerce

Manufacturing

Public Administration

Personal Services

IMPACT OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION ON URBANIZATION

Urbanization has nearly doubled every 50 years since 1800

Mechanization has brought an increased flow of migrant labor

England was the first place in world history to have more urban dwellers than rural dwellers (1850)

In 1800, Paris was only European city on mainland to exceed 500,000; by end of century Paris, Berlin, Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Moscow all over 1 million!

METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT IN USJOHN BORCHERT

Sail – Wagon Epoch (1790-1830)Atlantic coastal communities oriented

toward EuropeBoston, NYC, Philadelphia have only small

domestic hinterlands

Iron Horse Epoch (183-1870)Crude national railroad networkRailroads converged with internal waterwaysChicago, Detroit, Cleveland St. Louis develop

METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT IN USJOHN BORCHERT

Steel-Rail Epoch (1870-1920)Rapid development of iron and steel

industriesRapid industrial growth within Northeast

and Midwest

Auto-Air-Amenity Epoch (1920-present)Complex highway and air transportationImproved amenities and speed led to

increase suburban developmentSunbelt migration