Evolution of Urban Densities in North America and Europe

The relationship between distance and urban density varies between European and North American cities. While in North American cities density has generally decreased through sub-urbanization and the creation of peripheral centers, the European case is simply and extension away from the urban center. Furthermore, density in central areas of North American cities has generally declined in view of land use changes such as industrial relocation and reconversion of land use into parking lots. The radius of a North American city (r(NA)) is larger than the radius of an European city of a similar population (r(E)). It is also important to underline that densities are much higher in Europe than in North America.