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The Residential Patterns of Chicago in 1940: A Study of the Burgess Zonal Hypothesis

<p> The Burgess concentric zone model was assessed using
census data for Chicago community areas in 1940. Burgess'
model implies that the lower-income residents live in the
center of the city while upper-income residents live on the
periphery of the city. Using occupation as a determinant of
socio-economic status, location quotients were calculated to
determine patterns of residential differientiation. It was
found that upper-income residents did indeed reside in the
peripheral areas of the city, but they also lived near the
central business district. The lakefront amenities were the
primary reason for this residential pattern. Many low income
residents lived near the center of the city, but many
were also found to live in the suburbs due to industrial
decentralization. Thus, the lakefront amenities and the
suburban industries are the primary causes of the distortion
of the Burgess model. However, this distortion does not
suggest the Burgess zonal hypothesis is inaccurate. The
discrepancies may be attributable to the uneven growth of
cities through the "filtering" process. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/18882
Date04 1900
CreatorsKucsma, Lillian
ContributorsHarris, Geography
Source SetsMcMaster University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish

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