The Burgess model, a spatial representation of urban growth, conceptualizes a city as a series of concentric rings emanating from a central business district. This theoretical framework, developed in the 1920s, posits that cities expand outward from their core in distinct zones, each characterized by specific land use and socioeconomic attributes. An example is the progression from the central business district to a zone of transition (industry and low-income housing), followed by a zone of working-class homes, a residential zone, and finally, a commuter zone.
The value of this model lies in its ability to provide a simplified, yet insightful, understanding of urban spatial organization and social patterns. It highlights the correlation between distance from the city center and socioeconomic status. Historically, it served as a foundational framework for urban planning and sociological research, influencing subsequent models of urban development. However, its limitations stem from its reliance on a specific historical and geographical context, primarily early 20th-century American cities, making it less applicable to contemporary urban landscapes and cities in other parts of the world.
