Growth and Succession in Suburban Communities*

Abstract

Previous studies of the growth of metropolitan communities, drawing primarily on ecological theory as represented by Burgess' concentric zone model of the metropolis, have highlighted the effects of distance from the city center on community develop ment. Using data from one major suburban region, we show that a more complete examination of Burgess' ecological life-cycle theory should deal also with the effects of initial development pattern, age of housing stock, minority and low-income presence, and social heterogeneity. In addition we argue that the latter three variables also can be interpreted as measures of the potential for collective action of residents to restrict development, and show that an explicitly political characteristic-incorporation-has a significant impact on one dimension of succession. We conclude that rather than limiting attention to the effects of distance (simplifying Burgess' model to central place theory), studies of growth should address more directly the interaction between ecological processes and the socio-political framework within which they operate.The theoretical basis of most sociological research on the growth and transformation of metropolitan communities is the ecological model represented in Burgess' concentric zone schema (Burgess, 1967). This body of research is subject to critique at two levels. First the literature's excessive emphasis on density gradients (or associations between community growth and distance from the central business district, as treated in Winsborough, 1962Winsborough, , 1963Berry, Simmons, and Tennant, 1963;Treadway, 1969) has provided an inadequate test of the ecological model. Second, by thinking of communities simply as locations organized according to the outcomes of infinite choices and confrontations by individual land users, ecological theory has neglected the impact on growth of collective community action (Molotch, 1976;Logan, 1978).We develop both lines of critique within the context of an exploration of the ecological, social structural, and political correlates of various types of growth in suburban communities. In the region studied we find that distance from the central city had no significant direct effect on growth and succession processes during the 1960s. Rather its influence was indirect, through its relationship with the age of community and the nature of development prior to 1960. Moreover we find that characteristics of local social and political structure which indicate both the desirability of places and the potential for collective action by residents are equally important determinants of growth. 01980 by The Sociological Quarterly. All rights reserved. 0038-0253/80/1600-0093$00.75

The Racial Structuring of the Housing Market and Segregation in Suburban Areas

“…We present two lagged endogenous variable models in which proportion black and correlation ratio in 1980 are regressed on their values in 1970 and the other variables hypothesized to affect change in racial patterns (see Logan and Semyonov [1980] and Stahura [1983] for other applications of such models to suburban data). The regression results for black suburbanization for the 44 suburban regions are presented in Table 1.…”

Determinants of Change in the Distribution of Blacks across Suburbs

“…A lagged endogenous variable structural model will be specified in which 1970 black fringe distributions are regressed on 1960 distributions, in addition to a number of other variables which are hypothesized to be determinants of change. Logan and Semyonov (1980) stated that the effects of the exogenous (independent) variables, excluding the lagged effect, can be interpreted as determinants of change in the dependent variable. For example, when black suburbanization is related to 1970 black distribution, controlling for 1960 distribution, any effect that is observed can be interpreted as a change effect.…”

The Growth and Decline of American Central Cities

“…A third body of literature examines the role of politics and government in city growth (e.g., Logan, 1976aLogan, . 1976bMolotch, 1976;Logan and Semyonov, 1980). These scholars argue that local governments exert considerable control over population growth and can alternately promote or restrict it through a wide variety of municipal actions such as tax incentives to industry, selective use of 7.oning ordinances, etc.…”

“…Molotch (1976) goes on to argue that the benefits of "promoted" growth are primarily limited t o a small sector which gains the most through growth, while the vast bulk of the population gains little, and is often harmed. In one study, this political/ governmental determinant of growth (Logan and Semyonov, 1980) was operationalized as incorporated/ non-incorporated status. Logan and Semyonov found that incorporated status has some effect on growth but its effect was not large.…”