Many communities have a central business district or a downtown neighborhood. As a community forms, this is one of the first areas to develop. It provides the essential goods and services for the residents of the area. In early settlement communities, the central business district often contained a general mercantile that sold everything from dried foods and clothing to plow shares and harnesses. In addition, early central business districts often had blacksmiths, livery stables, makeshift hotels for travelers, and a post office. Today, the term downtown might refer to a church, a tavern and a gas station in a hamlet or twelve-square blocks of businesses in a large city.

Decline of Downtown and the Efforts to Make It Grow Again

Across the United States, downtown business districts are declining as residents take their needs to large enclosed shopping centers and strip malls built on the edges of the city. This has left city planners with the task of revitalizing downtown neighborhoods. They must find businesses to fill the empty storefronts and attract people back to the area.

	Why do residents choose to shop elsewhere?
	Has this happened in your community?
	Where do you shop for goods and services?
	Are your doctor, grocery store, and the clothing store all within the same community? If not, where are they?
	If you were a city planner, what would you do to attract business and residents to the downtown area?