6.4 The Structure of Cities

Classic Models of North American Cities

Three key models explain urban structure. The Concentric Zone Model (Burgess) shows a city growing outward in rings from a central CBD. The Sector Model (Hoyt) says growth radiates outward in wedges along transportation routes, with similar land uses clustering together. The Multiple Nuclei Model (Harris & Ullman) argues cities grow around several separate nodes (like a mall or university), not just one center.

Modern & Global Urban Models

The Galactic (Peripheral) Model shows cities with an outer beltway/ring road surrounded by edge cities, reflecting car-dependent suburban sprawl. The Latin American City Model (Griffin-Ford) has a thriving CBD, a spine of elite housing extending outward, and a disamenity zone with favelas at the edge. The Sub-Saharan African City Model shows three CBDs (colonial, traditional, market), while the Southeast Asian City Model (McGee) centers on a port rather than a CBD.

Urban Land Use Patterns

Bid-rent theory explains how land value and rent decrease with distance from the CBD, since accessibility drives demand. This creates a density gradient — high density near the core, lower toward the periphery. Zoning laws, transportation networks, and physical geography also shape where residential, commercial, and industrial land uses locate within a city.

Key terms

Concentric Zone Model

Burgess's model showing a city growing outward in rings from a central CBD.

Sector Model

Hoyt's model showing land uses extending outward in wedges along transportation routes.

Multiple Nuclei Model

Harris and Ullman's model showing a city growing around several independent nodes, not just one center.

Bid-rent theory

Theory that land value and rent decrease with distance from the CBD due to declining accessibility.

Latin American City Model

Griffin-Ford model with a CBD, elite residential spine, and disamenity zones/favelas at the periphery.

Try an AP-style question

The concentric zone model describes a city as…

1. a grid
2. rings around the CBD
3. multiple centers
4. wedges along transport