Investigating the Relationship Between Implementation of Commercial Transportation and the Development of Central Business Districts

• In Event: 378 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session II
  In Refereed Roundtable: B. Table 06. Urban Sociology

Abstract

The central business district has been a defining feature of cities across the globe as well as throughout history. Once the central business district is developed in an area with a sufficient population density, its location is generally very stable over time. While there has been much debate mid-19th century over the factors influencing the social geography of the city, there is little consensus on the factors that impact the location and configuration of the central business district. One theory rests on the belief that the form of commercial transportation that was catalytic in creating urban density played a pivotal role in shaping the urban geography in a city. David Ward suggests that the initial development of the seaport in Boston created a path dependency for the social geography of the city, particularly the location of the central business district. Through case studies of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, this paper will expand on Ward’s theory and examine how particular modes of commercial transportation created similar path dependencies and led to different configurations of the central business district. The airport in Los Vegas created a second commercial concentration near the airport on the outskirts of the city while the port in Chicago and railroad in Los Angeles reinforced the initial position of the central business district. These findings have significant implications for rapidly expanding cities in developing countries

Author

• Emily Helen Yen, University of California-Los Angeles