Industrial district
Encyclopedia
Industrial district was initially introduced as a term to describe an area where workers of a monolithic heavy industry
(ship-building, coal mining
, steel
, ceramic
s, etc.) live within walking-distance of their places of work. it is also Specialized City
.
In England
, such areas were usually characterized by block streets of Victorian terraced housing
, often with the giant industrial structures looming over the houses. Very few working industrial districts are now left. In England they survive only in places like Stoke-on-Trent
and a few mining towns where the pits have escaped the closures of the 1980s. Many such districts were notable for having a strong children's street culture
.
in his The Principles of Economics (1890, 1922). Marshall talks of a.... "thickly peopled industrial district".
The term was also used in political struggle. The 1917 handbook of the IWW
states:-
The term also appears in English literature. For instance, in a short story of 1920 by D. H. Lawrence
, You Touched Me (aka 'Hadrian'):-
, the term has evolved and now implies the ways in which economic specialisation arises through clustering
in a particular industry-zoned urban area. Since the 1980s, the term has become connotated with an important element of dynamic industrial development in Northern Italy
, where after the Second World War clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises
(SME) experienced strong growth. Industrial districts in Northern Italy have a coherent location and a narrow specialisation profile, e.g. Prato
in woolen
fabric, Sassuolo
in ceramic
tiles or Brenta
in ladies' footwear
.
The success of SME-based Italian districts was one of the many factors that motivated undereducated economic development organisations across the world to adopt cluster promotion as an approach to stimulate growth and job creation.
More recently, Italian industrial districts have been linked to Italy's poor growth performance. Firms in industrial districts battle to internationalise production, and they have only limited resources to invest in research and development.
Heavy industry
Heavy industry does not have a single fixed meaning as compared to light industry. It can mean production of products which are either heavy in weight or in the processes leading to their production. In general, it is a popular term used within the name of many Japanese and Korean firms, meaning...
(ship-building, coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
, steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s, etc.) live within walking-distance of their places of work. it is also Specialized City
Specialized city
A specialized city is a city where some economic activity plays an important role in urban life, gives a special focus to the town's character and is expressed in various areas. Sometimes this city is identified with a particular activity or has been historically...
.
In England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, such areas were usually characterized by block streets of Victorian terraced housing
Terraced house
In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls...
, often with the giant industrial structures looming over the houses. Very few working industrial districts are now left. In England they survive only in places like Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
and a few mining towns where the pits have escaped the closures of the 1980s. Many such districts were notable for having a strong children's street culture
Children's street culture
Children's street culture refers to the cumulative culture created by young children. Collectively, this body of knowledge is passed down from one generation of urban children to the next, and can also be passed between different groups of children . It is most common in children between the ages...
.
History of the term
The term appears to have been first used by Alfred MarshallAlfred Marshall
Alfred Marshall was an Englishman and one of the most influential economists of his time. His book, Principles of Economics , was the dominant economic textbook in England for many years...
in his The Principles of Economics (1890, 1922). Marshall talks of a.... "thickly peopled industrial district".
The term was also used in political struggle. The 1917 handbook of the IWW
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
states:-
- "In order that every given industrial district shall have complete industrial solidarity among the workers in all industries as well as among the workers of each industry, an INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT COUNCIL is formed ..."
The term also appears in English literature. For instance, in a short story of 1920 by D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
, You Touched Me (aka 'Hadrian'):-
- "Matilda and Emmie were already old maids. In a thorough industrial district, it is not easy for the girls who have expectations above the common to find husbands. The ugly industrial town was full of men, young men who were ready to marry. But they were all colliers or pottery-hands, mere workmen."
Recent evolution of the use of the term
Within the study of economicsEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, the term has evolved and now implies the ways in which economic specialisation arises through clustering
Clustering
Clustering can refer to the following:In demographics:* Clustering , the gathering of various populations based on factors such as ethnicity, economics or religion.In graph theory:...
in a particular industry-zoned urban area. Since the 1980s, the term has become connotated with an important element of dynamic industrial development in Northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where after the Second World War clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises
Small and medium enterprise
Small and medium enterprises or small and medium-sized enterprises are companies whose headcount or turnover falls below certain limits.The abbreviation "SME" occurs commonly...
(SME) experienced strong growth. Industrial districts in Northern Italy have a coherent location and a narrow specialisation profile, e.g. Prato
Prato
Prato is a city and comune in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. The city is situated at the foot of Monte Retaia , the last peak in the Calvana chain. The lowest altitude in the comune is 32 m, near the Cascine di Tavola, and the highest is the peak of Monte Cantagrillo...
in woolen
Woolen
Woolen or woollen is a type of yarn made from carded wool. Woolen yarn is soft, light, stretchy, and full of air. It is thus a good insulator, and makes a good knitting yarn...
fabric, Sassuolo
Sassuolo
Sassuolo is an important industrial centre of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The town stands on the right bank of the river Secchia some 17 km south-west of Modena.-History :...
in ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
tiles or Brenta
Brenta
Brenta may refer to:* Brenta , Italy* Brenta Valley* Brenta Group* Brenta, Lombardy...
in ladies' footwear
Footwear
Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Being barefoot is commonly associated with poverty, but some cultures chose not to wear footwear at least in some situations....
.
The success of SME-based Italian districts was one of the many factors that motivated undereducated economic development organisations across the world to adopt cluster promotion as an approach to stimulate growth and job creation.
More recently, Italian industrial districts have been linked to Italy's poor growth performance. Firms in industrial districts battle to internationalise production, and they have only limited resources to invest in research and development.