Other Economic Bases

Not all cities rely on the production of industrial goods. Our discussion of central-place theory called attention to the fact that trade is an important function of all cities. The relative importance of trade varies from city to city, however.

Some cities serve nearby agricultural areas. They offer markets for agricultural produce and provide goods and services for farmers. Cities located near important reserves of minerals and other natural resources often develop as supply centers for resource extraction industries. Petroleum forms an important component of the economic base of Tulsa, Oklahoma City. Denver, Calgary. Kuwait City, and Aberdeen in Scotland. Newcastle in England developed as a center for the coal trade, while Duluth. Minnesota, developed in order to serve the export needs of the iron-mining industry.

Trade in other cities developed because their location facilitated transport of goods. Ports prosper by funneling goods from inland locations to overseas destinations. Location on a river confluence or a natural harbor is often important to the development of port cities. One of the reasons that London is the natural trade center of the United Kingdom is because it is situated at the head of navigation of the Thames River. In the United States, several major cities including Philadelphia. Washington D.C., and Baltimore were founded along the Fall Line.

The Fall Line is the point at which the soft rock of the Atlantic coastal plain merges with the more resistant rock of the Piedmont. The abrupt change in the erosion rate formed waterfalls along many streams. Not only did waterfalls limit navigation inland, but they eventually provided power needed for the establishment of industry in the ports that developed.

Still other cities depend neither on industry nor on trade. Some specialize in government or in education. Others specialize in religion, in military-related activities or recreation. All have commercial and residential functions.

Government is the primary economic base of national planned capitals such as Washington, Canberra, and Brasilia. Some capitals of American states similarly specialize in government: for example, Sacramento, California; Austin, Texas: and Juneau, Alaska. University communities specialize in education. Examples in the United States include Norman, Oklahoma: Boulder, Colorado: Ann Arbor, Michigan: Manhattan, Kansas; and Brookings, South Dakota.

In some parts of the world, religion provides cities with an important economic base. Mecca and neighboring Medina are the most holy cities of Islam. Although they were founded as trading centers, their commercial functions have been overshadowed by their religious significance. Similarly, the Hindu religion provides an economic base for Benares.

Military activities provide a major part of the economic base of cities such as Pensacola. Florida: Rantoul. Illinois, and Charleston, South Carolina. Other places have economies based on recreation and tourism. Las Vegas, Nevada; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and the principality of Monaco are examples.