Social / Demographics

Dog Parks Are Everywhere, but Where Did They Start?
Giving dogs the opportunity to play and socialize without restraint has its roots in the free speech movement in Berkeley, California.

Gentrification in Houston Outpaces Other Texas Cities
Gentrification is transforming Houston faster than Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Affordable Housing Challenges in Beltway Suburbs
More people are moving to suburban counties, but a lack of affordable housing in places such as Loudon County, Virginia, means the suburbs are not an option for a growing number of people.

Study Traces the History of Racism and Urban Heat Islands
The people living in urban heat islands are much more likely to be inhabited by low-income people of color, and the roots of the environmental justice issue can be found in planning history.

Parks of Inclusion
The people sitting, playing, and enjoying themselves in parks aren't always representative of the population that live in the communities. Here are three examples of parks that succeed at inclusion.

'A Strange, Second-Wave Gentrification' in San Francisco
Vast amounts of tech money have transformed the city's commercial spaces in unexpected ways.

The Rent Gap Theory
Some urbanism commentators suggest that gentrification is the result of a "rent gap" between actual and potential rent. How should this theory affect zoning policy?

The Far-Reaching Effects of the Housing Crisis
When housing costs are high, lower-income residents are not the only ones who end up struggling.

States to Gain and Lose Congressional Districts After Census Identified
A reapportionment of House of Representatives will begin when the results of the Census 2020 have been finalized. A new analysis indicates that ten House seats will likely shift from the Northeast and Midwest to the West and South.

Trump Administration Proposal Would Eliminate Fair Housing Protections
The Trump administration last week published its latest attempt to undermine a fair housing rule adopted during the Obama administration.

Changes in Houston Over the Last Decade
Comparing Houston in 2010 to the city today reveals a variety of transportation, infrastructure, and economic changes.

Report: Low Housing Production Stymies Entry-Level Buyers
According to this report, the trends point to a "less diverse, older, higher-income" crop of homebuyers as low production locks out the young and many people of color.

How Housing Fared in 2019
Next City's Jared Brey reviews a year of developments in housing politics and policy, teasing out several big trends.

Understanding North Carolina's Urban-Rural Divide
North Carolina cities are thriving, but rural counties are not experiencing the same level of growth. Still, residents in rural areas say the numbers do not necessarily capture the whole picture.

2019 Year-End Census Estimate: Slowest Growth in 100 Years
The 12-month period ending July 1, 2019, saw the lowest population growth rate, 0.5 percent, since 1918, reported the U.S. Census Bureau on Monday. Natural increase (births minus deaths) was the lowest in decades. Ten states saw population declines.

When Amazon Brings Both Economic Optimism and Disappointment
A Kentucky town welcomed Amazon’s arrival, but the economic outcomes over the last two decades have been lackluster.

Why Is It Taking So Long for California's Population to Reach 40 Million?
It was thought that California's population would reach 40 million two summers ago, but growth continues to slow, setting records. Net migration, which includes domestic and international movement, was negative for the first time since 2010.

Census 2020 Ready for Launch
In parts of Alaska, it's easier to start the Census count in January, when the ground is frozen. They'll get a head start in January.

Mapping Housing Discrimination in Charlottesville
Like many American cities, the site of white supremacist unrest in 2017 has a long history of residential discrimination by race. This mapping project seeks to uncover the roots of today's disparities.

A Look at Accessibility in Atlanta
A wheelchair user describes what it's like to travel on Atlanta streets and on the city's public transit system.
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service