Who is credited with the development of the urban realms concept?

The urban realms concept is attributed to James Vance. He introduced this idea in the context of urban geography and analysis, focusing on the changes in metropolitan areas, particularly in relation to the expansion of cities and the development of suburban regions. Vance’s work emphasized how cities are not just singular entities but are composed of various realms or areas that have distinct social, economic, and spatial characteristics.

His theory illustrated that modern cities, especially post-World War II, could be understood as a series of interconnected urban realms that function independently yet are linked through infrastructure and transportation networks. This marked a significant shift in how urban areas were perceived and studied, influencing urban planning and policy-making.

In contrast, other figures associated with urban theory, such as Homer Hoyt, E.W. Burgess, and Chauncy Harris, contributed to different geographic and sociological models. Hoyt is known for the sector model, Burgess for the concentric zone model, and Harris for the multiple nuclei model, each of which provides insight into urban structure but does not specifically define the concept of urban realms as Vance did.