The document summarizes four models of urban structure developed in the early-to-mid 20th century: 1) Burgess's Concentric Zone Model (1923) proposed that cities grow outward from the central business district (CBD) in concentric rings based on social class. 2) Hoyt's Sector Model (1939) argued that neighborhoods develop along transportation corridors rather than distance from the CBD. 3) Harris and Ullman's Multiple Nuclei Model (1945) posited that urban growth occurs around multiple centers of activity rather than just the CBD. 4) Harris' Periphery Model described an urban area with an inner city surrounded by residential and business suburbs connected

1. Models of US Urban
Structures
Ms. Patten
2012

2. Overview
All models deal with social structure, or
class
 High, middle, low income
All developed in Chicago
Later applied to cities in the US and other
countries

3. Burgess’s Concentric Zone Model
1923
First to explain the
distribution of different
social groups within
urban areas
Based on class or
social structure
City grows outward
from a central area in
a series of rings

4. Burgess’s Concentric Zone Model
A: CBD
 $$$$
B: Zone in Transition
 industry
 sub-standard housing
 slums
 new immigrants
C: Zone of
Independent Workers
 Older houses
 Working class

5. Burgess’s Concentric Zone Model
D: Zone of Better
Residences
 Middle class, larger
homes
E: Commuter Zone
 Work in center and live
in suburbs
Invasion and
succession
This model does not
really exist in the US
today.

6. Hoyt’s Sector Model
1939-Homer Hoyt
Uses social structure to
determine neighborhoods
The city develops in a
series of sectors; based
on transportation
networks rather than
distance from CBD
 RR in Chicago
As a city grows activities
expand outward in a
wedge from the center

7. Hoyt’s Sector Model
1: CBD
2: Transportation and
Industry
3: Low Class
Residential
4: Middle Class
Residential
5: High Class
Residential

8. Harris and Ullman’s Multiple Nuclei
Model
1945
City is a complex
structure that includes
more than one center
around which activities
revolve
Urban growth is
independent of the CBD
Examples of nodes could
be: ports, neighborhood
business center,
university, airport, park
Edge cities often result
from this model
Multiplier effect

9. Harris and Ullman’s Multiple Nuclei
Model
1: CBD
2: Wholesale, Light
Manufacturing
3: Low Class
Residential
4: Medium Class
Residential
5: High Class
Residential

10. Harris and Ullman’s Multiple Nuclei
Model
6: Heavy
Manufacturing
7: Outlying Business
District
8: Residential Suburb
9: Industrial Suburb

11. Harris: Periphery Model
Radial highways
move people from
CBD to suburbs
an urban area
consists of an inner
city surrounded by
large suburban
residential and
business areas tied
together by a beltway
or ring road