What city uses the sector model?

Cracking the Code of City Layouts: Does Your City Follow the Sector Model?

Ever wonder why cities are laid out the way they are? It’s not just random! Urban planners have come up with different models to try and explain the method to the madness. One of the coolest is the sector model, dreamed up way back in 1939 by a smart cookie named Homer Hoyt. He was an economist who looked at how cities grow, not in simple rings like some thought, but in these funky, wedge-shaped slices radiating out from the center .

Think of it like cutting a pie – but instead of equal slices, each piece is shaped by things like train tracks, rivers, and even where rich people want to live. That’s the sector model in a nutshell.

So, What’s This Sector Model All About?

Hoyt basically said, “Hold on, cities aren’t just expanding circles!” He figured out that cities grow in sectors, often following transportation routes like railways or major roads. These sectors become home to similar businesses and people. You might have an industrial sector with factories belching smoke, while another sector becomes the posh part of town with fancy houses and golf courses .

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key players in this model:

• The CBD (Central Business District): This is the heart of the action, where all the big businesses hang out and land prices are sky-high.
• The Industrial Sector: Picture factories, warehouses, and all that gritty stuff stretching out along train lines.
• Residential Sectors: This is where people live, and it’s split into fancy, middle-class, and budget-friendly zones. The well-to-do usually snag the sectors furthest from the factories and closest to the good stuff, like parks and lakes.

Chicago: The Poster Child for the Sector Model

If you want to see the sector model in action, look no further than Chicago. Seriously, Hoyt practically built the model based on what he saw in Chicago back in the day! The city’s industrial areas, stretching along the railways and canals, are a perfect example of how transportation shapes a city. And those swanky neighborhoods along Lake Michigan? That’s how the rich folks carve out their own desirable sector, away from the hustle and bustle (and the factories).

Beyond Chicago: Where Else Does This Apply?

Okay, so Chicago is the star, but the sector model can help explain other cities too, especially those that grew like crazy in the early 20th century when trains ruled the world. I’ve heard Philadelphia and even some cities in the UK fit the bill.

But here’s the thing: no model is perfect. The sector model has its blind spots:

• Cars Changed Everything: Hoyt didn’t foresee the rise of the automobile and how highways would let cities sprawl in all directions.
• Hello, Suburbs!: These days, you’ve got “edge cities” popping up with their own downtowns, which throws a wrench in the idea that everything revolves around the main CBD.
• Planning Matters: The model doesn’t really consider how city planning and zoning laws can shape where things go.
• Gentrification: The model doesn’t fully capture the complexities of urban development in today’s world, for example gentrification.

The Bottom Line

The sector model is a neat way to understand how cities grow, especially when you consider how important transportation and money are. It’s like a snapshot of a city’s past, showing how things like train lines and rich neighborhoods helped create distinct areas. While it might not explain everything about modern cities, it’s still a valuable tool for understanding the urban landscape. So, next time you’re wandering around a city, take a look around – you might just spot the sector model in action!