Urban Planning History

David Graeber and David Wengrow’s new book, "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity," offers an important counter-narrative to the usual history of cities that’s rich with implications for urban scholars, policy-makers, and planners.

November 14, 2021 - Dean Saitta

The iconic urban thinker has influenced generations of planners, but how do her ideas hold up in an age of massive upheaval and economic inequality?

March 14, 2021 - Urban Omnibus

What do you think about the linked visual presentation of the history of urban planning?

January 23, 2018 - Visual Capitalist

City Observatory digs into the history of a Chicago suburb to answer the question: "Why don't people who say they'd like to take transit actually do it?"

April 30, 2016 - City Observatory

The Guardian Cities details how the Kaogong Ji brought an ancient order to the sprawling city of Beijing.

March 25, 2016 - The Guardian Cities

Planners have good reason to be thoughtful on the occasion of Black History Month. One blogger offers reflections and insight that should inspire thoughtfulness the rest of the year, too.

February 8, 2015 - Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space

An article by Woodbury University Professor Anthony Fontenot examines the effects of a history of opposition to planning as a centralized arm of the state, and proposes a way forward.

January 13, 2015 - Places Journal

In Amanda Erickson's explanation of the history of urban planning, the profession as conceived at the start of the 20th century confronted a choice between creating beautiful people or beautiful cities. Why couldn't planners have created both?

August 29, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities