Distinguishing between urban, suburban and rural areas was once an easy task. Cities were thought to be poverty-stricken industrial hubs cushioned by surrounding homey suburbs that eventually led to rural farmlands. Now, convention is being challenged as the definition of “city” is changing. What truly determines a city or suburb, and where do different neighborhoods fall on the spectrum?
As Michael B. Katz explains in his article, the United States has undergone a historical metamorphosis after the Second World War. Transformations of demography, economy and space have all led to new urban forms; the borders between cities, suburbs and countryside continue to blur. Cities that naturally blend with their urban and suburban peripherals and were able to withstand deindustrialization have been most successful. In fact, Katz uses Los Angeles as the best example for a perfect city. As the most important twentieth-century industrial city, Los Angeles has long been multicentered and multiethnic. In contrast, Katz mentions industrial cities such as Philadelphia and Detroit that have not experienced such vibrancy. Their populations decreased and jobs were lost, but why?
Katz says, “ We concluded that America is living through a transformation as profound as the industrial revolution—one that reshapes everything, from family to class, from race and gender to cities.” But will America ever stop evolving? I do not think so. However, that is where the beauty lies. I think that the U.S. Census Bureau’s attempt to “…develop a reclassification of municipalities based on a sophisticated mathematical model…” will be to no avail. There are too many variables that come into play when defining the word “city” (income, race, politics, etc.) that an equation would be rendered inadequate.
Personally, I agree with Nick’s earlier post in that Michael Katz’s article comes to no definitive answer. Instead, he illustrates that the structure of American cities seems to change as often as their definitions do. Whether through industrialization, redevelopment, gentrification or reclassification, America’s demographics will continue to shift and the “growing pains” are many, but that is the nature of existence.
Side Note:
During our class projects this semester, I think it would be interesting to use Katz’s concept of a successful city (such as Los Angeles) as an allegory. Do our sites employ multiple hubs so as to lend to multicentered and multiethnic areas of attraction? Will this help emulate Los Angeles’ success? Perhaps we can carry out our assignment with these questions in mind and see if there is any correlation.
