The City and Urbanization and Urbanism

The City A city can be any urban place of 2,500 people or more that is incorporated as a municipality –In Pennsylvania there are 2,566 municipalities in four categories Cities (57) Boroughs (961) Towns (2) Townships (1,546)

The City Cities (57) First Class Cities - Cities with populations over one million Philadelphia is the only city in Pennsylvania in this class. Second Class Cities - Pittsburgh with a population over 250,000 is the only officially designated second class city. Third Class Cities - All of the remaining cities with populations below 250,000 are classified as third-class cities.

The City MMR = Multi- Centered Metropolitan Region Cities can become important politically because of: –Self governance –Service provision –Seat of culture –Mayors can be nationally known

The City Site of urban culture Unique streets and can walk According to Wirth Cities have –Size –Density –Diversity Wirth identified different kinds of relationships –Primary = face to face personal –Secondary = infrequent but direct personal –Tertiary = indirect relations and contacts

The City Mumford and the City as the Site of Civilization He believed that the primary relations in a city lead to innovations that drive civilizations and culture Based on archaic view of a few ancient cities Has not held up over time (Silicon Valley)

The City The city has colonized the night time creating personalized spaces of participation Skylines and architecture are important to cities as part of identity in an increasing global world

Urbanization and Urbanism Concerned with such questions as: –How did cities first form? –What conditions produced them? –What were early cities like? –What are the essential forms of social organization necessary for the development of a city?

Urbanization and Urbanism Ten Traits of Early Cities Densely populated large territory Supported craftspeople full time Farmer produce surplus controlled by rulers Monumental public buildings Ag surplus controlled by elite Cities center for ideas and recording them Centers for the arts Centers for predictive sciences Organization based on residence not kinship Cities imported and exported (trade)

Urbanization and Urbanism The view of early city development has been an “Evolutionary Model.” Recent evidence suggest growth was discontinuous, sporadic, and uneven. Often several forms life an ag-based economy co-existed with the emergence arts and crafts, science, or a trade based economy.

Urbanization and Urbanism Contemporary Urbanization: 2.8 billion people live in cities, 47% of the global population Often no distinction between a compact urban form and an expansive region of urbanization associated with a Central Place Most of the growth in global urbanization is taking place in Less Developed Nations

Urbanization and Urbanism There has been a rise in megacities particularly in Less Developed Nations A megacity has a population of 10 million or more In 1950 only New York City met this definition There are now 19 megacities and 15 are located in less developed nations The number of cities with over one million residents has grown from 80 in 1950 to 365 in of these cities are in Less Developed Nations.

Urbanization and Urbanism Urbanism Typified by high consumption lifestyles Greater sophistication in arts, fine dining, entertainment, and fashion Participation in an advanced information-based economy See more so-called deviants Diversity Nurtured entertainment and dining districts