Chapter 7. Megalopoplis

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines MEGALOPOLIS as a thickly populated region centering in a metropolis or embracing several metropolises.

This area of the United States was a prime location for the Colonists during the 15th and 16th centuries due its access to the Ocean, fertile land, and access to natural resources. What is noteworthy about all the cities that make up what we call Megalopolis is that each of these cities is established near a an important river in the region. 

One may ask, Why is establishing a city near a river so important? Well, many of the colonies established near such rivers as the Hudson, Connecticut  and Potomac, would allow for easy access to natural resources. This allowed cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore to establish themselves as port cities. The Geography of North America textbook states that, " The British and other  European colonial powers established colonies in order to extract resources for transformation into finished product. These resources, along with products made from processing them, were shipped to Europe through these port cities. These port cities were developed along the major rivers of the region." 

LOS ANGELES as a MEGALOPOLIS

The city of LA is apart of the Southern California megalopolis system. However given its size and other characteristics such as diversity, proximity to a large body of water, and its proximity to natural resources, the city very well could be considered to be a megalopolis on its own. 

Just as the Northeast megalopolis cities are port cities, Los Angeles is home to some of the busiest ports in the world. Not only that, but Los Angeles has been called home by many various ethnic groups.

(portstrategy.com)

I have been fortunate enough to grow up in one of the most culturally rich parts of Los Angeles. Leimert Park is a community which is steeped in African American tradition and History. During the 1930s and 1940s, the Leimert area of Los Angeles was predominantly inhabited by Jewish and Japanese immigrants. 

(leimertparkbeat.com)                 During the 1950s, there was a great surge of African American settlers who migrated from the Southern states into the Northeast cities like New York, Lake cities like Chicago and Pacific cities like Los Angeles. Many of the migrants descended on cities like Los Angeles in search of better opportunities for education and work. Others sought refuge from the harsh racism and bigotry that plagued the Inland South states. 

Today areas like Leimert Park make up the rich culture of L.A.'s megalopolis. I am glad to have grown up in a community rich with the history of my ancestors.