This text is designed to be used on its own, or as a companion volume to the accompanying "American Cities and Technology Reader". Chronologically, this volume ranges from 1790, when the first US census reported 5 percent of the population living in urban areas, to 1990, when 75 percent of the American population lived in urban areas. Geographically, its focus is the continental USA. However, the context for the study of modern electronic communications in relation to cities transcends national boundaries just as the technologies themselves do; consequently the contents of the last two chapters in the volume range more widely around the globe. Among the issues discussed are the rise of the skyscraper, the coming of the automobile age, relations between private and public transport, the development of infrastructural technologies and systems, the implications of electronic communications and the emergence of city planning.

Designed to be used on its own or as a companion volume to the American Cities and Technology textbook. Chronologically, this volume ranges from the earliest technological dimensions of Amerindian settlements to the 'wired city' concept of the 1960s and internet communications of the 1990s.Its focus extends beyond the US to include telecomunications in Asian cities in the late 20th century. The topics covered:
* the rise of the skyscraper
*the coming of the automobile age
* relations between private and public transport
* the development of infrastructural technologies and systems
* the implications of electronic communications
* the emergence of city planning.