ABSTRACT
The definition of neighborhood is often ambiguous. The purpose of this paper is to offer clarity on one important aspect of its definition: its size. While there is already a voluminous literature on neighborhood concepts and definitions, few sources delve into the question of size explicitly, and in a historically and culturally comparative way. Based on an extensive literature review, five size-based categories of neighborhood are proposed: (1) small clusters and face blocks; (2) more than a block, but still face to face; (3) like a big high school; (4) Perry’s neighborhood; and (5) the neighborhood expanded. Smaller neighborhoods are likely to prioritize social connectedness, while larger conceptions emphasize serviceability. Examples within each category are cross-cultural and cross-temporal, with many size regularities spanning more than one time period and more than one region.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Emily Talen
Emily Talen is a Professor of Urbanism at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on the relationship between the built environment and social equity.