Site and Situation site what gives a location

“Site and Situation” • site = what gives a location its distinctive character (land, labor and capital) (combines absolute location w/place characteristics) • situation = how the “site” factors give this location importance (what connections does it facilitate? What advantages does the site factor give? ) (relative location and movement) • London • Site: • island • North Atlantic • Thames River = estuary • Situation • protected from invasion • easier connection to New World • ideal for triangular trade • 1530 = 50, 000 • 1750 = 750, 000

New York City “Site and Situation” Site Situation • island • • large, natural, deep-water harbor • • Atlantic coast • mouth of Hudson River • ideal for shipping • docks numerous and protected connect to Europe • triangular trade connects to the interior • Erie Canal (1825) • before RRs • ship through Great Lakes • access to raw materials • center of commerce and trade • overtakes Philly as largest port • fresh water supply for huge pop.

New York City “Site and Situation”

Chicago: “Site and Situation” Mr. Stepek

Who were the first Europeans to explore the Chicago area?

French exploration of the Mississippi River Valley

French exploration of the Mississippi River Valley

Site Factor: • Chicago lies between two watersheds • Mississippi and Great Lakes watersheds • portage site (“Portage Park”)

Situation • How did those site factors made Chicago an important location to these explorers? • Situation: a portage site. • Chicago was a vital link between French colonies in present-day Canada and the Mississippi Valley/Louisiana.

• What does Sandburg mean when he says” “Player with Railroads” “Nation’s Freight Handler” • Chicago is on the southern tip of Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes • Chicago is centrally located • Situation: RRs must go through Chicago to get around Great Lakes • • Chicago becomes an intermodal transfer point between land, water and air transportation

Chicago’s role was as coordinator of north-south and east-west flows lumber traveled from north to south

Chicago’s role was as coordinator of north-south and east-west flows hardware had to be directed from east to west

“Player with Railroads” “Nation’s Freight Handler”

Great Lakes Shipping (intermodal point between ships and RRS)

Situation = Chicago is a major transportation hub

How has Chicago as a transportation hub (situation) changed in the modern era? O’Hare Airport (world’s busiest 1963 – 1998)

Catalog Stores

Situation clue = “Hog Butcher to the World”

Situation clue = “Stacker of Wheat”

Site Factors: • Chicago is on the eastern edge of the agricultural heartland • It is on Lake Michigan

Eastern edge of agricultural region

Site Factor: On Lake Michigan (intermodal point between ships and RRS)

What is the situation? • Chicago is a major processor of the nation’s food supply!

How is this situation reflected currently? major global center of commodity exchanges

Chicago = “the City of Big Shoulders”, “Tool Maker”, “the City that Works” Chicago was an industrial center

Chicago was an industrial center • manufacturing jobs 79, 000 (1880) ↑ 210, 000 (1890)

Chicago was an industrial center

Site Factors: • Chicago is located near Illinois coal fields. • Chicago is located close to the Iron Range of Minnesota

Situation = Chicago was a center of heavy industry!