Lecture Notes: Urbanization in Texas

Introduction

• Focus on Texas urbanization
• Thematic nature of lectures
• Importance of understanding concepts rather than memorizing numbers

Historical Context

1860s

• National Urbanization Rate: 20%
• Southern Urbanization Rate: 8%
• Texas Urbanization Rate: 5%
• Population Comparisons:
  • New Orleans: 175,000
  • Texas (entire state): 600,000
• Major Texas Cities:
  • San Antonio (8,000): Major trading center, military headquarters
  • Galveston (7,000): Major port
  • Houston (5,000): Early railroad center
  • Austin (3,000): State capital

Role of Cities

• Centers of local government
• Trade and services
• Frontier defense organization
• Churches, education, social life, newspapers
• Professional firefighting and police force as city characteristics
• Limited number of small towns due to reliance on plantations (e.g., slavery)

Late 19th Century Developments

• U.S. urban population: 45%
• Texas urban population: 17%
• Major Cities by Population:
  • San Antonio: 53,000 (railroads, military camps, cattle trade)
  • Houston: 44,000 (commerce, railroads)
  • Dallas: 42,000 (railroads, commerce)
  • Galveston: 37,000 (developed port)
  • Fort Worth: 26,000 (railroads, stockyards)
  • Austin: 22,000 (capital, University of Texas)

Post-World War II Developments

• Industrial developments and technologies encourage urban migration
• Soldiers return, population boom
• Reduction in farms due to the Great Depression

20th Century City Growth

• Houston: Largest city, international trade, oil industry, NASA, universities
• Dallas: Banking industry, cultural institutions, universities
• San Antonio: Air bases, tourism, cultural and historical significance
• El Paso: Fort Bliss, railroad, border commerce
• Fort Worth: Cultural center, airplane industry, universities
• Austin: Music hub, universities, cultural contributions

Factors Influencing Growth

• Automobiles encouraging suburban living
• Migration from northern U.S. and California for better living and economic opportunities
• Environmental pressures: pollution, waste management

Cultural and Social Aspects

• Professional sports as a unifying factor
• Cultural reflections in cities (e.g., museums, zoos, theaters)
• Continuous metropolitan growth along I-35 corridor and Houston-Galveston

Challenges and Sustainability

• Water supply issues due to population growth
• Aging infrastructure (e.g., dams)
• Economic reliance on water for residential and commercial use
• Need for sustainable solutions to ensure urban viability

Conclusion

• Urbanization provides opportunities and drives economic growth
• Challenges related to sustainability and resource management
• Importance of addressing future urban challenges to maintain service reliability

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification!