The rise of cities in the United States from the early seventeenth century to the 1960s is the subject of this sophisticated and witty appraisal by a Pulitzer Prize historian. Constance McLaughlin Green traces the forces - economic, political, social - that led to today's urban civilization, beginning with the growth of colonial seaports and local government, the rise of new cities that competed for wealth and power with the older cities, the spread of industrialization, transportation and communications that made complex city life possible. She discussed the influence of city life on art and architecture, the impact of depression and prosperity upon urban centres, and analyses present-day problems - race-relations, the population explosion, automation, the rise of suburbia, and the development of the 'megapolis' that links city with city in one vast urban interstate region. This book was first published in 1966.

The second edition of Urban America, like the first edition, is distinguished by its emphasis on the spatial relationships within and between cities. This emphasis a study of the geographical patterns of residential, commercial, political, and cultural development, allows a balanced, flexible examination of the varied aspects of urban life. It permits a comprehensive look at the social, economic, political, and cultural history of the city. At the same time, this edition minimizes its review of spatial theory; many students and instructors told us the theoretical material tended to encumber rather than enlighten. -- Preface.

This second edition is designed to introduce students of urban history to recent interpretive literature in this field. Its goal is to provide a coherent framework for understanding the pattern of American urbanization, while at the same time offering specific examples of the work of historians in the field.

This book will change the way Americans think about their cities. It provides a comprehensive economic and social history of urban America since 1950, covering the 29 largest urban areas of that period. Specifically, the book covers 17 cities in the Northeast, 6 in the South, and 6 in the West, decade by decade, with extensive data and historical narrative. The author divides his analysis into three periods - urban growth (1950 to 1970), urban crisis (late 1960s to 1990), and urban rebirth (since 1990). He draws on the concepts of the vicious circle and the virtuous circle to offer the first in-depth explanation for the transition from urban crisis to urban rebirth that took place in the early 1990s. "Urban America" is both a message of hope and a call to action for students and professionals in urban studies. It will inspire readers to concentrate on finding ways and means to ensure that the urban rebirth will continue.

This comprehensive survey of urban growth in America has become a standard work in the field. From the early colonial period to the First World War, John Reps explores to what extent city planning has been rooted in the nation's tradition, showing the extent of European influence on early communities. Illustrated by over three hundred reproductions of maps, plans, and panoramic views, this book presents hundreds of American cities and the unique factors affecting their development.