Pred's Theory
Substantial economic power came in epochs of transportation for many western cities in 1876 as the Transcontinental Railroad was completed. A little town of only 10,000 people was connected to the larger rail system of the United States, thus beginning an era of connectivity. By 1890, Los Angeles’ population jumped to fifty thousand. ("Los Angeles: History,”) Spurring
growth along its route, the growth of Los Angeles’ manufacturing sector and the
eventual dissolution of its core contributed wealthily to Santa Monica’s
growth. The intertwining histories of the surrounding suburbs, otherwise known
as the inner ring cities, included Santa Monica. Tourism was Santa Monica’s
main industry as the Arcadia Hotel and its baths attracted local residents from
Los Angeles via the trolley lines. Facilitating the movement of
population sprawl throughout Southern California, the push of increased
residents into the valleys can be seen in cluster form. The advent
of freeways and automobiles increased travel along Route 66 and the 10
Interstate, both of which end in Santa Monica. Bordering the edges of Los
Angeles County, outer ring suburbs fan out in hierarchical patterns replacing
orange groves with single family developments. The mobilization of
families moving to the west for better prospects brought increases in
population to the greater Southern California metropolitan statistical area. (Route
66 Overview, nd.)
Affordable transportation and competition between rail companies helped Los Angeles County continuously grow, and due to sheer proximity to the oceanside, Santa Monica continuously grew by relative position. (Kaplan et al. 2014, April) The airfield supplied jobs and brought families to Santa Monica, and after the end of World War II, the population boom that fueled retail and service economies accounting for the fourth and sixth largest sector in Santa Monica today, respectively. ("Economic & Demographic," nd ) Pred’s theory suggests that improved economics is namely due to improved transportation infrastructure and the creation of an industry. (Kaplan et al. 2014, April) The combination of these industries has created a multiplier effect that has increased regional interactions between the City of Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Affordable transportation and competition between rail companies helped Los Angeles County continuously grow, and due to sheer proximity to the oceanside, Santa Monica continuously grew by relative position. (Kaplan et al. 2014, April) The airfield supplied jobs and brought families to Santa Monica, and after the end of World War II, the population boom that fueled retail and service economies accounting for the fourth and sixth largest sector in Santa Monica today, respectively. ("Economic & Demographic," nd ) Pred’s theory suggests that improved economics is namely due to improved transportation infrastructure and the creation of an industry. (Kaplan et al. 2014, April) The combination of these industries has created a multiplier effect that has increased regional interactions between the City of Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
References: Kaplan, Dave H., and Steven Holloway. Urban Geography. Wiley, 2014. http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-EHEP002964.html
"Los Angeles: History." City Becomes American Possession; Gold Discovered. http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-West/Los-Angeles-History.html
Route 66 Overview. http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/route66/Route66_overview.html
"Los Angeles: History." City Becomes American Possession; Gold Discovered. http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-West/Los-Angeles-History.html
Route 66 Overview. http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/route66/Route66_overview.html