Borchert's Epochs

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Borchert's epochs refer to four distinct periods in the history of American urbanization. Each epoch is characerized by the impact of a particular transport technology on the creation and differential rates of growth of American cities. This model was conceptualized by University of Minnesota geographer John R. Borchert in 1967. The four epochs identified by Borchert are:

Sail-Wagon Epoch (1790-1830),
Iron Horse Epoch (1830-1870), characterized by impact of steam engine technology, and development of steamboats and regional railroad networks.
Steel Rail Epoch (1870-1920), dominated by the development of long haul railroads and a national railroad network.
Auto-Air-Amenity Epoch (1920- )

Borchert did not provide an ending date for his fourth epoch. Subsequent researchers (for example Phillips and Brunn) have proposed extension of Borchert's model with new epochs to take into account late 20th century developments in the pattern of metropolitan growth and decline in the United States.

[edit] References

Borchert, John R. (Jul 1967). "American Metropolitan Evolution". Geographical Review 57 (3): 301–332. doi:10.2307/212637.
Phillips, Phillip D.; Brunn, Stanley D. (Jul 1978). "Slow Growth: A New Epoch of American Metropolitan Evolution". Geographical Review 68 (3): 274–292. doi:10.2307/215047.
Kaplan, Wheeler, Holloway (2004). Urban Geography. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. ISBN 0-471-35998-X.