Explorations in Neighborhood Differentiation

The cyclical interest in local units of the urban community has failed to provide cumulative knowledge about the varieties, functions and ethnic distribution of types of neighborhoods. Research in Detroit, involving 16 black and 12 white neighborhoods, provides sufficient quantitative data to formulate multivariate distinctions of neighborhood type and function. Among the most important findings was the extent to which residents of given types of neighborhoods used informal and formal services. The total utilization of neighbor and formal agency services was also tied to neighborhood type. The present research suggests a more comprehensive typology for describing the character of local neighborhoods and for devising strategies of intervention where the prime unit is a local neighborhood.