American urban geography, population, and the public space

around 9.8 million square kilometers of land almost 650.000 square kilometers of bodies of water (such as the Great Lakes) 3rd largest country in the world 3rd largest population in the world, with a population of about 310 million 50 states make up the United States Alaska is the biggest states, about 500 times bigger than Rhode Island In contrast, Alaskas population density is a lot smaller, than that of Rhode Island There are 7 major geographical regions within the United States: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. New England Middle Atlantic Southeastern Midwestern Mountain Pacific Southwestern

California is the largest state in terms of population, with a population of 37.5 million Texas and New York follow, with 26.8 and 19.5 million Wyoming is the least populated state (560.000 inhabitants) An average of 77 people live on every square mile 68% of the people live in cities Whites constitute 63.8% of the population, Hispanics 15.8%, African Americans 12.9%, Asian Americans with 4.6%, and Native Americans 1.2% 23 states have a coastline Major Rivers: Mississippi, Colorado, Columbia, Savannah The 5 Great Lakes: Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie, Ontario

American Urban evolution

Towns are built around a center, usually a market area, including a church, and several civil buildings, such as: headquarters town halls police buildings courts universities theaters

Further away from the center, we find buildings such as: workshops stores inns taverns homes

Aspects of development: economic development mobility and diversity community newcomers ghetto

General urban history: 1.) 4000-1500 BC Middle East 2.) 1500-1300 BC NE China 3.) 150 BC Mesoamerica Settlements of this period were built around rivers or coasts; their economic activity was more intense than other regions, as well as their political and religious activity. The density of the population was also higher in these areas, compared to rural areas. Agriculture played an important role in the creation of these cities. Agriculture ended the nomadic way of life, and forced people to settle, and remain in one specific area. As a result of natural birth and people settling, as well as technological innovations, we can see a pattern of population growth. Political life was also affected because of the change in lifestyle. Between medieval and modern periods, we notice: the introduction of architectural solutions people displacement geographical and technological discoveries transportation development civil architecture and urban art regression to nature, to rural traits

Industrial development brought important changes to the cities: construction of industrial plants and districts new homes, dwellings, roads and utilities a larger need for commercial buildings, schools, public buildings

New urban problems emerge: overcrowding unemployment homelessness urban violence problems with transportation energy and water supply pollution and waste management

The western cities during the second half of the 20th of the century are represented by: economic booms demographic booms youth culture appearance of an ethnic culture a multicultural and mosaic-like urban scene transformations in the social and cultural life, such as commercial or technological development, new housing utilities, an increase in independency and the amount of free time available, an increase in political activism, a boom in fashion and popular culture, people become more tolerant, an increase in entertainment and last, but not least, the emergence of new lifestyles;

Urban growth in America The oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States is the city of St. Augustine, Florida, founded in 1565, by Spanish colonists; The first English colony became the future city of Jamestown, founded in 1607; The Massachusetts Bay Colony and Boston (1630) followed;

The first European settlements, were: of medieval pre-industrial type planter class types concurring colonies (like St. Augustine) involved in African slave trade

Early urban settlements are evidently based on a grid shape design. Towns are polarized, having distinct economic and community districts. Most American cities, from the very beginning, were built upon large surfaces. New York and Philadelphia were founded during the 17 th century, and both, as cities before them, were founded in the vicinity of water. New York was founded as a Dutch

trading port, on the shores of the Hudson River. Later, it was connected with the Great Lakes, via the Erie Canal. Philadelphia was founded by the Quaker William Penn. His plan was to combine the way of living of the town and the countryside. Due to the large number of various immigrants, the city lost its sense of a shared community. One of the first cities to be founded in the newfound west was the city of Cincinnati, on the shores of the Ohio River. It was designed to act as a military fort, but later became a manufacturing and trading center. The southern shores of the Great Lakes followed, which spawned multiple cities at the beginning of the 19th century. Chicago was founded in 1837. It became the biggest grain-supplier of the nation after the spreading of the railroad network. Following the Civil War, it also became the meat packing center of the nation. By the end of the 19 th century, it surpassed a population of one million. However, some famous authors, such as Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville or Henry James, shared Jeffersons views in fearing the birth of the metropolis, as a threat to democracy and public morality. Others, such as Walt Whitman or Carl Sandburg praised the cities, as centers of vitality and strength. The turn of the 20th century saw changes in the American cities. Tall buildings, downtown areas, shopping streets started to appear. Problems also emerged. Streets became overcrowded, people started to act immorally. With the immigrant masses, urban population doubled between 1880 and 1910. Towns, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Kansas City bloomed during this period, representing a population growth close to the Pacific coast. Los Angeles, for instance, was founded in 1850, but saw an explosion in growth only at the beginning of the 20th century, shortly after the railroad network reached the coast. People became interested in the region. During the summer of 1877, over 10.000.000$ worth of property was sold in the area. Just 30 years later, it became the second largest city in the country. Miami, Hudson or Dallas are examples of metropolitan areas that developed into large cities during the first half of the 20th century. As for the capitol of the United States, Washington D.C., located in the District of Columbia, on the shores of the Potomac river, we have an unique case of development. The schematics were developed by Pierre LEnfant, at the request of Washington himself. The city was designed for beauty. Instead of factories, public buildings were to be build, along with monuments and broad avenues. The city was eventually linked to other areas, first by railroad, and soon after by highway structures and even aviation shortly after.

Chicago in Upton Sinclairs The Jungle

The meat-packing industry in Chicago flourished in the 19 th century, creating several processes: agriculture => manufactures rural => urban Eastern Europe => US South => North

Several problems emerge: poor working conditions low wages poverty unemployment no protection against work-accidents lack of hygiene diseases general hopelessness prevails among the poor, contrasted with the corruption of the rich

The American city is used as an expression of capitalism, and its effects and results.

The growing American city

The so-called Age of Metropolis began somewhere around 1920, and this period lasted up until the 1940s. In America, starting with the 20s, the urban population outnumbered the rural population. For the first time, 51.4% of the population lived in cities. A process of urbanization started in the Southern regions (for example Birmingham). Blacks also migrated from countryside to emerging cities and from the south to the north. To this, large waves of immigrants from Europe and Mexico arrived in the US, and mostly settled in cities. The processes of suburbanization and metropolitanism appear: suburban development decentralization disconnection and tensions between city and suburbs sharp racial, ethnic and class divisions downtown skyscraper office-buildings are constructed separation of production and administration transition from industrial to corporate cities urban and regional planning zoning laws appear, restricting certain types of buildings

Consumer culture also emerged: advertising is born, with consumer credits being offered automobiles, radios, washing machines, and other electric devices are being discovered and bought on a large-scale leisure activities become more frequent, such as sports, movies or musical events the show-business is born, heavily influenced by African-Americans as well the urban culture becomes the national culture

Cities also became cultural battlegrounds. The urban population was divided, and many ethnic or racial concerns emerged. The period of the prohibition also heavily influenced the life within cities. Immigration was regulated in 1924, and crime and violence bloomed during this period. Following the Great Depression, Roosevelts New Deal regulated price limits and enforced laws of fair trade. Labor organizations continue to appear, while many strikes and protests occur. However, federal investments into infrastructure are increased, and the federal government begins to study the aspects of urban life, finally realizing that America became an Urban Nation.

Theory of city development within the Chicago School of Sociology

spatial patterns of urban expansion are studied the formation and background of marginal groups within cities is observed inter-group interactions within cities raise questions organization and disorganization of urban life methodology of researching the city through its experience

The current of the Chicago School of Sociology emerged within the University of Chicago, during the first half of the 20th century. Its mostly related to the fact that the professors of the University lived and experienced the urban life within Chicago. The city was seen as a social laboratory. Due to the urban growth and population growth, an understanding had to be formed. The founder of the department was Albion W. Small. William I. Thomas, and more significantly, Robert E. Park and Ernest W. Burgess, highlighted the aspects of city life. The City is their most important work, focusing on individuals and their mentality within the city. The Second Chicago School emerged after the 1950s, with names such as Howard Becker.

The idea of qualitative methodology emerged, containing the following theories: naturalistic observation ethnographic closeness the city as a laboratory of the study of social interaction

The idea of the ecological model thus formed, studying the parallels between natural and social systems. City, land, culture and population became and inseparable whole. The concentric zone model also emerged, focusing on loops, ghettos, workers, middle-class members and commuters alike.

The city as an organism

the city grows and evolves (like plants, biological organisms) the city areas compete (like members of a biological group) the city has functions (like parts, organs) the city provides specializations (ecological niches) of activities

Research focused on aspects, such as why certain areas of the city attracted specific populations and exhibited particular patterns of use, or why each area of the city is bettersuited for certain tasks, over other areas.

Urban communities
Michael Moffat, the author of Ethnographic Writing about American Culture, treats problems related to urban communities. Problems such as mixed urban neighborhoods are touched, with events such as street festivals or community civic actions. In contrast, the author debates tactics of living together with strangers, but without interaction. Concepts such as avoidance of conflict or coexistence without contact emerge. Lastly, we have the concept of virtual communities, a tendency in recent decades. This concept does not only refer to online internet communities, but also to groups defined by gender, age, sexual preference, class or interests. So, reviewing, we have 3 types of communities: residentially defined communities (ex. : neighborhood) space is given non-residentially defined communities (ex. : band) space is constructed virtual communities (ex.: online communities) space is not relevant

As opposed to rural communities, urban communities are considered to be modern. The idea that community is lost, and instead, society is born, also appears. From German philosophy, we have the confrontation between Gemeinschaft (community, togetherness) vs. Gesellschaft (Society, organization) F. Toennies. L. Wirth stated that in the modern city the spirit of the community was lost. Others argued the contrary. H. Gans stated that on the contrary, in the modern city there are more communities than in the traditional village. Types of urban communities: street-corner groups ethnic communities suburban communities subcultures social networks

Maintaining communities In order to maintain a community, a regular participation by its members within its activities is required. Perceiving the existence of strong and lasting bonds, as well as identification with other members of the community are also necessary factors. Lastly, a physical or symbolic location or territory of the community is necessary for its existence. Projects on community The background: the community icon in terms of cultural imagery the ideal of community survived urbanization community revival produced new segregations

Projects: Community Action Programs (1964) Community based corrections (1960s and 1970s) Community Development Block Grants (1990s)

Issues arising: affordable housing neighborhood revitalization revival of declining business districts

Urban problems and policies The right to the city Demographic factors: population growth whether a city adopted policies toward attracting migrants or not age and gender determine the kinds of services that the city has to provide racial composition determine patterns of settlement, housing, jobs and specific conflicts (e.g. racial violence)

Technological factors: Advancements in technology result in specialization, heterogeneity and changes in urban life and structures Transportation e. g. the impact of the automobiles on cities Communication e.g. the impact of the internet on cities

Attitudinal factors: dual, paradoxical: cities can be both attractive and unpleasant in the same time, can be a source of excitement and threat the suburbs are a combination of pleasant aspects of rural and urban life

Solving urban problems The political contexts, the administrative functions and the local basis are part of how urban problems can be solved. Local governments and urban groups, rather than a centralized system benefit the solutions to various urban problems. Public works aimed to develop life within the city are: municipal engineering equipment services transportation water resources solid wastes building and grounds administrative management special services

The concept of the right to the city encompasses several ideas. Firstly, the idea that the city is public appears, as a place of social interaction and exchange. Being public, it demands participation and heterogeneity from its inhabitants. Inhabitants are influenced to produce and utilize urban space.

American Urban Architecture Cities in America came into existence somewhere in the 2 nd half of the 19th century. This is why we speak about a modern urban architecture. This is why the specific urban architecture is built in a revival style: Greek (classic) Gothic (romantic) Colonial (vernacular)

Examples: Henry Latrobe: Bank of Pennsylvania (1800), Baltimore Cathedral (1821) Thomas Jefferson: Virginia State Capitol (1785) Alexander Parris: Sears House (1816) New urbanism an interdisciplinary movement to make human settlements walkable, community oriented and socio-economically diverse more

Influences: City Beautiful movement Garden City movement Energy efficiency movement Historic preservation movement see-the-street project Neo-traditional development (pedestrian-friendly streets in downtown areas) Transit-oriented development

Annual congresses are being held in order to promote new urbanism. The smart growth movement emerged, aiming to reduce vehicle trips, discourage sprawl, etc. New urbanism attempts to revive difficult sites, such as: - residual spaces between and below highways - decaying waterfronts - crumbling neighborhoods - abandoned industrial areas - postindustrial shopping centers The Battery Park in New York is a good example of this kind of renewal. Communities should be designed for the pedestrian and vehicle transits as well. Cities and towns should be shaped by physically defined and universally accepted public spaces and community institutions;

Urban places should be framed by architecture and landscape design that celebrate local history, climate, ecology and building practice.