1. Three BASIC Models of Urban Structure How is a city laid out in an MDC:
Sociologists, economists, and geographers have developed 3 models to help explain where different types of people tend to live in an urban area
Concentric zone model (older)
Sector model (older)
Multiple nuclei model (older)
Peripheral/Galactic (newer)
Urban Realms (newer)

2. Burgess: Concentric Zone Model
Key to this model is that industry was still in the city and the workers needed to live near the factory.
A city grows in a series of rings…DETROIT
Innermost zone: CBD, no residential
2nd ring: industry and poor-quality housing, immigrant housing, apartments
3rd ring: Working class homes, stable, working-class families
4th ring: newer, more spacious housing for middle class
5th ring: commuter zone, live in smaller settlements and drive into city

3. Hoyt: Sector Model
Key to this model is that city develops along transportation lines in wedges.
A city grows in a series of wedges or corridors extending out from the CBD...ALSO CLAIMED CHICAGO (pg. 439)
Certain areas develop various activities within a wedge.
High class residential wedge: best houses on edge of wedge
Industrial and retail develops along transportation lines
Major development of city during industrial area.
Industry near rivers and railways, and low income housing near that.

4. Harris-Ullman, Multiple Nuclei Model
Has more than one center around which activities revolve (not just CBD)
Port, business, university, airport, park, etc.
Certain types of residents attracted to certain centers
Airport = hotels and warehouses
Post WWII cities with more access to transportation. Example: Los Angeles
Downtown CBD not only area for business… suburbs start to develop.
Key to this model is that there are many CBD’s, not just one. City growth after 1945, so people have cars.

5. Geographic Applications of the Models
The 3 models help to explain why certain types of people live in particular areas
Population count every 10 years: census
Urban areas divided into census tracts of 5,000 residents to corresponding neighborhood boundaries
Use data to summarize the characteristics of the residents living in each tract (race, income, education, etc.)

6. Peripheral Model of Urban Areas
Key to this model is that suburbs are created and connected by a ring road or a “beltway”
Fig : The central city is surrounded by a ring road, around which are suburban areas and edge cities, shopping malls, office parks, industrial areas, and service complexes.

7. Peripheral Model a.k.a Galactic City Model (C. Harris)
Key to this model is that suburbs are created and connected by a ring road or a “beltway”
U.S. and Western Europe people prefer the suburbs.
Peripheral Model has an inner city surrounded by a large suburban residential and businesses connected by a BELTWAY or RING ROAD around the city. (ATL!)
Around the beltway are nodes of consumer and business services called EDGE CITIES
As you go out from the city, the DENSITY GRADIENT declines. People go from living really close together, to having larger yards and being further apart.
Vs.

8. Urban Realms Model: similar to peripheral
’s America
Suburban zones gain their own CBD’s
Business and industrial parks locating outside of central city
Los Angeles is a great example:
West Realm: Santa Monica, Beverly Hills
Northwest Realm: San Fernando Valley
East Realm: San Gabriel
Southeast Realm: Orange County, Costa Mesa, Anaheim
Southwest Realm: San Diego, Long Beach, Inglewood
Basically, suburbs grow independent of central city
Outer (edge) cities are no longer satellites of central city, they have become equal partners
Key to this model is suburbs become mini cities and are independent of the central city. Distinct characteristics on their own.
Key to this model is suburbs become mini cities and are independent of the central city. Distinct characteristics on their own.

9. Models outside of North America
City Models outside North America MDC
European cities
City Models outside of North America LDC
Colonial City Model
Latin American City Model
Islamic City Model
DeBlij’s Sub-Saharan City Model
McGee’s Southeast Asia City Model

10. European City Model: result of very long histories (no model to draw)
Weird street patterns - prior to cars, narrow.
Plazas and Squares - from Greek, Roman, Medieval
Dense and compact - wall around city
Low Buildings – many built before elevators, or cathedral was designated tallest building
Lively downtowns - center of social life, not just office work. People live there.
Neighborhood stability - Europeans moved less frequently than we do, less change over time
Scars of War - many wars , many cities originally defensive. Have walls or remains of walls.
Historical Symbolism - gothic cathedrals, palaces, and castles

11. Colonial City Model (“Old” and “New” parts of the city): Fès (Fez), Morocco
Key to this model is divide old and new / colonizer and native is obvious. Colonial has Euro architecture, toponyms, etc. Disamenity area is the native part of city
Fig :
The old city has narrow winding streets and dense population. The French laid out a new district to the west with a geometric street pattern.

12. Colonial City Model: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Fig : In Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the French demolished the previous city and replaced it with a colonial design with boulevards and public squares.

13. Latin American City Model
Griffen and Ford
City becomes focal point in LDC’s
Elite residential sector in inner city along the spine where services and infrastructure is better.
Squatter settlements on periphery (favelas, slums) little to no services or infrastructure for residents.
Key to this model is wealthy has a wedge boulevard, slums on periphery.

14. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fig : High income households in Rio de Janeiro live in the CBD and in a spine along the ocean. Low-income households often live in peripheral areas.

15. Islamic City Model North Africa and the Middle East.
Centered around a main/central Mosque and a Bazaar (a.k.a “souk”).
Residential areas surrounded by walls.
Religious “Quarters” within city to separate people by religion.
Key to this model is centered around a mosque and a huge open air market (bazaar). Also many walls separating parts of city (modesty and historical defense)

16. Sub Saharan African City Model (DeBlij )
There is no wealthy/elite/gentrified area.
Mining and manufacturing areas are unique to resources in the area.
Because of fast growth, not efficient transportation.
Poor live in the satellite townships/squatter settlements.
Much ethnic and tribal diversity.
Noted difference between the “Colonial” part of the CBD vs. the “Traditional/Ethnic.”
Key to this model is has a colonial element with an emphasis on economic activity, typically mining.

17. Southeast Asian City (McGee Model)
Old colonial port surrounded by commercial business district with emphasis on trade.
Port is emphasis.
No clear CBD.
Industrial parks on outside of city.
Rapid growth.
Transportation a key factor.
Key to this model is the port (trade) and rapid growth creating a cone shape.