Hi. I'm looking for books, or other resources, about why cities end up becoming what they are, where they are, and when.
Not about urban planning per se, but more like something that might answer these types of questions:
-How did New York City become THE American city? Other cities have ports and river access. Others have longer histories, better weather, better scenery. It's not even a capital. Why is this one top dog, still? Or is it?
-Could one look at a map of a continent, devoid of settlement, with mineral deposits, arable land, etc, fully revealed, and predict where and why great cities might or would grow? Are some such spots inevitable, regardless of politics and war? How much is random?
-It seems like some sites, like Cairo, Illinois, have enough geographic makings to be a major hub, but aren't. While Las Vegas seems to have been completely made up. Why? Money, timing, corruption, inertia? What else?
I'm a layperson, so basically the Isaac Asimov or James Burke version would be ideal.
Thank you in advance!
by mediamancer