Which statement best defines an edge city?

• A. A central business district with high density and concentration of offices.
• B. A large suburban center with office, retail, and entertainment; demonstrates polycentric growth outside the CBD.
• C. A rural village with limited commercial activity.
• D. An old industrial area converted into housing.

Answer: (B)

An edge city is a large suburban center with offices, shopping, and entertainment that develops outside the traditional downtown, creating a new focal point of activity and contributing to polycentric growth in a metro area. This concept captures how contemporary cities evolve with multiple centers of employment and amenities rather than a single central business district. The other descriptions don’t fit because a central business district sits in the urban core, a rural village lacks scale and activity, and an old industrial area converted to housing is about repurposing land rather than forming a distinct suburban hub with mixed-use functions.