The central business district

Raymond E. Murphy

ISBN 10: 0202100324 ISBN 13: 9780202100326

Publisher: Aldine-Atherton, 1972

Synopsis

The rapidly changing structure of urban social and economic activity in recent years has given rise to a great deal of concern regarding the fate of that area of the city where economic activity is chiefly concentrated: the central business district (CBD). This book, a geographic study of the changing nature of CBDs, represents a concise, well-ordered, and readable attempt to deal with that concern. Written by a widely known authority on the subject, it provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of much of the research done on CBDs over the past two decades and establishes many striking generalizations regarding the past, present and future evolutions of CBDs, both in this country and abroad.

Using maps and diagrams where helpful, Murphy, a pioneer researcher in this field from the standpoint of economic geography, provides the record of his own and others' attempts to define CBDs and to develop theories about them. He not only presents the story of the research attack on the CBDs of a number of cities, including estimates of their probable future, but also details a practicable technique for delimiting and studying CBDs.

An important feature of the book is the attention Murphy devotes to the valuable work done in this field outside America, and his examples, which fully cover the American experience, are by no means confined to it, taking in important urban centres throughout the world. This book, intended for anyone interested in the urban scene, will be particularly helpful to students and teachers of urban geography and to practicing urban planners.

About this title

Review:

"It is useful to have CBD studies by geographers and others summarized in a single volume, and it important to know what Murphy, who has been considering the CBD for two decades, thinks of the district's future. Basically, he is optimistic: even though certain retail establishments, hotels, and insurance headquarters seem to be leaving the CBD for the suburbs, more apartment houses are being built at the edge of the CBD and in large national and international centers the CBDs are acquiring more offices. The CBD, Murphy feels, continues to have the accessibility that will keep many functions in it, and it provides an unmatched business environment."

--Howard J. Nelson, Geographical Review

"It is useful to have CBD studies by geographers and others summarized in a single volume, and it important to know what Murphy, who has been considering the CBD for two decades, thinks of the district's future. Basically, he is optimistic: even though certain retail establishments, hotels, and insurance headquarters seem to be leaving the CBD for the suburbs, more apartment houses are being built at the edge of the CBD and in large national and international centers the CBDs are acquiring more offices. The CBD, Murphy feels, continues to have the accessibility that will keep many functions in it, and it provides an unmatched business environment."

--Howard J. Nelson, Geographical Review

-It is useful to have CBD studies by geographers and others summarized in a single volume, and it important to know what Murphy, who has been considering the CBD for two decades, thinks of the district's future. Basically, he is optimistic: even though certain retail establishments, hotels, and insurance headquarters seem to be leaving the CBD for the suburbs, more apartment houses are being built at the edge of the CBD and in large national and international centers the CBDs are acquiring more offices. The CBD, Murphy feels, continues to have the accessibility that will keep many functions in it, and it provides an unmatched business environment.-

--Howard J. Nelson, Geographical Review

About the Author:

Raymond E. Murphy received his B.S. from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. He has taught at the University of Kentucky, Pennsylvania State University, and for many years in the Graduate School of Geography at Clark University, Massachusetts. He has contributed numerous articles to geographical literature and is the author of several books. He was also editor of Economic Geography.

About this edition

• Publisher: Aldine-Atherton
• Publication date: 1972
• ISBN 10: 0202100324
• ISBN 13: 9780202100326
• Binding: Loose Leaf
• Number of pages: 464