The Changing Face of Cities
The Changing Face of Cities
In order to address the growing complexity and diverse conditions facing Americas cities, the National League of Cities (NLC) released a new report that redefines this countrys communities. From Meltingpot Cities to Boomtowns: Redefining How We Talk About Americas Cities offers a new look at the conventional labels of urban, suburban and rural, and moves toward a more useful framework for policy-makers at all levels to see cities in a new way and to better understand their challenges.
In the 21st century, our communities are more diverse, service demands are shifting, and economic interactions are widening, said NLC President and Clarksburg, West Va., Councilman James C. Hunt. The Meltingpot report is aimed at helping local elected officials make meaningful decisions in an increasingly complex environment and enhance the quality of life in their communities.
The National League of Cities joined with the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech to examine nearly 1,000 cities ranging in population from 25,000 to 500,000. (The nations largest and smallest cities are not included in the study.) Six types of cities emerged:
Spread Cities represent the largest proportion of cities between 25,000 and 500,000 population and are characterized by low densities, few households with children, and few immigrant residents. Many of these are core cities in medium-sized, low-density metropolitan areas, while others are larger suburbs. Examples of Spread Cities are LaCrosse, Wis, Greenville, SC, and Pinellas Park, Fla. Gold Coast Cities have older, wealthier, and more educated populations and tend to be suburban communities in metropolitan areas. Their citizens have high average median incomes ($62,000) and the most people with bachelors degrees. More than 70 percent of the population are homeowners. Walnut Creek, Calif, Coral Gables, Fla, and Wheaton, Ill, are examples of Gold Coast Cities. Metro Centers are core cities in medium-sized metropolitan areas that have diverse populations and an older housing stock. Nearly all have large populations (more than 200,000 people); a relatively low percentage of homeowners, and low median household incomes ($36,000). Norfolk, Va, and Tacoma, Wash, are Metro Centers. Meltingpot Cities are diverse, dense cities that have many families with young children. Meltingpot cities are predominantly located in the Pacific region of the country and have the lowest median age (31), the highest percentage of children under 18 (47 percent), and the highest percentage of foreign-born residents (33 percent). Examples of Meltingpot Cities are Hawthorne and Norwalk, Calif. Boomtowns are characterized by rapid population growth, newer housing stock, wealthier residents, and families with children. Boomtowns generally have the highest percentage of homeowners (73 percent), and high median household incomes ($58,000). Gilbert, Ariz, and Broken Arrow, Okla, are examples of Boomtowns. Centervilles are primarily core cities in micropolitan areas and are the smallest and least dense cities in the study. They generally have the lowest percentage of foreign-born residents (5 percent) and the lowest median household incomes ($34,000). Although these cities are similar to Metro Centers in that they perform more urban-like functions, they still maintain their rural character. Paducah, Ky, and Richmond, Ind, are Centervilles.
Christiana Brennan, co-author of the NLC report said, There is no longer a typical city, just as there are no helpful one-size-fits-all approaches to the varying issues that cities face. As a result, policy decisions or programs based on distinctions such as central city, suburb, and rural, and metropolitan and non-metropolitan labels are not as useful to decision-makers and others attempting to understand and ameliorate local challenges.
For example, both Huntington Beach, Calif, and Henderson, Nev, are similiarly sized suburban cities, with populations around 190,000. But when you begin to look more closely at them, you can see how very different they are, Brennan said. Huntington Beach, with its older, wealthy population is a Gold Coast city. Henderson is a residential Boomtown located at the edge of one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. They may be similar in size, but their service mix, goals, and the people they serve are not. Local officials in each of these cities would probably take a very different approach to governing and to providing services and programs for their citizens, Brennan said.
The United States is home to more than 19,000 cities, each confronted with challenges and choices unique to their perspective. For example, many suburbs, especially suburbs near urban core cities, have become some of the most racially and ethnically diverse places in metropolitan areas, typically a central city characterization. The new city types represent an effort to develop a more accurate reflection of the changing nature of the municipal landscape and the diversity that exists among cities and can be used to address a variety of policy issues from finance, governance and inequality to housing and transportation.
Along with Brennan, other authors of the report are Dr. Christopher Hoene, NLC research manager, and Dr. Robert E. Lang, director, Metropolitan Institute.
To view the full report, visit the National League of Cities: http://www.nlc.org
