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

Abstract

<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>