Urban Regions in Georgia: 1964-1979

Southeastern Geographer Vol. 21, No. 2, November 1981, pp. 84-107 URBAN REGIONS IN GEORGIA: 1964-1979* Judith F. Russell and William H. Berentsen A review of the literature of urban geography and of urbanization in the South reveals differing opinions about the changes occurring in national and regional systems of cities. Some authors argue that there is no longer a national hierarchy of cities, that all are integrated equally into a system of cities. (1) Others conclude that the hierarchical pattern remains intact and that growth impulses continue to move from level to level down the hierarchy. (2) Contemporary scholars describe patterns of centralization in the Southern urban system similar to those which occurred in the national system 50 years ago but which lagged in the South because of the Civil War. (3) Some assert that the traditional system of many small agricultural collection centers affected the regional pattern so that there would always be a larger number of small towns than there are in other regions of the country. (4) Others state that these small towns are becoming foci oftheir regions. (5) For example, Bourne argues that Atlanta is becoming increasingly dominant in Georgia, but Hansen concludes that the influence of the small towns is beginning to balance the power of the metropolis in their areas. (6) These conflicting opinions were the stimulus for this study. The purpose here is to determine if the urban hierarchy in Georgia, measured principally by daily newspaper circulation, was changing in any of the above-described ways. The hierarchical relationships between the major metropolis of Atlanta and the smaller urban centers of Georgia were compared for 1964 and 1979. Changes in the extent of the market regions dominated by the cities of the state in these two years were also examined . Study of the circulation patterns of all daily newspapers dis- * The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful criticism of Dr. James S. Fisher, Dr. Clifton W. Pannell, and anonymous reviewers. Ms. Russell is a doctoral student in the Department of Geography at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA 30602. Dr. Berentsen is Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA 30602. Vol. XXI, No. 2 85 tributed in the state was the basis for establishing the hierarchical structure . DATA SOURCES. The study of newspaper circulation patterns has been used by urban geographers since 1930 to delimit metropolitan regions. (7) Because information about newspaper circulation is accurately and completely reported, it is a valuable data source for the researcher. Newspaper circulation zones follow closely boundaries of retail trade zones and therefore are useful in delimiting trade patterns. (8) Recent research stresses that both social and economic links are reinforced by newspaper readership. (9) Yet, as Phillips noted, "The full possibilities of using newspaper circulation to measure metropolitan hierarchy and the intensity of metropolitan influence have not been exploited, . . . ." (10) The principal data source used in this study is Newspaper Circulation Analysis, published annually since 1920 by the Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS). This company sells highly accurate and accessible information on newspaper circulation statistics to subscribers for use in setting newspaper advertising rates, which are based on the amount of circulation provided. The newspaper data published in the SRDS volumes are provided by the independent Audit Bureau of Circulation which compiles the information from sworn and notarized monthly statements from newspaper publishers. The statements are checked for accuracy in both the individual newspaper statistics and the county and Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) totals. The total circulation and penetration (percentage of households subscribing per areal unit) for each newspaper in the United States are published in Newspaper Circulation Analysis. These totals are subdivided to show levels of circulation within and outside each newspaper's respective metropolitan region. Totals are also given for each newspaper for each county in which it circulates along with a number of other socioeconomic variables (e.g., consumer spendable income per household and population data). ANALYSIS OFATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION MARKET PENETRATION FOR THE YEARS 1964 AND 1979. Maps were constructed of Atlanta Journal and Constitution market penetration in Georgia counties, using information from SRDS 1964 and 1979 Newspaper Circulation Analysis. Any penetration...