URBAN LIFE
Chapter 16, Section 2
THE EVOLUTION OF THE CITY

Urbanization= movement of people to cities
ending in large concentrations of people in
these areas.


City= permanent concentration of a relatively
large number of people who are engaged in
mainly non-farming activities.
Cities are nothing new… they have been around
for approximately 6,000 years. However,
urbanization is a new concept.
EARLY CITIES (CHARACTERISTICS)

Preindustrial city:
First appeared along Tigris and Euphrates
River
 Lacked tools necessary to produce food to support
more people
 Poor sanitation
 Reliance on familial relationships


Industrial city:
Emerged with the Industrial Revolution
 Greater area and larger population
 More social less reliance on family
 Today, over 75% of Americans live in urban areas

IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL AND
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS

Agricultural Revolution:



Cultivation of grain
Domestication of animals
Development of basic agricultural technology
Allowed for surpluses in food for the first
time more specialized work.
 Industrial Revolution:
-
Replacement of hand tools with machinery
 New sources of energy (coal, water, steam)

-
People left countryside to cities to fill new
labor pools.
More advanced tech to transport/store food
PROBLEMS

In less-developed countries, cities that grow too
fast are characterized by overurbanization.
When more people live in cities than can be
supported in terms of jobs and facilities.
 Example: Mexico City


Characteristics:
Inadequate housing and food supplies
 Poor sewage disposal
 Poor medical services

URBAN ECOLOGY
Urban ecology= method of studying cities in
which researchers examine the relationship
between people and their environment.
 The layout of cities is not random,
sociologists argue. Three models have emerged
for the distinct ‘areas’ of cities:

Concentric Zone Model
 Sector Model
 Multiple Nuclei Model

CONCENTRIC ZONE MODEL

Proposed by sociologist Ernest W. Burgess

The industrial city spreads out from the center,
creating distinct zones.
SECTOR MODEL

Sociologist Homer Hoyt felt that Burgess’ model
did not take into account various forms of
transportation.
Transportation dictates land use.
 These transportation routes extend the city.

MULTIPLE NUCLEI MODEL

Then the automobile came along… And with it,
a new model created by Chauncy Harris and
Edward Ullman.

There is not ONE central core, but many
centers of activity.
A CRITIQUE OF URBAN ECOLOGY
Some sociologists argue that the models are a bit
outdated.
 One trend they do not reflect is urban sprawl.

Poorly planned development on the edge of cities
and towns.
 Consumes large amounts of land and is used
inefficiently.

THEORIES TO EXPLAIN CITY LIFE

Urban anomie theory= city is anonymous and
unfriendly place; city discourages formation
of primary group relationships.


Louis Wirth
Subcultural theory= cities encourage
formation of primary group relationships;
can always find someone of similar interests in a
city.

Claude S. Fisher
THEORIES TO EXPLAIN CITY LIFE (CONT’D)

Compositional theory= great diversity of
people in a city leads to variation in
lifestyles.

5 lifestyles identified by Herbert J. Gans
Cosmopolites
 Unmarried/childless
 Ethnic villagers
 Deprived
 Trapped

URBAN RENEWAL

Programs meant to provide housing
opportunities for low-income families to
rebuild the economies of central cities.


When the suburbs developed, middle and upper class
families moved out of the cities.
Gentrification= upgrading of specific
neighborhoods in an attempt to encourage
the middle and upper classes to relocate to
the cities.


Pros higher property values; higher property taxes;
greater tax revenue
Cons high housing costs; drive out long-time
residents