Comparison Of The Growth Model Of The Three Central Cities In San Francisco Bay Area After The Second World War

This dissertation probes the evolution of the economic structure and development strategy of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, the three central cities of San Francisco Bay Area and compares the developmental stages, growth systems, space development patterns, the role in the Bay Area and the interaction among them, so as to explore the evolution of central cities in the metropolitan area.The paper begins with a brief introduction, tracing the development of the scholarship both in American and Chinese academic communities and introducing the methodology, major issues and resources.Chapterâ… gives a basic review of the geographic condition and early exploration of the Bay Area and outlines the growth of the three central cities from establishment to the end of 19th century.Chapterâ…¡examines the development of the three central cities during the first part of 20th century, focusing on the major elements contributed to the growth and providing the background for analyzing the conditions of the three cities after the Second World War.Chapterâ…¢focuses on the economic transformation and strategy of San Francisco after the Second World War. On the basis of revitalization of downtown, promoting service industries and high technology industries, San Francisco transforms to a post-industrial city and revives.Chapterâ…£discusses the boom and decay of Oakland during the post World Warâ…¡and analyzes the backgrounds. The structural adjustment and economic revitalization strategy of the city after the 1980s are also explained. Oakland still needs hard work to revitalize its economy in the future.Chapterâ…¤examines the rapid growth of San Jose driving by the high tech industries and effective development strategy. The location of the city in Silicon Valley plays a vital role.Chapterâ…¥compares the developmental stage, growth system, space development pattern, the role in the Bay Area and the interaction among them. In the Bay Area, San Francisco plays a primary role, while the three cities with their own advantages and disadvantages compete and complement each other. The Conclusion briefly summarizes the previous chapters and demonstrates the valuable insight we can learn from evolution of the three central cities of the Bay Area.