Types of Communities and Urban Sprawl

Urbanization has three main definitions you will need to know for the exam:

The proportion of a country’s population who reside in urban Settings80% of India’s population still reside in rural settings, 20% lives in urban settings The movement of people from rural to urban areasMany people move to the Halifax Area from rural nova scotia for various reasons, (examples: work, education, etc.) The physical expansion of townsHalifax is creeping out further and further because of a population increase.

Central Place Function: This community is a hub for services to smaller communities around them.

Specialized Function: These communities have an unusually large percentage of their labour force employed in one type of work

Break of Bulk Communities: These communities are used for “transshipment,” or as a hub for goods.

Urban Urban SprawlSprawl

Seoul, South KoreaSeoul, South Korea

“The spreading of urban developments (houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city”

“The growth of neighborhoods where people live and shop.” - Mr. D. Smith

Problems1) Land use conflicts- There might already be

something near a new residential development that residents would not appreciate. They will move in anyway and then complain when they notice the problem.

2) Social conflicts: New people may not mix with the original people, may expect different things.

3) Inefficient land use: Laws aren’t ususally ready to adapt to new residents and the desires they bring in, so the market decides how land is used.

• Big expensive residential properties instead of farm land

• necessary wetlands or habitat destroyed for mini-malls and car dealerships

• Etc.

4) Increased energy consumption.How does living in a suburb need more

energy than living in a city?

5) Increased financial burden: People move out of the city and so their money often goes with them

• Purchasing goods and services• taxes

Solutions• Higher density housing

•Improve and encourage public transit,cycling, and walking

• “Green-up” parks libraries, ban new highways

Victoria, BC

• Co-housing – reduces cost and keeps people in the city

• Build up instead of out to provide inexpensive housing

• Mixed activity areas houses, shops, businesses, offices

Concentric Zone Theory

Earliest model to explain urban social structures and how they organize themselves.

This model does not work well with cities outside the USA

1920 - Earnest Burgess

Concentric Zone Theory

1. Central business district2. Wholesale/light manufacturing3. Low-class residential4. Middle-class residential5. High-class residential10. Commuter Zone

1920 - Earnest Burgess

1. Central business district

2. Wholesale/light manufacturing

3. Low-class residential4. Middle-class residential5. High-class residential

Sector Theory1939 - Homer Hoyt- economist

Lower-class residential areas tend to be located near railroads and manufacturing sites.

1. Central business district

2. Wholesale/light manufacturing

3. Low-class residential4. Middle-class residential5. High-class residential

Sector Theory1939 - Homer Hoyt- economist

Was meant to modify the theory to allow for outward growth along transportation routes.

1. Central business district

2. Wholesale/light manufacturing

3. Low-class residential

4. Middle-class residential

5. High-class residential

6. Heavy manufacturing

7. Outlying business district

8. Residential suburb

9. Industrial suburb

10.Commuter zone

Multiple Nuclei Theory 1945 - Chauncy Harris and Edward Ullman

Residential areas begin to act as business districts

Urban Sprawl

A city expanding outward, overtaking the land around it

Suburbanization

The specific development of residential areas that are separated from the work places of a city

Information Provided by Mr. D. Smith

Presentation Created by Ms. R. Wilkins