City Planning Research in the United States

Abstract

MT-IHE practice of city planning is in the formative stages. In many respects I it is both a separate discipline and a profession, but it is so closely linked -^ with the activities of many professions and has so many facets, that more properly it might be called a coordination and integration of the various disciplines involved in the study and development of the urban scene. In these formative stages, research is of great significance. The following discussion describes the extent of research now being conducted in the United States and outlines what appears to be required in the way of basic research. City planning, as considered here, is the process of giving physical form and organization to economic and social activity in the community. As with all planning activities, it involves the development of a plan to guide future action. Only since the period of which the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 was the culmination, has city planning in the United States been considered significant to those not primarily concerned with landscape architecture, architecture and aesthetics. Only gradually is more complete recognition being given by city planners to the social and economic bases which condition urban life and form the physical structure. Thus, city planning is in its infancy, as are most disciplines which are based upon the study of human institutions and the human environment. In its developing form, city planning touches such a garnet of interests that individuals with a wide variety of background can participate in this field and make major contributions to it. This is particularly true as regards research. Frequently it has been remarked that in the realm of health, preventive medical treatment should be the individual and national goal. In city planning, preventive action is also desperately needed. However, planning activity typically has been concerned with efforts to remedy what already exists, and it was accepted as a major governmental activity only after the initial period of urban growth had brought quite obvious pains to society. The necessity for concern about urban physical patterns is made apparent by the findings of the 1950 U.S. Census. In 19^0, 64 per cent of the total population of 150,697,361 was living in urban areas. But in 1900 the urban population