Burgess Model

Definition

The Burgess Model, also known as the Concentric Zone Model, is a theoretical framework that describes urban land use in a city, proposing that cities grow outward from a central point in a series of concentric rings. This model highlights the socio-economic stratification of urban areas, indicating how different residential zones are arranged relative to the city center, and it connects closely to concepts of urban systems and hierarchies by demonstrating how urban space is organized based on factors like socio-economic status and accessibility.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Burgess Model was developed by sociologist Ernest W. Burgess in 1925 based on his observations of Chicago's urban layout.
2. It suggests that urban growth occurs in a pattern where newer residential areas are built farther from the center as cities expand.
3. The model is most applicable to early 20th-century industrial cities, where socio-economic factors significantly influenced land use patterns.
4. Critics argue that the Burgess Model oversimplifies real-world urban growth by ignoring factors like transportation advancements and gentrification.
5. Despite its limitations, the Burgess Model remains influential in urban studies and planning, providing a foundational understanding of city organization.

Review Questions

• How does the Burgess Model explain the relationship between socio-economic status and residential location within a city?
  • The Burgess Model illustrates that socio-economic status significantly affects where people live in a city. As you move outward from the city center, which is typically home to businesses and higher property values, residential areas become less expensive and more densely populated with lower-income residents. This reflects a pattern where wealthier individuals tend to reside farther from the core, leading to a clear socio-economic stratification evident in urban environments.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of using the Burgess Model to analyze contemporary urban environments.
  • The Burgess Model provides valuable insights into historical urban development patterns, particularly for early industrial cities. However, its weaknesses lie in its failure to account for modern complexities such as transportation networks, suburbanization, and gentrification. Contemporary cities often display more irregular growth patterns influenced by these factors, suggesting that while the model offers foundational knowledge, it may not fully encapsulate today's diverse urban landscapes.
• Create an argument supporting or challenging the relevance of the Burgess Model in understanding current urban systems and hierarchies.
  • Supporting the relevance of the Burgess Model in today's context can be argued by emphasizing its foundational role in understanding socio-economic stratification within urban areas. While modern cities may exhibit more complex growth patterns due to technological advancements and policy changes, the underlying principle of concentric zones still applies in many cases. Cities often maintain distinct economic zones and social classes that can be observed spatially. Challenging its relevance would involve highlighting how contemporary phenomena like gentrification and decentralized urban development disrupt traditional patterns outlined by the model, calling for updated frameworks that reflect modern dynamics.

Related terms

Concentric Zones: The distinct circular areas within the Burgess Model that represent different types of land use, including the central business district, zone of transition, zone of working-class housing, zone of middle-class housing, and the commuter zone.

Urban Hierarchy:

A ranking system for cities and urban areas based on their size, economic functions, and the services they provide, reflecting how cities are organized within a larger regional framework.

Zone of Transition: The area immediately surrounding the central business district in the Burgess Model, characterized by mixed-use development and often associated with lower-income residents and industry.