Urban GeographyUrban Geography

• Spatial development of towns/citiesSpatial development of towns/cities

• Variations between citiesVariations between cities

• Variations within citiesVariations within cities

UrbanismUrbanism

• Way of lifeWay of life

• Attitudes/valuesAttitudes/values

• Patterns of behaviorPatterns of behavior

Cities as engineof growth

• Mobilizing functions

• Decision-making

functions

• Generative

functions

• Transformative

functions

Urban system

• Interdependent set of cities in a region

• Urbanization generated by elites

• Tribute/taxes flow into elite, developing center

xxxxxxAncientcities

Erbil,northernIraq

Ancient Greece, 750 to 490 BCE

Independent city-states, laid out on axis with central square

The Roman Empire

“All roads lead to Rome” (1 million in AD 100)

Trajan’s Forum, Rome

The Coliseum, Rome

Roman Theater, Rome

Theaters Throughout the Roman Empire, 200 CE

Classical Architecture from the Greeks and Romans

Arches and columns

The Medieval City in Europe (450 to 1300)

Dark Ages breakdown in order;Medieval Age centered on Catholic Church;

Defensive structures, walls;Cities not growing

Medieval Castlesin France

Feudalism asEconomic model

Lords and peasants (serfs)

GothicArchitecture

Cologne Cathedral,Germany

Church and Architecture

Notre Dame de Paris

Narrow, Twisty Medieval Streets

Vienna, Austria

Other European city characteristics

Plazas

High density

Low skyline

Lively downtown

Neighborhood stability

Symbolism

Good municipal services

Trade City• Merchant capitalism emerges 1400s-1500s;

Gradually replaces feudalism

• Mediterranean Sea ports

• Baltic/North Sea ports (Hanseatic League)

Venice canals

The Renaissance and Baroque Periods (1500 to 1800)

Baroque Amsterdam

Boulevards and“Third Places”

Schonbrunn Palace,Schonbrunn Palace,Vienna. AustriaVienna. Austria

Winter palace,St. Petersburg, Russia

Versailles, FranceVersailles, France

Buckingham Palace, London

Big Ben,London

Westminster Abbey, London

Parliament

Houses of Parliament,Houses of Parliament,LondonLondon

London Tower

Arc de Triomphe, Paris

Rediscovery ofRediscovery ofClassical Greco-Classical Greco-

Roman modelRoman model

Paris

IndustrialRevolution:

Steam engine

Steel

Loom

IndustrialcapitalistCity(1800 on)

Colonial City• Established as colonial commercial or administrative center

Associated with particular resource(coffee, gold, cacao, etc.)

Often a port

ColonialCity

Fort

EuropeanTown

Nativetown

Modernism

Industrialization

Automobiles

“Geography of

Nowhere”

World Urban Dwellers

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1800 1900 1997 2005

% Urban dwellers

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Urban percentage of population

Urban growth rates

4/5 growth in Periphery (esp. in wars); 50% under poverty line

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Top 30 cities that are Core1950 211980 112010 5

Primate cities

• Primary, largest city (usually capital) much larger than others in country

London, Paris, Mexico City, Cairo

GatewayCity

Link (door) to another countryor region because of location

Hong Kong (China-world)

Buffalo (U.S.-Canada)

World cities• Disproportionate share of global cultural influence

• “Where world’s business is done”

• Imperial capitals became corporate centers

World cities

3 centers in Tripolar Economy:New York, London, Tokyo

Urban Morphology in the U.S.1. Walking City2. Electric Streetcar Era3. Early Automobile Era4. Freeway Era

Stagesof

intraurban growth

The Walking City(until 1880s)

Electric Streetcar Era(1888-1920)

Arteries, early suburbs

Early Automobile Era(1920-1945)

Partition, expansion

Suburbs building into natural areas,Suburbs building into natural areas,and paying the consequencesand paying the consequences

CentralPlace Theory

Explaining the relativesize /function of urban centers asa function ofeconomic behavior

Range:Maximum distancebuyer will travel

Threshold:Minimum market size

xxxxxxCentralPlace Theoryin Spain

Rank-Size Rule (U.S.)

• 2nd largest city 1/2 size of 1st

• 3rd largest city 1/3 size of 1st…..etc. etc.

• Philadelphia ranked 5th, 1/5th of NY

• Regional centers – Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, etc.

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Shock City

Rapid economic andsocio-cultural changes,

population growth

Urban growth: Metro areas

Hinterland• Area within economic “orbit” of a major regional center

• Economic flows toward big city;– Cultural influence from big city

• NW Wisconsin hinterland of Twin Cities

• Southern Wisconsin hinterland of Chicago

Southeastern Wisconsin

Bird’s-Eye View of Neenah-Menasha

Fox Valley,Wisconsin

HydropowerFarmingTimberPaper

Port of Green Bay