Land Use Models in US Cities Quiz
Burgess, Hoyt, multiple nuclei (10 questions).
Land Use Models in US Cities Quiz: Quick Study Notes
Urban geographers have long sought to understand the spatial arrangement of cities. The three classic models of North American urban structure—Burgess, Hoyt, and Harris & Ullman—provide frameworks for analyzing how cities grow and organize land use.
1925 Concentric Zone Model. Based on Chicago. Suggests cities grow in rings around a single CBD.
1939 Sector Model. Suggests growth happens in wedges along transport corridors (rail/roads).
1945 Harris & Ullman. Cities are complex with multiple centers (nodes), not just one CBD.
All models assume land value decreases with distance from a center, but define the center differently.
Key Takeaways
- The Concentric Zone Model resembles a target with 5 rings.
- The Sector Model accounts for the impact of transportation routes on property values.
- The Multiple Nuclei Model reflects the decentralized nature of modern cities.
- The CBD (Central Business District) is the traditional focal point of commerce.
- The Zone of Transition usually contains older housing and light industry.
- Models become less applicable as cities globalize and deindustrialize.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Burgess Concentric Zone Model?
Proposed by E.W. Burgess in 1925, it depicts the city as five concentric rings: CBD, Zone of Transition, Working Class Zone, Residential Zone, and Commuter Zone.
How does the Hoyt Sector Model differ from Burgess?
Hoyt argued that cities grow in sectors or wedges rather than rings, largely driven by transportation arteries like railroads and highways extending from the CBD.
What is the main idea of the Multiple Nuclei Model?
Harris and Ullman argued that large cities develop around several distinct nodes (e.g., a university, an airport, or a business park) rather than a single CBD.
What is the Zone of Transition?
In the Burgess model, this is the area surrounding the CBD, characterized by mixed land use, older housing, and light manufacturing, often serving as a landing point for immigrants.
Why are these models important today?
While cities have evolved, these models provide the foundational vocabulary for understanding urban sprawl, gentrification, and zoning patterns in North American geography.
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