World Urban Diversity

US/ Europe/ Latin Am/ Africa/ Asia

% URBAN POPULATION

Cities with 2 million or more people. Most of the largest cities are now in LDCs.

The United States / Canadian Cities

• Very different—not the same. – Differences exist between old eastern/new

western – Differences exist between Canada/U.S.

• Canadian city is more compact—higher densities.• C.C. is more dependent on mass transportation.

• U.S. cities have greater distinct social patterns—“no white flight”.

Suburban Development in the U.S. and U.K.

Fig. 13-21: New housing in the U.K. is likely to be in planned new towns, while in the U.S. growth occurs in discontinuous developments.

Professionals in Glasgow

Top professionals in Glasgow, Scotland, are more likely to live near the center of the city, in contrast to most U.S. cities.

Indianapolis: Ethnic Patterns

Fig. 13-10: The distribution of minorities in Indianapolis is an example of a multiple nuclei model.

Dayton, Ohio, Inner City

Drug-related arrests (left) have been concentrated in the inner-west side of the city. In the 2001 mayoral election, votes for Rhine McLin concentrated in the African-American section of the city.

Western European Cities

• Paris & London are primate cities. They are the political, economic and cultural centers.

• Other cities in Germany and Italy have marks of their historical pass, some even back to Roman Times.

W. European cities more compact than U.S. Why?

• City skylines tend to be low as a lot of buildings pre-date steel construction and elevators.

• High density—W. Europe rely on mass transit, especially subways.

• Automobile has become more important, but not even close to the U.S.

• Home to work still close.• Social stratification of city is almost opposite of

U.S. City.

Public Transport in Brussels

Fig. 13-22: Brussels illustrates the integration of heavy rail and light rail in public transport.

Eastern European

• Very similar to W. Europe. – High densities– mass transit.

• Due to communist control, CBD was for Gov’t use.

• Many micro districts developed close to factories as they were built to house the workers.

Developing World

• All have seen increase of “in-migration” from rural areas.

• As a result almost, all have an outer ring of poor people with high densities and a low amount of public services.

• Many have populations that cannot be supported by labor markets.

• Colonized cities mark a comparison to Western cities.

The Latin America City

• “City life” is the cultural norm.

• Majority of residents of Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile reside in cities.

• Limited wealth has kept most commercial activity to CBD

• transportation systems lead to the CBD.

Latin American City Model

Fig. 13-15: In many Latin American cities, the wealthy live in the inner city and in a sector extending along a commercial spine.

Mexico City

Fig. 13-12: The Aztec city of Tenochtitlán was built on an island in Lake Texcoco. Today poorer people live on a landfill in the former lakebed, and the elite live to the west.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Fig. 13-16: High income households in Rio de Janeiro live in the CBD and in a spine along the ocean. Low-income households often live in peripheral areas.

Asian/African City

• Many founded & developed by European Colonists.

• Many Europeans built forts near rivers—then into open space.

• Typical: 2 towns developed near fort—one of natives, one of Europeans.

• Recently, expansion moved middle class to outer ring.