Urban City Models

1. Concentric Zone Model (Burgess Model)

• What It Highlights:
  Cities grow outward in concentric rings from the Central Business District (CBD), with land use and population density changing predictably as you move away from the center.

• Key Concept:
  The closer you are to the CBD, the more expensive and crowded it is; the farther out you go, the more residential and suburban it becomes.

• Why It’s Important:
  It explains the social and economic patterns of cities, such as why low-income families often live closer to the center (near factories) and wealthier families live in the suburbs.

2. Sector Model (Hoyt Model)

• What It Highlights:
  Cities grow in wedges or sectors along transportation routes (e.g., roads, railroads), with high-income areas developing along desirable corridors and low-income areas in less desirable zones.

• Key Concept:
  Transportation and economic factors shape how cities grow, creating distinct sectors of land use (e.g., industrial, residential, commercial).

• Why It’s Important:
  It shows how transportation and economic factors influence urban development, creating distinct patterns of wealth and land use.

3. Multiple Nuclei Model

• What It Highlights:
  Cities have multiple centers of activity (not just one CBD), with different activities (e.g., business, industry, education) creating their own nuclei.

• Key Concept:
  Modern cities are decentralized, with different activities creating their own centers of activity.

• Why It’s Important:
  It explains why modern cities feel spread out and have many “mini downtowns” (e.g., business parks, shopping malls, airports).

4. Galactic City Model (Peripheral Model)

• What It Highlights:
  Modern cities have suburban business districts (edge cities) connected by highways, with the CBD still important but no longer the only center of activity.

• Key Concept:
  Urban sprawl and car dependency have transformed cities, creating new business and residential areas in the suburbs.

• Why It’s Important:
  It explains how urban sprawl and car dependency have reshaped cities, leading to the growth of edge cities and suburbanization.

5. Latin American City Model

• What It Highlights:
  Cities in Latin America are shaped by colonial history and income inequality, with the rich living near the center and the poor living on the outskirts in informal settlements.

• Key Concept:
  Reflects colonial history and social stratification, with wealth and resources concentrated in the center.

• Why It’s Important:
  It explains the social and spatial inequalities in Latin American cities, where wealth and resources are concentrated in the center.

6. African City Model

• What It Highlights:
  Cities in Africa often have three distinct CBDs—one from colonial times, one for traditional markets, and one for informal trading—reflecting the blending of colonial and traditional influences.

• Key Concept:
  Reflects the impact of colonialism and traditional cultures, creating unique urban patterns.

• Why It’s Important:
  It explains how colonialism and traditional cultures shape African cities, creating unique urban patterns.

7. Southeast Asian City Model

• What It Highlights:
  Cities in Southeast Asia are shaped by trade and ports, with the port as the main feature and no single downtown.

• Key Concept:
  Reflects the importance of trade and colonial history, with mixed land use and a focus on ports.

• Why It’s Important:
  It explains why Southeast Asian cities look different from others, with mixed land use and a focus on trade.