concentric ring model

The concentric ring model, introduced by sociologist E.W. Burgess in 1925, describes urban land use in cities. It suggests that a city is organized in circular zones around a central point, usually the downtown area. Each zone has distinct characteristics: the innermost ring often contains industries; the next is residential housing for lower-income families; followed by middle-class neighborhoods, and finally, affluent suburbs. This model illustrates how urban development and social groups are organized spatially, with wealthier populations living farther from the city center, where land is more expensive.