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City System Behaviour and Corporate Influence: The Headquarters Location of US Industrial Firms, 1955-75

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  • John D. Stephens

    (Department of Geography, the University of California at Los Angeles)

  • Brian P. Holly

    (Department of Geography at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio)

Abstract

Research on the locational patterns of corporate headquarters in the United States shows that corporate control has become less concentrated over the past 25 years. Analysis of the largest 500 industrial corporations reveals a trend toward a more balanced distribution on a regional basis but a greater degree of stability within the rank size hierarchy. The largest cities, regardless of their location, tend to be the steering points in the economic system. Although corporate headquarters have been decentralising to the suburbs, they are able to do so without surrendering their accessibility to specialised contact networks, ancillary business services, and inter-metropolitan transportation networks.

Suggested Citation

  • John D. Stephens & Brian P. Holly, 1981. "City System Behaviour and Corporate Influence: The Headquarters Location of US Industrial Firms, 1955-75," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 18(3), pages 285-300, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:18:y:1981:i:3:p:285-300
    DOI: 10.1080/00420988120080601
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John B. Parr, 1970. "Models Of City Size In An Urban System," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(1), pages 221-253, April.
    2. Edward L. Ullman, 1958. "Regional Development And The Geography Of Concentration," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(1), pages 179-198, January.
    3. James Lincoln, 1978. "The urban distribution of headquarters and branch plants in manufacturing: Mechanisms of metropolitan dominance," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 15(2), pages 213-222, May.
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