The Daily Movement of Population into Central Business Districts

THIS paper reports an exploratory study of urban population. While we have rather detailed data and a correspondingly mature understanding regarding nighttime population-the Census, for example, being primarily concerned with where residents sleep-we lack an adequate picture of daytime patterns. There are great gaps in our knowledge of where metropolitan residents are distributed while carrying out their jobs, their shopping and other daily functions.' Specifically, this study examines the daily movement of persons into the central business districts (CBDs) of middle-sized and large American cities. The guiding question has been: What proportion of a metropolitan population enters and accumulates in the CBD each weekday? Two other related questions are also posed: How do these entry and accumulation proportions vary by city size? How have these proportions varied with time?