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Question
Name the 5 concentric zones and explain what may be found in each zone.
Attached in your email is a pdf book chapter 7 reference for the answers:
Schmalleger, F. (2017). Criminology Today, 8th Edition
Answer
Five Concentric Zones
The concentric zone model (CZM) was developed by Ernest Burgess between 1925 and 1929 in an attempt to depict how diverse social groups are situated in a metropolitan area following the rapid influx of immigrants in the 20th century. Following this migration, the majority of the American cities were characterized by social changes, and this constituted an ideal focus for the study of social disorganization. This model has five concentric zones each with its characteristics and populations.
The first zone is known as the loop or the Central Business District (CBD). It was characterized by light manufacturing industries and mainly contained retail businesses (Schmalleger, 2017). It had the highest land value, tertiary activities and earned maximum economic returns. Furthermore, this zone had a unique feature of being highly accessible because most of the road networks passed through and converged here.
The second zone is the transition zone. It is very distinct from the rest because of it impoverished conditions. Houses were dilapidated and abandoned, the crime rate was high, and the standard of education and the level of social amenities was very low (Schmalleger, 2017). In recent times, drug dealing, drug dependence, and commercial sex are evident in many parts of the street joints in this zone because there are insufficient work opportunities for the people living in the zones.
The third zone is called the working class zone. Most of the inhabitants of this zone are the second group of immigrants who found an exit from poverty from the transition sector (Schmalleger, 2017). This zone was very close to workplaces to an extent workers could get there on foot.
The fourth zone,commonly termed as the residential zone, is characterized by middle-class citizens with single family homes (Schmalleger, 2017). In much of it, better facilities and social amenities are available to the residents such as gardens, open parks among others.
The commuter zone is the final zone. It is the farthest area from the CBD. The people who lived here were the rich, and they could afford to pay for transport and have lavish houses. They also had access to any transportation mode. Furthermore, lower population density and low rise developments are the unique characteristics of this zone (Schmalleger, 2017).
Evidently, population decreases as one moves outwards in the concentric zones. Theoretically, Burgess postulated that the ones who lived in the inner ring were a bit poor, and the commuter zones were reserved for those who could afford the transport costs. At the same time, it was a bit hard for anyone who was not economically well off to live near the city.
References
Schmalleger, F. (2017). Criminology Today, 8th Edition.London: Routledge.
