Thursday, December 4, 2008

America the Beautiful - 12/04/08

In your opinion, what type of region (formal, functional, or perceptual) characterizes a megalopolis?

46 comments:

Tommy said...

I think a megalopolis is a functional region. A functional region focuses around a center point, with areas around it that are connected to it by roads or other transportation methods. This perfectly describes a megalopolis: the center of the city is the main area, usually the first establishment, then it grows outward and suburbs spring up around it. Take New York City for example. It was originally established as a fishing colony, but eventually grew outward, and upward, until it became the giant it is today. Another great example is Phoenix. It started out rather small, but suburbs grew and roads were built. Businesses opened on those roads, and soon it became as it is today, a giant city with many suburbs and sister cities.

Ajay said...

A megalopolis is an extensive metropolitan area, generally with a concentrated center. Therefore, a megalopolis is a functional region, because a functional region is an area defined around a focal point. Functional regions also have an overall coherence to the structure and dynamics of political, economic, and social organization, which megalopoli have.

Ajay said...

@Tommy: I completely agree with you. Megalopoli are large, growing cities with a clearly defined center, and generally have suburbs. New York is a perfect example, as is the entire eastern seaboard. In fact, the term "megalopolis" was first used to describe the huge metropolitan area along the Eastern seaboard of the U.S.

Tommy said...

@Ajay: I agree with you, a megalopolis is a functional region. I also see what you are saying about how a megalopolis has an overall coherence. I once lived in Connecticut while my dad worked in New York. This proves both of our statements. The eastern seaboard is a megalopolis, and the areas around it are interconnected, especially with mass transit systems such as trains and subways. My dad took the commuter train to work everyday, which shows how central areas are connected to outer areas by means of transportation.

Brandon Pd 1 said...

In my opinion, a megalopolis can only and solely be classified as functional. Many east coast American megalopolis prove this point.

The Northeast megalopolis is an excellent example to prove my point.

The Northeast megalopolis contains some of the oldest cities in the United States. The major cities are New York City, Washington DC, Boston, Philidelphia, Baltimore.

These cities can all be classified as global cities. Global cities are city who are deemed to play an important role in the global economy.

They are also quite large. Around 18% of the world population lives in these cities, whose land size only equates to 2% of the United States.

According to recent economic data, the Northeast megalopolis contributes 20% to the GDP or (Gross Domestic Product).

These cities also house some of the most important buildings in America. The White House, The Capital Building, The Supreme Court. Large multimedia broadcast corporations such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX are situated in the Northeast megalopolis.

Large financial corporations have build their headquarters in these cities. 54 or the Fortune Global 500 companies are situated in the region.

I’ve also read that this region is home to the largest hedge funds in the world. Don’t we all love hedge funds? Those lovely methods of investiment involving leverage and unidentified investment.

Some of the nations most prestigious colleges are located in these megaopolis cities. Notiably Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

Transportation also shows this areas functional purpose. Amtrak houses their fastest train line in the Northeast megaopolis. Cities are dominated with taxis, subways rule the underworld, and highways pave the earth.

As you can see, a megalopolis’s sole purpose of existance is functionality. Most companies headquarters, the United Nations, government buildings are all situated in these cities to allow quick transfer of information, people, and ideas.

Soon Phoenix will reach a similar fate. According to Census data the city of Phoenix shall reach megaopolis status by the year 2040.

Tommy said...

@Brandon: I agree with you that a megalopolis is a functional region. I also like your example of the Northeast megalopolis. However, I disagree with some of your reasons as to why they should be considered functional. You gave the example of important universities and buildings, such as Harvard and the Capitol. However, a functional region is a region centered around a focal point with transportation systems connecting the outer areas to that center. Important buildings are not relevant. However, I do like your example of the transportation systems, notably Amtrak and the subways. These are what really make a megalopolis a functional region. I also liked your examples of broadcasting companies and financial corporations, as those connect the central regions to outlying areas by necessity, or functionality.

Ajay said...

@Tommy: I think that Brandon used the examples of important universities and buildings to prove the point that there is a high concentration of people in a specific focal point, therefore resulting in those important buildings. It's the same as the corporations and subway system examples; a large concentration of people in a central location results in the construction of transport systems, corporations, and other important buildings.

Brandon Pd 1 said...

In response to Tommy, I would have to disagree with the facts you presented. Important buildings such as the Capitol, do serve functional purposes in a megalopolis such as Washington DC.

The Capitol and similar government buildings are the only reason why Washington DC, our capital; is a megalopolis.

Washington DC was primarily founded only to "become the seat of the government of the United States".

Washington is filled with functional government buildings, confirming its sole purpose.

The Capitol
Serves as the legislative branch of the United States government.

The White House
Serves as the executive branch of the United States government.

The Supreme Court
Serves as the judicial branch of the United States government.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Prints and engraves our paper currency.

The Library of Congress
Largest library in the world.

The Pentagon
Headquarters of the Department of Defense, under command by the brilliant Robert Gates.

The Federal Reserve Bank
Sets our interest rates, and banking policies.

As you can see, there is plenty more than just beautiful architecture in Washington DC. Washington DC contains numerous important buildings which play a pivotal role in world affairs.

Priya Vij, per 1 said...

A megalopolis is an extensive metropolitan area or a long chain of metropolitan areas. It is basically a small area that grew into something massive by other suburbs growing around it and making it even bigger. A good example of this good be Washington D.C. It started off rather small and look what it has grown to today. There is the white house, the sir and sapce museum, the Halocaust museum, and SO many monuments and memorials. Once again it started off small and just look what it has grown to today.

Priya Vij, per 1 said...

Responding to Brandon. It is funny because I typed my response before even reading yours about WAshington D.C. I agree with you that buildings in Washington D.C. do serve functional purposes. I mean without them the government and presidential affairs would be lost and not e able to function as well as they do today.

Brandon Pd 1 said...

Very ironic.

But as I was saying. Washington DC was formed strictly for government. Because after the Revolutionary War, both the Northern colonies and the Southern colonies debated on the location of the capital, so the capital was placed at the border of the Northern and Southern colonies, and titled the District of Colombia.

Priya Vij, per 1 said...

I would also like to add (because I forgot on my original response) that I think that a megalopolis is a functional region. The reasons to support this theory are in my original blog response.

Anonymous said...

I think that a megapolis is a functional region. A functional region is defined as a region that is centered around a point. A megapolis is usually centered toward some point, usually "downtown areas" and such. As you get farther and farther away from the center it begins to reach out toward the suburbs.

Anonymous said...

Responding to what Ajay said, I agree with what you say about a megapolis. A megapolis is a functional region, it is centered around a point. That point as you so aptly put it is the focal point. Imagine it as the spokes of a wheel, with everything radiating from the focal point. Usually the original area of habitation.

Anonymous said...

Resonding to what Tommy said, I agree that a megapolis is a functional region because it is defined as a region with a defined core that spatially interacts with other regions. Thus, to be a functional region a region must have a core and interact spatially with other regions outside its immediate vicinity.

Priya Vij, per 1 said...

Responging to Ajay.. I agree with you and I also find it very amazing how you connected math and focus points to our geography class. I also liked Frank's analogy to a wheel. It is all tied together. The fact that a megalopolis is centered around a focus point shows that everything in our world is connected and that we learn everything for a reason...well at least most things. =D

Andy Waldo, p.1 said...

I think a megalopolis is a functional region. I say this for one major reason there is central area that the region is focused at. A functional region is an area defined by a center area. A megalopolis fits this description perfectly

Becca ^^ said...

I agree with anyone who stated that a megalopolis is a functional region. A metropolitan area pertains to a large city, its surrounding suburbs, and other neighboring communities. Usually megalopolises (such as the one in New York) are very diverse and rich with many cultural backgrounds and heritages. I’m sorry if I’m being repetitive of anyone’s original text; it wasn’t intentional.

Becca ^^ said...

I agree with both Brandon and Ajay that "there is a high concentration of people in a specific focal point" because of major establishments, like the creation of colleges, and distinguished business industries.

Rick Per. 1 said...

I think a megalopolis is a functional region because the cities of today usually have a focal point (ex. Times Square) then spread out out into city districts, suberbs, and then country.

bailee richards said...

According to the definiton of a megalopolis, an extensive metropolitan area or a long chain of continuous metropolitan areas i think it is a functional and according to the defintion of a functional regoin, a place surrounding a certain place in which at least one form of spatial interaction much occur. I belive a megalopolis is a fucntional regoin

Lauren Bacon- period 1 said...

In my opinion, a megalopolis is a functional region. Its definitions include: “an extensive metropolitan area or a long chain of metropolitan areas,” and “a thickly populated region centering in a metropolis.” By simply examining the definitions, a megalopolis is obviously functional. A megalopolis begins as a tiny area which then expands due to the creation of suburbs. The suburbs connect to the megalopolis as a result of the construction of roads. In the end, everything becomes centered on an area within the megalopolis. As you can clearly see, this region is characterized as functional.

Lauren Bacon- period 1 said...

Responding to Tommy’s first comment. I definitely agree with your reasoning that supports the theory of a megalopolis being functional. In addition, your examples of New York and Phoenix as megalopolises are perfect. Another example of a megalopolis would be Los Angeles because it started as a small community and eventually grew.

Anonymous said...

I believe that a megapolis is a functional region. It is a functional region because a megapolis is the center of the city, like a functional region, only a functional region is a region that focuses on a central location. In the end a megapolis and a functional region and kind of the same thing, but slightly different.

Anonymous said...

Andy-
I agree with you on how a megapolis is a functional region. They are both basically the same kind of thing which you also think. :) They are both the center of a place or location.

Rachel Pd. 1 said...

I think a megalopolis is a functional region. A functional region is a region that is focused around a center point with roads and other modes of transportation connecting it. A megalopolis is the center of a city. Any city is a good example. They started off small and eventually they grew larger and larger. They would expand and have suburbs and roads surrounding the center part of the city. This is why cities are such great examples of a megalopolis.

Rachel Pd. 1 said...

@Mackenzie: I totally agree with you on your point that functional regions and megalopolis are basically the same thing. A functional region focuses around a focal point while a megalopolis is the center of a city and the area spreading out from it.

Rick Per. 1 said...

In response to Tommy's first comment, I agree with you that the magalopolis is a functional region. It makes sense that a city starts witha main focal point, then expands outward with new businessess and transportations.

Hannah S. Period 1 said...

In my opinion, a megalopolis is a functional region for a couple of region. One of which is that it is mainly focuses on one central location. Through this location, many railroads, roads, subways, and other forms of transportation are used. Since there are many forms of transportation, the focus grows to suburbs, etc which causes the megalopolis to grow and multiply to create a large area with many cities.

Hannah S. Period 1 said...

In response to Rach's first comment:
I completely agree with what you said about a megalopolis being the central region of a city. This proves that megalopolis's are functional regions.

Unknown said...

A megalopolis is most definitely a functional region. Without a funciton, megalopolises would have no point and therefore, not exist. Also, they can't be formal or perceptual due to the fact that there's no certain way a megalopolis has to be, and it is not an opinionated statement.

Unknown said...

@Lauren: I completely agree, your definitions are alost exact to those of my own. I see no other option except for functional.

Unknown said...

@Rick: Very simply put, I agree. They are the center for suburbs and other types of developments. Take Chicago for example. It is obviously a well known megalopolis, but it is also the center for suburbs such as Lake Zurich, Sterling, and Rockford.

Ross period.1 said...

I believe that a megalopolis is a functoin as they focus round a center point. For Example Times Square in New York city

Ross period.1 said...

Tommy's first comment: I agree 100% that a megalopoils starts off at a center point and then expands outwards to grow more.

aaryn p1 said...

the definition of megalopolis is a long chain of continuous metropolitan areas. i think a megalopolis is a functional region. this is becasue a megapolis without a purpose, would be utterly useless. many forms of transportaion are used, and go out into the suberbs of a big city. an example is many of the california citys, many started out as minning towns, and grew from there.

aaryn p1 said...

Hannah :)
i totally agree with you! i didnt think about all the different types of transportation used, i just thought of cars. but with all the different types of transpertaion that you pointed out it would cause the city to get even bigger and bigger. becasue the more ways peopel have to get around the farther away from the main city they move. which causes many little suberebs to pop up everywhere.

Lauren Bacon- period 1 said...

Responding to John’s first comment. I definitely agree with your decision when you classified a megalopolis as “functional.” I also agree with your reasoning when you wrote that it is functional because if it lacks a function, then it would not be there. However, I believe that that statement is rather general (I apologize for being so rude) due to the fact that most things have a function. Therefore, your reasoning cannot be the sole argument (sorry) for a megalopolis being functional (it is basically because it is “a thickly populated region centering in a metropolis,” though yours makes sense too). Please correct me if I misunderstood your reasoning. In conclusion, I do agree with your decision though, in my opinion, your reasoning may need some development (I am so sorry).

Rick Per. 1 said...

@ajay. I agree that the megalopolis is as functional region because cities usually have a small concentrated point, then balloon outward to suberbs and eventually countryside.

Ross period.1 said...

Ajay: I believe that megalopolis is a metropolitan area and that tehy do focas round a center point.

bailee richards said...

@Mackenzie-
I completly agree with your first response you made it short sweet and to the point. I Agree with your decision of a megalopolis being a functional region

bailee richards said...

In response to Ross replying to Ajay i dont understand what your saying you said in your first response that a megalopolis is a functional and then in that response to Ajay you said it was metropolitan area. Anyways i pretty much agree with everyone cause most of us agree that a megalopolis is a functional region

Andy Waldo, p.1 said...

In response to Tommy, I 100% agree with you a megalopolis is a functional region.

Andy Waldo, p.1 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
aaryn p1 said...

John -
i afree with you about how it could not be a formal or perceptual, i had not thought of this. becasue there is no one way that a megalopis has to be, it can be anyway it wants (or the people that live there want). and there is no way it could be anythign else.

Andy Waldo, p.1 said...

@ Brandon: I agree with you that a meagalopolis is functional region. I like the way you give all of those examples, I agree with every single one of them.