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What is a Central City in the United States? Applying a Statistical Technique for Developing Taxonomies

Author

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  • Edward W. Hill

    (College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA, Ned@wolfcsuohio.edu)

  • John F. Brennan

    (College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA, Bren4452@wolfcsuohio.edu)

  • Harold L. Wolman

    (Policy Sciences Graduate Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 627 Administration, 1000 Hill Top Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA, HDWolman@Potomac.net.)

Abstract

We test the null hypothesis that municipalities defined as central cities by the US Bureau of the Census in 1990 are homogeneous-a hypothesis we reject. Rather, we find that US central cities consist of 2 distinct subsets of municipalities that are aggregated from 13 cluster groupings. The article has two purposes. The first is methodological. We develop a method that uses cluster analysis to group US central cities; then we employ discriminant analysis to establish the statistical validity of those groups. We also develop techniques to minimise the role of judgement in selecting the appropriate cluster solution. The second purpose of the article is to test the substantive null hypothesis. Our rejection of the homogeneity assumption raises the spectre of specification error in research and public policies that assume homogeneity among central cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward W. Hill & John F. Brennan & Harold L. Wolman, 1998. "What is a Central City in the United States? Applying a Statistical Technique for Developing Taxonomies," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 35(11), pages 1935-1969, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:35:y:1998:i:11:p:1935-1969
    DOI: 10.1080/0042098983962
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maury B. Gittleman & David R. Howell, 1995. "Changes in the Structure and Quality of Jobs in the United States: Effects by Race and Gender, 1973–1990," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 48(3), pages 420-440, April.
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    3. Vincent Claude B & Eastman Byron, 2009. "Defining the Style of Play in the NHL: An Application of Cluster Analysis," Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports, De Gruyter, vol. 5(1), pages 1-23, January.
    4. Wang, Chih-Hao & Chen, Na, 2017. "A geographically weighted regression approach to investigating the spatially varied built-environment effects on community opportunity," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 136-147.

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