Settlement Processes & Patterns - The Burgess Model (1924).

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Geography – Settlement Processes & Patterns – Urban Models                       29/03/03

Page One

The Burgess Model (1924)

Burgess was collecting data about the social conditions in Chicago, USA and whilst doing this was able to identify and summarise the structure of the city. Chicago was suitable for this model because the rapid growth of its industries was attracting migrants from within the USA and from the rest of the world. The model is “circular” based, with the Central Business District (CBD) in the middle. Surrounding the CBD is the inner city and residential areas. On the outside of the model, the Urban-Rural fringe can be found.

1 – The CBD

2 – Inner City

3 – Inner Residential suburbs or

      low income residential

4 – Outer residential suburbs

      or high income residential

5 – Urban-rural fringe

The strengths of The Burgess Model…

  • The Burgess Model is very simplified and as a result it is easy to understand.
  • It is capable of being refined and adapted to various scenarious/cities.

The main weaknesses of The Burgess Model…

  • Assumptions are made which may not reflect how it is in reality, such as uniform physical and/or human conditions over wide areas.
  • Characteristics that are identified can change significantly with time.

Geography – Settlement Processes & Patterns – Urban Models                       29/03/03

Page Two

The Hoyt Model (1939)

This model is a variation of The Burgess Model. Hoyt created the model so that it could show how a city can grow in all directions. Some of the city can grow in some directions more than others. Residential areas for example tend to grow outwards faster than other areas.

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1 – Central Business District (CBD)

2 – Wholesale, light manufacturing

3 – Low Class Residential

4 – Middle Class Residential

5 – High Class Residential

The strengths of The Hoyt Model…

  • Allows for a more complex view of what a city looks like.
  • Displays that some areas grows outwards faster than others.

The main weaknesses of The Hoyt Model…

  • General conclusions over-emphasize the characteristics of the places where the studies are undertaken (it is still not entirely accurate to ...

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