A city that died (explaining why it grew and flourished and why ltimately it failed to survive) - Essay Example

A That Died Introduction In the late 1920’s the of Buffalo, U.S.A was a flourishing and the thirteenth largest in America. In a period that has spanned a little over seven decades this city is virtually dead, and is among the top twenty deteriorating regions in America (Glaezar, 2007). The Rise and Death of Buffalo City The proximity of Buffalo city to the Great Lakes with access to the Atlantic was the basis of the development of Buffalo, as it became a hub in the transport over goods over water, with particular emphasis on the transportation of wheat.

This initial growth of the city was spurred on further by industrial growth and the generation of electricity from the nearby Niagara Falls. All these factors led to the fast growth of Buffalo city to its peak in the 1950s. Changes in transportation dynamics were the first shock that jolted the development of Buffalo. Road and rail transport of goods became a more viable means of transporting goods over water transportation on which Buffalo initially flourished. Compounding this was the opening of St.

Lawrence Seaway that enabled bypassing Buffalo altogether in the transportation of goods. Improvements to electricity transmission removed the advantage that Buffalo held in the energy requirements of industry. Inclement weather was always a draw back for Buffalo and industries moved away to warmer climes, when Buffalo no longer offered advantages. The final nails in its coffin were a combination of other factors. Actions of the State and local administration only made Buffalo unattractive. The loss of industrial activity was hastened “high taxes, burdensome regulations, and pro-union laws” (Glaezar, 2007).

The high property taxes coupled with the failure of the city administration to provide the safety and good schools were reasons for exodus of city residents. Racial violence, crime and lack of leadership at a time of crisis plunged Buffalo into its decline to virtual death (Glaezar, 2007). The decline of city and its gradual death arises from two reasons. The first reason is the loss of industrial activity and the jobs that it provides. The second reason is when there is failure of the city administration to make the city socially attractive (Bradbury, Downs & Small).

When businesses no longer find it profitable to continue activity in a city, which in the case of Buffalo was compounded by high taxes, strict regulations and pro-union laws, they move away to other more suitable locations, leading to loss of jobs. High property taxes and the lack of appropriate social amenities cause the more affluent city residents to move away from the city to the suburbs or to other locations. This results in cities going into decline and dying (The Causes of Urban Decline).

Conclusion The city of Buffalo has gone into virtual death as a result of loss of industrial activity and the jobs that arise through it and the failure of the city administration to provide the required social environment for it to be attractive to the residents. Literary References Bradbury, K. L., Downs A. & Small, K. A. 1982, Urban Decline and the Future of American Cities, Brookings Institution, Washington D.C., pp.1-8.Glaezar, E. L. 2007, ‘Can Buffalo Ever Come Back?’ City Journal [Online] Available at: http://www.

city-journal.org/html/17_4_buffalo_ny.html (accessed May 20, 2009). ‘The Causes of Urban Decline’. 2007, Associated Content [Online] Available at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/345869/the_causes_of_urban_decline.html?cat=17 (accessed May 20, 2009).