UrbanisationThe Growth of Towns and Cities

Economic – urban areas are market centres for the buying and selling of Goods and Services

Administrative – urban areas are the places from which the surrounding area is governed e.g. Carrickmacross Town Council

Social Activities – Cinemas, pubs, theatres, sportsgrounds etc.

Activities in towns and cities

The Development of Dublin

Founded around 980 AD by Viking Traders Originally a small settlement around a dark pool – Dubh Linn –

where Temple Bar is now Very few traces exist today as buildings were made of wood

Dublin’s History

1169 – arrival of Anglo Normans. Built stone buildings such as Dublin Castle, Christchurch and St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Started period of English control of Ireland

Dublin’s History

Dublin’s History 1500 to 1800 – English control grew, Trinity College and much

of Georgian (redbrick) city built

1800 to 1900 – After losing its Parliament, Dublin declined in importance. Slums called tenements grew.

Development of Canals and Railways connected Dublin to the rest of Ireland

Dublin’s History

Dublin’s History Rapid development after independence – development of

roads and railways increased ease of transport, high birth rates and inward migration increased population

The Central Business District – banks, department stores and shopping is found here. Very few people live in the CBD. Land here is expensive – buildings are tall to maximise land use

Functional Zones in Cities

Outlying shopping areas – to discourage unnecessary travel and traffic congestion some shopping areas have developed outside the CBD

Functional Zones in Cities

Factories are located in Industrial Estates at the edge of urban areas. There are several reasons for this:◦ Land is cheaper on the outskirts◦ Access and transport is easier outside towns◦ There are less complaints from residents as factories are kept away

from houses◦ Workers are available in nearby residential areas◦ Often near ports or airports

Functional Zones in Cities

Residential Areas – Most people today live in housing estates which are quieter and safer than the CBD or industrial zones. Types of housing can vary a great deal here.

Also Called suburbs (Sub-Urban)

Functional Zones in Cities

Open Space – Urban areas require open public spaces where people can relax and play in safety.

Functional Zones in Cities

Paris – a world city

Paris CBD

Residential areas - Apartments

People travel from satellite towns to the city for work Lower land values mean homes are often cheaper here Irish Example: Leixlip. French Example: Marne-La-Valee

Satellite towns

Industries in Paris

Open Space in Paris

Land Values are highest in the CBD and most businesses that locate here need lots of customers buying services or small goods.

Eg. Law Companies, Department Stores etc.

Outside the city, lower land values encourage companies selling bulky products to set up

Eg. Car dealers, builder providers, etc.

Land Values

Residential Accommodation in Irish Cities

Residential Accommodation in Irish Cities

Residential Accommodation in Irish Cities

Residential Accommodation in Irish Cities

Residential Accommodation in Irish Cities

Residential Accommodation in Irish Cities

Old Houses - Two Up, Two Down – Two bedrooms upstairs, two rooms downstairs, toilet in back garden!

Modern Materials – today’s houses are better constructed and better insulated

Central Heating has replaced open fires

More bedrooms, bathrooms and toilets

Residential Accommodation

Rush Hour – when most commuters are either going to work (before 9AM) or going home (after 5.30 PM approx)

In London people have to pay extra to drive into the city at this time

In Dublin, cars are banned from certain streets at this time.

This is designed to stop Traffic Congestion

Commuting to work

Discouraging Traffic

Public Transport In Dublin

2003 Higher Level Paper

2011 Higher Level Paper

Decline of the Inner City: As cars become more common, people move out of the inner city which then becomes run down

Urban Problems

Urban Problems As the population of the inner city moves to the suburbs, the

area goes into decline and becomes run down

Urban Sprawl – this refers to the rapid growth of a city outward, usually as a result of housing growth

Urban Problems

Unemployment – many factories have now moved out of the CBD, leading to unemployment for inner city communities. Also many Inner City residents drop out of school and have few skills.

Urban Problems

Crime – a major problem in inner cities is a high crime rate, often fuelled by drug dealing

Urban Problems

Community Disruption – when people move out of cities, it breaks connections between families and neighbours

Ballymun in Dublin was a failed housing development because it broke connections between families

Urban Problems

Urban Renewal – tearing down old shops and housing and putting up new shops AND housing in its place. Original residents move into new homes in the same area. Example: Ballymun

Urban Redevelopment – tearing down old shops and housing and putting up new shops ONLY. Original residents move out of the area. Example: Jervis Street, Dublin

In redevelopment, the function of the area changes.

Urban Improvement

Ballymun – demolish old homes, build new ones

Jervis Street

Fatima Mansions – before renewal

Fatima Mansions – after renewal

Urban Sprawl – where residential areas spread far out from the CBD

Housing ONLY – this makes it difficult to get jobs in the area – v few shops/factories - leads to urban problems (crime, drugs etc.)

New Towns – managing urban sprawl

Tallaght – once a small village it grew rapidly in the 1970s as people moved to it from inner city Dublin and the rest of the country

New Towns – managing urban sprawl

Very spread out town – hard to get around easily Very few services – just like a gigantic housing estate with

little else Few jobs – people left Tallaght to work in other parts of

Dublin

After falling into decline in the 1980s it was decided to develop new jobs and services in Tallaght

Tallaght in the 1970s and 80s

LUAS provides easy access New Developments – provides jobs and leisure opportunities New educational facilities (Tallaght Institute of Technology) Sporting Facilities (Shamrock Rovers)

Tallaght today

2005 Junior Cert Question

Adamstown – a planned new town

Urbanisation in the Developing World

Problems

Same city, different life….

Overloaded infrastructure

2010 Junior Cert Question