Hgap 6.6 - 6.7

Learning Goals

• 49-1: Explain how patterns of land use, population and housing density, and technological capabilities shape metropolitan regions.

• 49-2: Explain recent patterns in city infrastructure, economic base, and housing.

Patterns of Urban Land Use

• City Structure: The internal organization of cities shares similarities but no model fits precisely; driven primarily by utility and accessibility.

  • Utility & Accessibility: Influenced by transportation technologies; examples include sector and multiple-nuclei models. When discussing accessibility, the role of the automobile as a recent invention impacts urban development environment.

Historical Context

• Travel in Early Cities:

  • Early cities were compact with people traveling by walking, boats, horses or stagecoaches.

  • Industrialization led to expansion and the creation of mass transit systems starting from the 1850s (horse car to electric streetcars).

  • Different access levels were given based on distance from the city center, controlling residential and industrial development.

Socioeconomic Patterns

• Income Inequality:

  • Urban environments showcase varying land values due to transportation systems. Higher-income residents gravitate towards suburban living, while lower-income populations remain in inner-city areas due to greater availability of multifamily residences and mass transit.

• Rise of Automotive Transportation: With the dominance of cars by the 1950s, existing cities expanded significantly; decreasing reliance on mass transit especially among affluent populations, leading to urban sprawl.

Population and Housing Density

• Definitions:

  • Population Density: Total population divided by total land area.

  • Perceived Density: General impression of people present in a space, influenced by sociocultural factors (visual perceptions).

• Population Density Gradient:

  • A model illustrating population density decline as distance from the CBD increases, showing the stark contrast of urban living vs suburban single-family home settings.

Housing Density in New York City

Table Overview

Short Hills Example

• Developed in the 1870s, first planned community with a focus on railway connectivity, retaining its housing value due to mass transit access.

• Resident Preferences: Open spaces and commuting conveniences contribute to its desirability compared to Manhattan.

Changes in Urban Infrastructure and Economic Base

• Fiscal Squeeze: Due to decreasing city revenue and increasing urban infrastructure maintenance demands.

  • Consequences: Left with abandoned properties, job shortages, and degraded infrastructure as affluent populations move out.

• Economic Restructuring: Shift from industrial to digital economies, leading to high-income job creation but decreasing unskilled job availability.

  • Increasing disparity in socioeconomic status; emergence of new residential patterns categorized into six different groups.

Six Residential Patterns of Socioeconomic Groups

Conclusion

• Recent patterns in city infrastructure, population density, and housing trends underscore the complexity of urban spaces. Urban areas must adapt to changes, and a significant focus remains on infrastructure investment to manage fiscal pressures and socioeconomic disparity.

AP® Exam Tip

• Important to recognize that while the government has an influence on city structure, developers, corporations, and private citizens also play key roles. Don't attribute all power solely to local authorities.