The Degree of Centralization in Large Urban Areas in the U.S., 1950-2010

Abstract

Levels of centralization of population and housing and the phenomenon of decentralization are an important aspect of large urban areas. A measure of centralization called the centralization ratio is developed that reflects the proportional reduction in the mean distance housing units are located from the center compared to a uniform distribution in the urban area. Values for this measure are computed using data on numbers of housing units by census tracts for 59 large urban areas defined for each census from 1950 to 2010. The results show that mean levels of centralization have declined steadily and significantly over the period. This decline was not universal, however, with 14 areas showing increases. Centralization varied by region of the country, highest in the Northeast and lowest in the South. Mean levels of centralization were also higher for the largest urban areas.