Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Unlike Atlanta and Detroit, the extension of the influence of Houston's city
center has produced a net population increase. Like Atlanta, Houston is at the heart
of a growing metropolitan region. Suburban sprawl reaches its maximum extension
northward, towards Dallas along Interstate 45 and extending 80 km. The city of
Houston has become famous for its reluctance to adopt urban planning rules. Even
so, the development of urban corridors along the city's first tram line, opened in
2004, was introduced in May 2006 after Houston won the dubious distinction in
1999 of being the most polluted city in the United States. Like Atlanta, however, the
density profile of the metropolitan area is very low with 12 inhabitants/ha in the city
center and only 11 inhabitants/ha for the city (2000 census) - very far from the
profitability threshold for light public transportation of 30 inhabitants/ha. Public
transit thus accounted for a mere 3.8% of person trips in the 2000 census.
8.1.4. Portland
Of the 22 cities in 2000 with populations greater than 2 million, one city in
particular stands out for the coherence of its social and spatial integration: the
Portland-Salem MSA. 2 In 2006, the non-profit organization SustainLane ranked
Portland first among the 50 most important metropolitan areas of the United States
for its quality of life. What, one might ask, allowed Portland to distinguish itself in
this way?
Portland was founded in the early days of American settlement of the Pacific
coast (opening of the Oregon Trail in 1842). Its position as a crossroads led to its
becoming the main port of the Pacific Northwest for all of the 19th century, and
principal city for the state of Oregon, whose capital Salem is located only 70 km to
the south. As a regional hub, the city became a center of wholesale trade and has
developed a diversified economy as a regional, North American metropolis
providing services in the finance, health, education and information industries. Local
industry is relatively specialized in information technology (semiconductor industry)
and, like its rival, Seattle, software design and development are major components
of local economic activity. Another feature of the “city of roses” is its territorial
cohesiveness, an especially remarkable trait in the American context.
2 . Like many other Metropolitan Statistical Areas, the Portland-Salem CMSA was modified
in 2003 to become the Portland-Vancouver MSA also known as “Greater Portland”. At that
time Salem became the principal city with its own MSA. However, the statistical figures
presented in this topic refer to the 1999 reference geography, despite current and official
usages.
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