Which theory is known for its concentric circles representing different social groups in urban settings?

Concentric Zone Theory, developed by sociologist Ernest W. Burgess in the 1920s, is a model that describes urban land use in a series of concentric circles, each representing different socio-economic groups. This theory posits that cities expand outward from a central point, typically the downtown area, in a structured pattern.

The innermost zone, often referred to as the "zone of transition," is characterized by industrial uses and low-income housing, where many new immigrants might settle. As you move outward, the zones change to more residential areas, showing progression to middle and upper-class neighborhoods. This organization reflects the social stratification of urban populations based on economic status and other sociological factors.

The model illustrates how urban land use is influenced by social dynamics and has been important in urban studies, demonstrating the relationships between geography and social welfare. Its conceptual simplicity helps explain the historical context of urban growth and development in early 20th-century American cities, where social groups were often segregated by income.

In contrast, the other theories mentioned address urban morphology and development but do not utilize the concentric circle model to represent various social groups explicitly, focusing instead on different aspects of urban structure and land-use distribution.