What is defined as a large node of office and retail activities on the edge of an urban area?

An Edge City is characterized as a significant cluster of office and retail activities situated at the periphery of an urban area. This term, popularized by urban theorist Joel Garreau in the 1990s, describes places that have evolved beyond mere suburban sprawl, containing various services and businesses that serve both the local population and adjacent cities. Edge Cities usually develop around major transportation routes and are often marked by a high concentration of jobs, shopping centers, and entertainment complexes, making them self-sufficient urban nodes.

The other terms present different concepts. A Concentric Zone model describes urban land use patterns as concentric circles expanding from the city center, focusing on socio-economic classes rather than specific office and retail activities. Urban Realm refers to a more extensive area that incorporates suburban communities and various urban nodes, emphasizing the relationship between urban and suburban areas rather than a singular focus on retail and office activities. Suburban Town generally denotes residential areas that might have some commercial activity but does not encapsulate the significant urban activity characteristic of Edge Cities, which are marked by a concentration of jobs and services found at the fringes of metropolitan centers.