“Site and Situation”

1. “Site and Situation” • site = what gives a location its distinctive character (land, labor and capital) (combines absolute location w/place characteristics) • situation= how the “site” factors give this location importance (what connections does it facilitate? What advantages does the site factor give?) (relative location and movement) • London • Site: • island • North Atlantic • Thames River = estuary • Situation • protected from invasion • easier connection to New World • ideal for triangular trade • 1530 = 50,000 • 1750 = 750,000

2. New York City “Site and Situation” Site Situation ideal for shipping docks numerous and protected connect to Europe triangular trade connects to the interior Erie Canal (1825) before RRs ship through Great Lakes access to raw materials center of commerce and trade overtakes Philly as largest port fresh water supply for huge pop. • island • large, natural, deep-water harbor • Atlantic coast • mouth of Hudson River

3. New York City “Site and Situation”

4. Chicago:“Site and Situation” Mr. Stepek

5. Who were the first Europeans to explore the Chicago area?

6. French exploration of the Mississippi River Valley

7. French exploration of the Mississippi River Valley

8. Site Factor: • Chicago lies between two watersheds • Mississippi and Great Lakes watersheds • portage site (“Portage Park”)

9. Situation • How did those site factors made Chicago an important location to these explorers? • Situation: a portage site. • Chicago was a vital link between French colonies in present-day Canada and the Mississippi Valley/Louisiana.

10. What does Sandburg mean when he says”“Player with Railroads” “Nation’s Freight Handler” • Chicago is on the southern tip of Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes • Chicago is centrally located • Situation: RRs must go through Chicago to get around Great Lakes • Chicago becomes an intermodal transfer point between • land, water and air transportation

11. Chicago’s role was as coordinator of north-south and east-west flows lumber traveled from north to south

12. Chicago’s role was as coordinator of north-south and east-west flows hardware had to be directed from east to west

14. “Player with Railroads” “Nation’s Freight Handler”

15. Great Lakes Shipping (intermodal point between ships and RRS)

16. Situation = Chicago is a major transportation hub

17. How has Chicago as a transportation hub (situation) changed in the modern era? O’Hare Airport (world’s busiest 1963 – 1998)

19. Catalog Stores

20. Situation clue = “Hog Butcher to the World”

21. Situation clue = “Stacker of Wheat”

22. Site Factors: • Chicago is on the eastern edge of the agricultural heartland • It is on Lake Michigan

23. Eastern edge of agricultural region

24. Site Factor: On Lake Michigan(intermodal point between ships and RRS)

26. What is the situation? • Chicago is a major processor of the nation’s food supply!

27. How is this situation reflected currently? major global center of commodity exchanges

28. Chicago = “the City of Big Shoulders”, “Tool Maker”, “the City that Works” Chicago was an industrial center

29. Chicago was an industrial center • manufacturing jobs 79,000 (1880) ↑ 210,000 (1890)

30. Chicago was an industrial center

31. Site Factors: • Chicago is located near Illinois coal fields. • Chicago is located close to the Iron Range of Minnesota

32. Situation = Chicago was a center of heavy industry!