Comparison Of Surrey And Richmond

This is an individual and independent research to measure your understanding of the subject matter of this course. You must write a research essay on the comparative geography of two communities (sub areas) within a Metro Vancouver city of your choice. Your essay should answer which is the better of the two to settle in and raise a new family in the next 10 years. Your research essay should cover at least three elements from the following list to secure maximum marks:

Physical geography
Population characteristics

Social and cultural patterns
Urban and settlement patterns
Transportation and communication patterns
Main economic sectors

Physical Geography

The City of Vancouver is a waterfront, seaport city on the terrain of British Columbia. Situated on the western portion of the Burrard Peninsula, Vancouver is limited toward the north by English Bay and the Burrard Inlet and toward the south by the Fraser River. Bone (73) stated that, Metro Vancouver city comprises of a confederacy of 22 cities, one electoral area and one treaty first nation. Some of these cities include; Abbotsford, Surrey, city of Vancouver, village of Lions Bay, Langley, Coquitlam, maple Ridge, Burnaby, Richmond, corporation of Delta, Bowen Island of Municipality, just to mention but a few(Briney). Figure (a) below shows the map of the great Vancouver and hence the location of the sub-areas. This research is prepared so as to draw up a conclusion on which of the two cities (Surrey, and Richmond) is better to settle and raise new family in the next decade by comparative geography analysis of Richmond and Surrey sub-areas.  Studies on main economic sectors, population characteristics, and physical geography of these two cities will form the basis elements of these research. The research will consider each of the elements/ methods aforementioned and comparison between the Richmond and Surrey cities conducted as in the following section.

In "Physical Geography | Geography 250", physical geography is defined as the sub-branch of Geography which entails the study of the spatial characteristics of the various natural phenomena occurring on the earth; patterns and processes of natural environment. Physical geography manifestations includes  hydrological cycle, occurrence of seasons, soils, climate zones, streams and rivers, coastal terrain ecosystem etc. these features of physical geography tend to define civilizations and settlement characteristics. Lefringhausen and Marshall (50) records that civilizations around places with mountains, hike spots, swimming and fishing waters attract individuals keen on recreational activities and alike such as hiking, mountain climbing, fishing etc. On the other hand civilization of people inhabiting flat terrain and flat fertile soil regions tend to lean towards agriculture and farming, commerce etc.

Richmond is positioned at the head of the passable part of the James River sandwiched between Virginia's coastal plains and the Piedmont, beyond which are the Blue Ridge Mountains. It covers an area of 62.55 square miles and occurs at 312 feet above the seal level with average temperatures 36.6 Farads in January, 77.9 Farads in July and an annual average temperatures of 57.7 Farads.  Richmond city records an annual rainfall precipitation of 43.13 inches and snowfall of 16.9 inches (Virginia. a Synopsis of the Geology, Geography, Climate and Soil of the State, Together with Its Resources of Mines, Forests and Fields, Etc. 9). Belle Isle, Williams and Mayos Islands are found in Richmond city. In total, 8 streams pass within Richmond city such as; Walker Creek, Goode Creek, Reedy Creek, Bacons Quarter Branch, Shockoe Creek, Broad Rock Creek, Jordans Branch and Cannon Branch. The Gambles Hill is also another interesting physical feature found in Richmond. Based on these findings, Richmond definitely has good water supply from the streams and the Jordan River as well as vacation spots for adventurous family and fun time out at the Islands or in recreational activities such as Hill climbing (Gambles Hill), swimming, water sports etc.in total, Richmond has within it 7 hills namely: Church, Gambles, Council Chamber, Navy, Shockoe, Union and French Garden (Physical Geography - University of Richmond Blogs).

Richmond

Surrey is bordered by a number of communities such as Langley to the East, Delta to the West, and to the south lies the White Rock. Surrey is bounded by notably the longest river in British Columbia, the Fraser River. Two hour drive southwards from Surrey borders lies Seattle (major city in America).  Approximately 6000 acres of land in surrey are designated parklands. According to Briney, A lot of green space is available in Surrey compared to any sub area with the metro Vancouver community. Surrey comprises of beaches, plenty of land for agriculture, a number forest covers and the terrain is relatively flat.  Also, Serpentine River and Nicomekl Rivers runs through Surrey. Surrey is located in coastal temperature rainforest zone with average temperatures of 22/72 farads during summer and 5/41 Farads in winter and an estimated average temperature of 41 inches (Virginia. a Synopsis of the Geology, Geography, Climate and Soil of the State, Together with Its Resources of Mines, Forests and Fields, Etc. 14). Surrey hence provides a suitable destination for family homes and open environment with suitable climate characteristics. Its proximity to Seattle makes in accessible and the extensive green space in quite inviting.

• Main economic sectors

Financial aspects is a sociology that measures with the life-cycle of produces and ventures. It is an examination of in what manner advancement and fund interchange about human needs and wants to give items and managements to the general population. Considerate financial aspects is rudimentary to business realization. Economics hugely touches on everyday survives and wallets astoundingly, notwithstanding whether they aren't certainly related with economic examinations. Variations in circumstances or government directives on any share of a commerce creates a progressively outstretching influence of cost fluctuations over numerous ventures to the finale purchaser. Therefore, economic factors is an essential consideration for an individual or family when moving to a specific location even for a short while and more so when looking for a place to settle in.

Richmond city boasts of a variety of industries which has earned it its reference as the Virginia’s working capital. "Key Industries | Richmond VA, Economic and Community Development" shows that Richmond city is a powerhouse to a range of industries such as in manufacturing and transportation, medical, knowledge based services, finance, biotechnology etc. the city is home to more than 450 companies in advanced manufacturing sector with some of the notable ones being the Universal, Westrock, Newmarket companies. In knowledge based industries, it identified as the creativity hotspot. In this regard, notably, Adweek’s Agency which was recently voted agency of the year is located at Richmond city.  Richmond is also home to the Fifth District Federal Reserve Bank and industry leaders like BB&T, SunTrust and Wells Fargo as well as boutique investment firms.

Surrey

Surrey on the other hand comprises of few district economic zones. The economic zones are described from commercial footprints as well as major retail footprints in the Guildford Town center area. It plays a major role economically in the Vancouver region as it hosts approximately fifty percent of the Lowe Mainland Industrial. It has large population growth rate hence is deemed as investment hotspot s it carries a lot of potentials. Surrey has exhibited good economic progress in the last decade and could be in future the main economic hub in the region. Surreys is a developing city economically.

Conclusion

In regard to economic factors, Richmond city is well established economic hub hence unemployment rates are likely to be lower and better labor rates as compared to surrey which is still developing hence unemployment rate is likely to be higher and low wage rate. Therefore, for a steady income for a family, Richmond would be a suitable destination in comparison to Surrey.

Method 3:

• Population characteristics

Population characteristics of an area include population size and density, population dispersion, age structure, birth rates (Natality), mortality (death rates). Cauchi-Santoro (45) records that the effect of overpopulation on land takes two worth mentioning configurations: exploitation of assets, for sample, water, air, minerals nourishment, and petroleum products squander items as of utilization, for instance, air and water toxins, lethal resources and ozone depleting affluences. Several people stress that unrestricted populace development will in the end basis a natural calamity, a reasonable trepidation, and a brisk take a glimpse at the fortuitous proof undeniably validates the general population has long-drawn-out, the strength of our situation has moderated. The consequence of such huge numbers of persons on the land has fetched more or less hardly any researchers begetting a different term to portray our chance—the Anthropocene age. Driedger, et al. (109) notes that population therefore forms an important parameter to methodologically analyses and decide on a settlement area. This mainly considers patterns evident and trends that likely gives a projection on how comfortable or sustainable an environment would be.

In reference to "Richmond, TX Demographics and Population Statistics - NeighborhoodScout", Richmond city has a total population of 223,000 over an area of 62.5 square miles placing the population density at least 3700 persons per square mile. The growth rate of Richmond city is 4.73 with reference to the year 2017. Richmond.” Richmond, TX Demographics and Population Statistics.

Surrey at 44% comes in the favorite followed by Vancouver. Other, Richmond, Burnaby, Delta and Langley respectively. Richmond and Burnaby tie at 8% while delta and Langley tie at 7%.this is as shown in "popular datasets “for Surrey.

Economic Sectors

Conclusion

Based on the above data of the two cities on population characteristics, Surrey has higher population that Richmond and has a steady rate of population growth. Due to Surrey’s population, it supplies almost half of its labor force as the remaining fraction is shared between other areas. In that respect, Surrey would form the best choice of settlement when considering self-sustaining society and for non-advanced or specialty oriented professions with which Richmond would be the favorite of Surrey.

Summarily, Surrey has rose to become among the leading centers of trade and a key contributor to Exchequer mainly attributed to excellent transportation links as it occupies between two international airports namely, Heathrow and Gatwick and is accessible to London by rail (Team). Surrey also has what has been termed as a beautiful countryside and scenic spots and offers attractive green space to run, cycle as well as picnic with families. Surrey hills and other notable physical features makes it a suitable area to raise family and ensure happy leisure times and peaceful environment. On the other hand, Richmond boasts of a variety unique experiences such as getting to feel all the four seasons. The city skyline and Jordan River have been defined to offer breathtaking views at the Brown islands, Libby Park, Rockets landing as well as the seven Hills which offers a variety of perspectives to viewers. Economically, Richmond city is on its peak in comparison to Surrey which is yet picking up and maturing economically. Based on the population characteristics, the projection on the next ten years places surrey unsure alternative based on high population growth rate marked at 10% which as a result may result in encroachments on its green space and increase unemployment hence insecurity(Tsiknis16).  Richmond in comparison, has registered a population growth rate of 4.73% as well as low overall population. Rates of employment are likely to be sustained. Hence, based on above discussion, it would be logical that Richmond would be the most favorable destination for a family compared to Surrey within the Vancouver in the next decade.   

Bone, Robert M. The Regional Geography of Canada. 5th ed., Oxford University Press, 2018.

Briney, Amanda. "10 Essential Facts About Vancouver." ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 18 Feb. 2010,< www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-vancouver-british-columbia-1434393>. Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.

Cauchi-Santoro, Roberta. "Mapping community identity: Safeguarding the memories of a city's downtown core." City, Culture and Society, vol. 7, no. 1, 19 Jan. 2016, pp. 43-54.

Driedger, Leo, et al. Ethnic Demography: Canadian Immigrant, Racial and Cultural Variations. 2nd ed., Carleton University Press, 2014. Print.

"Key Industries | Richmond VA, Economic and Community Development." Home | Richmond VA, Economic and Community Development, May 2017, <www.yesrichmondva.com/richmond-advantages/Key-Industries>. Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.

Lefringhausen, Katharina, and Tara C. Marshall. "Multi-Vancouver Index of Acculturation." PsycTESTS Dataset, vol. 12, no. 2, 2016, p. 21.

"Physical Geography | Geography 250." University of Richmond Blogs |, 2017, <blog.richmond.edu/geog250/tag/physical-geography/>. Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.

"popular datasets." Welcome - City of Surrey Open Data Catalogue, 19 Oct. 2018, <data.surrey.ca/>. Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.

"Richmond, TX Demographics and Population Statistics - NeighborhoodScout." The Leading All-in-one Real Estate Market Data Platform in the USA - NeighborhoodScout, NeighborhoodScout, 2018, <www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/richmond/demographics>. Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.

Team, Maphill.com. "Physical 3D Map of Surrey County." Maphill: Web’s Largest Map Gallery, 10 Dec. 2015, <www.maphill.com/united-kingdom/england/south-east/surrey-county/3d-maps/physical-map/>. Accessed 23 Oct. 2018.

Tsiknis, Stella. "Greeks of Metro-Vancouver : identity, culture, and community." Metro-Vancouver, vol. 25, no. 2, 2 Aug. 2015, p. 16.

Virginia. a Synopsis of the Geology, Geography, Climate and Soil of the State, Together with Its Resources of Mines, Forests and Fields, Etc. 3rd ed., Richmond [Va., 2013.