Jennifer Boetcher took a photo walk around Niagara Falls, New York to document evidence of urbanization. Niagara Falls has transformed from a rural to fully urban area, with 49,000 residents in a densely populated space. Many abandoned buildings have been renovated into shops and cafes. While urbanization has created some blight, the city is working to revitalize old structures and attract more tourists. Homes are built close together without large yards, exemplifying the characteristics of an urban environment.

1. Niagara Falls
Area, NY
Jennifer Boetcher
SOC 270- Community Studies
Photo Walk Slide Show

2. •The chapter that helped with
my topic for the Photo Walk is
“The Urban World.”
•The specific topic I chose to
look at for the Photo Walk is
the topic of “Urbanization”.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

3. • In the text, Palen describes “Urbanization” as a
process in which rural areas transform into urban
areas.
- It refers to the changes in the population and people
moving to cities or other densely area places to settle down.
• I chose this topic because half of the world’s
population, now lives in urban areas, and
urbanization is growing rapidly.

4. I drove around and
walked all around in
the Niagara Falls area.
Niagara Falls is 100%
urban and 0% rural.
Niagara Falls
population consists of
49,000 people. With
an increase of 12%
since 2000. The
median age group is 38
years old. With
Caucasians out ruling
other races.
( http://www.city-
data.com/city/Niagara-Falls-New-
York.html )

5. Niagara Falls, New York
• Walking around Niagara Falls, showed me that Niagara
Falls is making their city better.
• Urbanization has created ‘slums’ and Niagara Falls had a
couple of run downed buildings.
• The Main street had abandoned buildings turning into
small cafes or shops.
• The one abandoned building was being
renovated into a karaoke bar.
• Making abandoned buildings become something and
helping the city become prettier and lively.

6. More abandoned buildings on Main
Street.
Urban places have created these
types of ‘slums’.
I noticed some of these buildings are
being transformed into a building
that can be used.

7. Rainbow Bridge
• It’s a great location for
viewing the Falls.
• 2018 toll fees: $3.75 U.S. or
$4.75 Canadian funds for
autos (round trip).
• This Bridge had a lot of
traffic on it, I saw a lot of
Canadian plates on the USA
side of Niagara falls.
• Some people take this
bridge everyday to work in
Canada or America.
Walking on the pedestrian path in
Niagara Falls, I found the “Rainbow
Bridge’ that lead us to Canada.

8. Single-Family
Households
• A lot of Niagara Fall’s homes looked alike.
• The homes made it feel more ‘Urban’
because the lack of yards and how close
each house was.
• In rural areas it is mostly fields and
country. A lot of the homes have land.

9. More homes:

10. Urbanization in Niagara Falls:
• The homes made it feel like a urban area, defiantly.
• How close the building were from one store to the next, or etc.
• A lot of people were biking or walking from one place to another
because the city has everything so close together.
• In rural areas, people would have to drive from one destination to
another because of the distance.
• The people who live around that area also seemed friendly.
• There is also a lot of tourism.

11. Urbanization in Niagara Falls:
• A lot of the old buildings were turning into newer stores and
cafes.
• Niagara Falls is a really densely area which makes it very urban.
• People come from all over the world to see the Niagara Falls
area which helps into making Niagara Falls a better, more
attractive place
• Hopefully in a few years a lot of the abandoned buildings will turn into
places that can help the city flourish.

12. Sources:
• Niagara Falls, New York; City Data.Com. 2016. Web. 31 Dec. 2016
http://www.city-data.com/city/Niagara-Falls-New-York.html
• Palen, J. John. The Urban World. 10th ed. New York: Oxford University
Press, 2015.
• Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls;
https://www.niagarafallslive.com/rainbow_bridge.htm 2018. web.