City Placement and City Placement and GeographyGeography

Why were cities founded where Why were cities founded where they were?they were?

GEOGRAPHY!GEOGRAPHY! Most city placement has to do with Most city placement has to do with

the natural physical geography of a the natural physical geography of a placeplace

Early settlement-crowds-look Early settlement-crowds-look elsewhereelsewhere

What did early settlers look for in a What did early settlers look for in a new place to settle?new place to settle?

WaterWater FoodFood ShelterShelter DefenseDefense

Early settlementsEarly settlements

What do they have in common?What do they have in common?• Rivers!Rivers!

Ancient civilizations settled on riversAncient civilizations settled on rivers• Mesopotamia (Euphrates and Tigris Mesopotamia (Euphrates and Tigris

Rivers)Rivers)• Egypt (Nile)Egypt (Nile)• China River Dynasties (Huang He and China River Dynasties (Huang He and

Yangtze)Yangtze)• Indus Valley (Indus)Indus Valley (Indus)

United StatesUnited States

What do Memphis, St. Louis, What do Memphis, St. Louis, Minneapolis, St. Paul have in Minneapolis, St. Paul have in common?common?• Founded on Mississippi RiverFounded on Mississippi River

What do Louisville, Cincinnati, What do Louisville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh have in common?Pittsburgh have in common?• Founded on Ohio RiverFounded on Ohio River

Oceanside/bay/port cities? Why?Oceanside/bay/port cities? Why?• Baltimore/New York/Philadelphia/BostonBaltimore/New York/Philadelphia/Boston

Texas Cities?Texas Cities?

Dallas/Fort Worth (Trinity River)Dallas/Fort Worth (Trinity River) Waco (Brazos River)Waco (Brazos River) Austin (Colorado River)Austin (Colorado River) San Antonio (San Antonio River)San Antonio (San Antonio River) El Paso (Rio Grande River)El Paso (Rio Grande River)

Physical Geography of Dallas/Fort Physical Geography of Dallas/Fort WorthWorth

Trinity River-riparian woodlandTrinity River-riparian woodland Grand and Blackland PrairiesGrand and Blackland Prairies Eastern Cross Timbers- extension of Eastern Cross Timbers- extension of

Balcones EscarpmentBalcones Escarpment Prairie-forest ecotonePrairie-forest ecotone

Why did DFW develop where it is Why did DFW develop where it is today?today?

DallasDallas

River orientation shiftRiver orientation shift Heading south, moving into TexasHeading south, moving into Texas

• Northern crossing of TrinityNorthern crossing of Trinity 18411841 Bryan’s CabinBryan’s Cabin

• View for defenseView for defense• Protection from floodsProtection from floods• Rock bottom fordRock bottom ford• Blackland Prairie-fertile land, transportationBlackland Prairie-fertile land, transportation

Fort WorthFort Worth

Southern crossing of Trinity River Southern crossing of Trinity River heading northheading north

1849-Camp Worth1849-Camp Worth• Blue MoundBlue Mound• Ford-low water crossingFord-low water crossing• Riparian woodlandRiparian woodland

Chisholm Trail (1876)Chisholm Trail (1876) Why not east or west?Why not east or west?

Differences?Differences?

DallasDallas• 1872-RR1872-RR• Linkages to MidwestLinkages to Midwest• RR furthered RR furthered

economic growtheconomic growth Where the East Where the East

EndsEnds

Fort WorthFort Worth• Military originsMilitary origins• 1876-RR1876-RR• RR put end to cattle RR put end to cattle

trails-Stockyards trails-Stockyards growgrow

• SlaughterhousesSlaughterhouses Where the West Where the West

BeginsBegins

IrvingIrving

Founded 1903 by J.O. Shultz and Otis Founded 1903 by J.O. Shultz and Otis BrownBrown

Increases in population by 1930sIncreases in population by 1930s• 357 residents in 1925357 residents in 1925• Est. 201,927 2006Est. 201,927 2006

Suburb of DallasSuburb of Dallas• Technology had to be present for suburb Technology had to be present for suburb

to existto exist

Galveston/HoustonGalveston/Houston

Which is bigger city?Which is bigger city? Not always so…Not always so…

• Galveston-port city, shipping trafficGalveston-port city, shipping traffic• 1900 hurricane1900 hurricane

HoustonHouston• Buffalo Bayou to Galveston BayBuffalo Bayou to Galveston Bay

Break of bulkBreak of bulk