The spatial transformation of first-tier suburbs, 1970 to 2000: The case of metropolitan Baltimore

The evolution of first-tier suburbs has emerged as an important topic of scholarly and popular attention in the past decade, yet little is known about the diversity of neighborhood spatial structure. This article analyzes data on 152 census tracts in 21 first-tier suburban census designated places in metropolitan Baltimore. A total of 49 socioeconomic variables are used to measure the population, income dynamics, nature of the housing, and structure of the labor force. The analysis provides evidence of spatial restructuring in 1970 and 2000. The racial composition, socioeconomic status, occupation, and nature of the housing stock differentiate the spatial structure of Baltimore's first-tier suburban neighborhoods from one another over time. A typology of five neighborhoods in 1970 and six in 2000 is derived from a partitional clustering procedure that groups principal components analysis scores. The policy implications of suburban diversity and decline are discussed.