DISCUSSION ESSAYS

Discussion Essays

Discussion Essays

Concentric Theory

Theories On How Cities Develop and Grow

In this reading you will learn about a number of ideas that geographers used to help explain why cities grow. There are almost as many theories as why cities develop and grow as there are geographers. However, we will concentrate on a few of the older and more established theories as to why cities grow.

First, we must explain some things about cities that will help prepare you for our discussion of city growth. The basic function of a city is to assemble, process, store, and redistribute goods, peoples, and ideas. This function attempts to overcome the problem of resource distribution. The distribution of resources over the landscape is not even. Resources (food,gas,labor) are never located where you want them, when you want them. Cities attempt to bring together all of the resources for production or living that a person would need. The more able a city is to solve the problem of resource distribution, the more attractive a city will be to live in, work in, and play in.

The Concentric Ring Theory

The Concentric Ring Theory expanded on the idea of zones of economic activity. This Theory was put forth during the 1920s. Since that time, other theories have come forth to try to explain in greater detail the pattern that cities follow when they grow.

The Concentric Ring Theory used the ideas of zones to explain how cities grew (see chart number two). This theory, like the Van Thuen Model, believed that the cost of land went down the farther away from the Central City or market place that you were located. This theory also believed that the cost of transportation went up the farther away from where you were located from the Central City.

The Concentric Ring Theory called the Central market place the Central Business District (CBD). Inside this CBD, land was incredibly expensive and only businesses that could afford to build tall skyscrapers to overcome the cost of land, could afford to locate in this zone.

One of the ideas that pops up at this time is the notion of neighborhood. A neighborhood is a residential area where people live near, and interact with, one another. Usually neighborhoods are in cities, although they may be found in rural areas as well. Their geographic boundaries are often loosely defined.

Residents of urban neighborhoods often share the same concerns and values. They are generally have similar incomes as well as similar social characteristics such as education level and housing preference, and a similar sense of public order. The most familiar type of neighborhood is the ethnic neighborhood, an area where people with the same cultural background choose to cluster together to live. This strengthens their sense of community and preserves cultural traditions. Residents benefit from nearby relatives, common language, stores and services geared to their needs, and institutions important to them, such as churches and clubs. Unlike neighborhoods, ghettos historically have been areas where ethnic groups have been forced to ...