The Mercantile City
Before cars were so greatly utilized, many cities were very compact so that people would be able to walk from their houses, jobs and utilities such as banks all mixed together. Cities were created so that people could walk just about anywhere in a half hour. There was also a definite structure to these cities, with the center of the city housing the city's elite, then the lower classes on the outskirts of the elite, and finally the poorest members of the city living on the fringes of the city.
The Early Industrial City
These types of cities very much depended on the location of the factories, which is why they often were created on riverbanks, so that the machinery could be powered. There also became a more stratified society, with an industrial business elite, a white collar group, and a blue collar group of workers.
Instruments of Change: Horsecars and Railroads
In 1829, the first horsecar appeared in New York, carrying passengers through New York for a flat rate. The problem with this system, however, was that only the wealthiest families were able to utilize this system. Soon, the railroads were created and they completely reorganized the city. This meant that the central business district was created because there was such a large amount of people in the railway station. The most important thing that the railroad did was to create a change in where people lived, as they were able to move further out from the city, increasing commuter traffic.
Land Use Zoning Laws
Although it was originally used as a method of discrimination against the Chinese, wanting to segregate from the rest of the city by citing that they were only allowed to open laundries (their main form of employment) in certain areas of the city. This trend later spread to other cities, which had the result of dividing cities into certain districts. Another example of this practice, this time against the Jewish population of New York, would be the garment district that was created.
Urban Structure in the Industrial Era
Many changes were brought about because of public transit besides the CBDs that were created. One such change was that there were specific shopping districts created because people didn't want to walk very far from the railway stations. Also, in the interest of convenience, department stores were created, allowing more shopping to be done in one place.
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