Size, Growth, and Urban Life

Abstract

"Growth" is a key issue facing many American communities today. Although numerous cities have imposed growth-control measures in an effort to contain the perceived ill- effects of excessive growth, relatively little is actually known about the effects of size and growth on urban life. Using 18 indicators of various aspects of urban life, this study analyzes 115 geographically self-contained American cities, between 50,000 and 400,000 population in 1970, along with their surrounding urbanized areas. Employing Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) methods, the effects of size and growth on these indicators are examined-both directly and taking into account the conjoint effects of nine addi tional test factors which conceivably might mediate the size and growth effects.