D. Built environment and social space

           

            1) Comparative models of internal city structure: The concentric zone states that a city grows outwards from a central area in a series of concentric rings. In the middle of the ring is the central city or central business district (CBD). All major businesses, plazas, and buildings are in the CBD. Outside of the CBD is the zone of transition (contains industry and poorer quality housing), next, is the zone of independent worker’s homes (contains modest older houses, occupied by stable, working-class families), next, zone of better residences (contains newer and more spacious houses for middle-class families), and last the commuter’s zone.

 

            2) Transportation and infrastructure: Transportation in rural areas is needed for access to work, shopping, and leisure activities. In the 20th century, motor vehicles rather than railroads started were used, especially in the U.S. 95% of trips in the U.S. are done by cars today. Commuters (urban areas people) are the heaviest flow into the CBD in the morning and out in the evening. Rush hour or peak hour is the four consecutive 15-minute periods that have the heaviest traffic into CBDs.

 

            3) Political organization of urban areas: Most U.S. metropolitan areas have a council of government which is a cooperative agency consisting of representatives of the various local government in the region. Two kinds of established strong metropolitan governments of a few places in North America are: federations and consolidations.

 

            4) Urban planning and design: Models of urban structure include the concentric zone model, multiple nuclei model, and the sector model. Sector model- according to Homer Hoyt, a city develops in a series of sectors not rings. Multiple nuclei model- a city is a complex structure that includes more than one center around which activities revolve.