What Street Grids Reveal About a City

The way a city's streets are laid out reveals much more than just a planner's vision. It tells a story of a town's history. In his article, author David Prowler examines how street grids reveal a city's fears, values, past and future.  For example, regarding San Francisco, he notes:

"San Francisco's layout ignores hills and even water. The city exploded during the Gold Rush, and the exuberant disregard of obstacles is reflected in the streets."

For a more visual excursion to street grid history, see his article in UrbDeZine.