The modern large cities are the crossroads of the nation
and the focal points of their respective geographic regions.
Many factors operating singly or in combination influence the location
and the growth of cities good harbors have been the determining factor in coastal
cities.
On the Atlantic coast on the Gulf
and on the Pacific our coastal cities terminals of ocean trade routes.
On the great inland waterways mighty cities have sprung up throbbing with the
commerce of their region's.
Rivers
and lakes afford avenues for the flow of commerce urban centers often develop at
the head of navigation
or at other transfer points from one mode of transportation to another.
City's rose near Mineral Resources gold silver copper iron coal
or petroleum often processing industry has followed the extraction industry
and the mining town became a city.
Man thinks a mild even climate for leisure relaxation and convalescence.
Consequently the climate has been the outstanding factor in the growth of certain
cities.
During several decades following the birth of our nation.
There were only a few scattered seaport cities of more than twenty five thousand
population. Then new urban centers in great numbers.
Again to appear at strategic points in the wake of the westward movement.
The expansion
and growth of cities has been marked by an accelerated tempo those urban
communities that were favorably located with regard to trade
and commerce domestic or foreign development in large cities.
Today there are in the United States about four hundred cities of more than twenty
five thousand population.
During several decades after the founding of the republic the nation was dominantly
rural eight settle here represents one million people black and white for rural
and solid black urban.
With the extension of industry
and commerce young people in greater numbers from farms in villages sought their
livelihood in cities
and there were joined by the millions of immigrants.
Although the United States is today predominantly urban the south
and the West are still mainly rural urban people depend on
farms for food.
Modern farm machinery
and scientific agriculture have greatly increased the agricultural production per
man and thereby reduce the proportion of people as needed on farms.
Cities have grown at different rates those the group most rapidly possessed
advantages which led to extensive business
and comers great power sources also contributed to the development of the city.
Coal steam powered temp adored extreme concentrations of modern electric power also
attract industry but it encourages the centralization.
New York City is the focal point of a vast industrial and commercial region.
River valleys through the Appalachian Mountains Peppe the West by.
Means of waterways highways and railroads coastal plains to the north east
and south connect with New York by railroads here the product of a nation are
exchanged for those of other lands to Chicago flow
the agricultural products of the western plains iron ore comes down the Great Lakes
meeting the coal from Illinois
and in Chicago is made into steel this kind potations hub of the continent connects
by canal. Reverend rail with the Gulf of Mexico.
And by water
and rail with the Atlantic seaboard.
I'm a trip out of an area usually embraces a central city
and its densely populated surrounding regions specifically a metropolitan area is
sometimes regarded as one which totals one hundred thousand people in a contiguous
area with at least one hundred fifty people per square miles off in the
metropolitan area straddles state and county boundaries.
It includes a maze of other political units cities villages
and towns ships with much overlapping duplications
and conflict of governmental functions pertaining to highways schools police
protection water supply
and taxation such metropolitan areas of
more than one hundred thousand are found in all parts of the United States
but they are most concentrated in the northeastern section of the country.
The center of the metropolitan area is utilized most intensively with closely
spaced tall buildings the intensity of utilization decreases toward the outskirts
as evidenced by lower buildings with more space between them.
Even the underground space is a maze of con.
Water gas and sewer mains and electrical telephone cable.
The Central is own consists of offices banks
and stores next there is a transitional zone where houses terminals and old homes.
The third zone is occupied by moderately priced apartments the fourth his own has
single family homes beyond the country homes
and large industrial plants.
One a metropolitan area grows the zones expand to take in more area
in every large metropolitan area satellite cities have sprung up some of these are
highly industrialized while others are mainly residential for those who work in the
central city.
The entire lower Mohawk Valley is an industrialized metropolitan area with three
central cities and several additional industrial centers.
The per capita cost of providing essential services water supply transportation
police protection
and they do cation increases with the city's growth delays in distribution of goods
due to congestion increase the cost of doing business.
The high value of land in the city leads to crowded skyscrapers.
And people are compelled to live in crowded quarters while opportunities for
recreation and healthful living are limited.
Electric power a contribution of modern technology can be distributed over a wide
area and thereby facilitate the centralization.
Instantaneous communication makes it possible for the production plant to be
removed from the seat of management.
The internal combustion engine has extended the left. Work of transportation.
Decentralization has advantages to industry by reducing overhead costs
and increasing efficiency. To the individual.
It makes possible a better integrated family social and civic life.
Possibly the greatest advantages and more healthful living especially for children.
The idea of city planning is of recent origin.
Here is the center of one of many of our older cities which grew without much
planning parks are shown in white.
The capital city was laid out on a plan of circles with radio avenues this
architectural type of plan was quite satisfactory at the time.
Here is a city laid out on the gridiron plan.
This plan was typical of all new American cities during the nineteenth century.
The motor age those necessitated a new approach in planning to direct automobile
traffic away from Parks residential areas and community centers.
This residential community of orange hazards of automobile traffic in pursuing the
active life of home school and recreation.
Most of our cities have grown without this modern type of plan for making them
better places in which to live. To achieve these new goals.
Much of the old must be demolished substandard housing is giving way to decent
homes.
The new type of housing gives fresh air
and sunlight to all.
New Park construction is needed to relieve crowd.
Residential sections playgrounds take young and old off the street in safe
and helpful recreation.
To relieve traffic congestion new arteries are cut through the city's at great
expense.
The modern city is beginning to reflect the needs of the motor
and mechanical age more
and more cities will be planned those places to live with the greatest degree of
safety efficiency health
and happiness for all.