Commercial district
Encyclopedia
A commercial district or commercial zone is any part of a city or town in which the primary land use is commercial
activities (shops
, office
s, theaters
, restaurants and so on), as opposed to a residential neighbourhood, an industrial zone
, or other types of neighbourhood
s. In some cities, authorities use planning or zoning
laws to define the boundaries of commercial districts.
, commercial districts that are primarily for shopping are called high street
s. In North America, in smaller towns and cities there is often only one main commercial district, which is located on the main street
. In larger cities and towns there may be multiple commercial districts, often with more specialized functions. If a city has one large central area of offices and professional buildings, this is called the Central Business District
or CBD (term used especially, but not exclusively, in Australian
and New Zealand English
), or downtown
(North American English
with the exception of Liverpool, England, who also uniquely use the term 'downtown' http://www.downtownliverpool.com). "CBD" and "downtown" usually refer to centrally located areas of a city and are of predominate importance within their city, which differentiates them from other commercial districts. The financial district
of a city is the specific area of either a larger CBD or downtown or separate zone and would typically house a stock exchange
or several bank
headquarters
. Likewise, city centre is sometimes used as a synonym for CBD or downtown, but often the geographical centre of a city not a commercial district. Often the centre of a city in older cities is full of historic
, institutional, or cultural
areas.
for commercial district, but will have a related term such as the French quartier d'affaires ("business quarter"), or the Japanese shōtengai
(literally, "commerce shop street").
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
activities (shops
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
, office
Office
An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
s, theaters
Theater (structure)
A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...
, restaurants and so on), as opposed to a residential neighbourhood, an industrial zone
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
, or other types of neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
s. In some cities, authorities use planning or zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
laws to define the boundaries of commercial districts.
English
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, commercial districts that are primarily for shopping are called high street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
s. In North America, in smaller towns and cities there is often only one main commercial district, which is located on the main street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
. In larger cities and towns there may be multiple commercial districts, often with more specialized functions. If a city has one large central area of offices and professional buildings, this is called the Central Business District
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
or CBD (term used especially, but not exclusively, in Australian
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
and New Zealand English
New Zealand English
New Zealand English is the dialect of the English language used in New Zealand.The English language was established in New Zealand by colonists during the 19th century. It is one of "the newest native-speaker variet[ies] of the English language in existence, a variety which has developed and...
), or downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
(North American English
North American English
North American English is the variety of the English language of North America, including that of the United States and Canada. Because of their shared histories and the similarities between the pronunciation, vocabulary and accent of American English and Canadian English, the two spoken languages...
with the exception of Liverpool, England, who also uniquely use the term 'downtown' http://www.downtownliverpool.com). "CBD" and "downtown" usually refer to centrally located areas of a city and are of predominate importance within their city, which differentiates them from other commercial districts. The financial district
Financial District
A Financial District is the central area in some large cities where banks, insurance companies and other large corporations have head offices. Financial districts are often home to skyscrapers...
of a city is the specific area of either a larger CBD or downtown or separate zone and would typically house a stock exchange
Stock exchange
A stock exchange is an entity that provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and...
or several bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
. Likewise, city centre is sometimes used as a synonym for CBD or downtown, but often the geographical centre of a city not a commercial district. Often the centre of a city in older cities is full of historic
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
, institutional, or cultural
Arts district
An arts district is a demarcated urban area, usually on the periphery of a city centre, intended to create a 'critical mass' of places of cultural consumption - such as art galleries, dance clubs, theatres, art cinemas, music venues, and public squares for performances. Such an area is usually...
areas.
Other languages
Most languages do not have a direct cognateCognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
for commercial district, but will have a related term such as the French quartier d'affaires ("business quarter"), or the Japanese shōtengai
Shotengai
A shōtengai is a style of Japanese commercial district running along a certain street. Shōtengai often connect to the nearest train station. Most suburbs and towns of Japan have shōtengai of varying size, and larger shōtengai may take the form of covered arcades that are blocked off to traffic...
(literally, "commerce shop street").
Related terms
- Commercial area
- Central Business DistrictCentral business districtA central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
, downtownDowntownDowntown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
, city centre - financial districtFinancial DistrictA Financial District is the central area in some large cities where banks, insurance companies and other large corporations have head offices. Financial districts are often home to skyscrapers...
- high streetHigh StreetHigh Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
, main streetMain StreetMain Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world... - shōtengaiShotengaiA shōtengai is a style of Japanese commercial district running along a certain street. Shōtengai often connect to the nearest train station. Most suburbs and towns of Japan have shōtengai of varying size, and larger shōtengai may take the form of covered arcades that are blocked off to traffic...
Specific usage of "commercial district" as a name
- Boneyfiddle Commercial DistrictBoneyfiddle Commercial DistrictBoneyfiddle Commercial District is a neighborhood and historic district in Portsmouth, Ohio, United States. Also known as the Historic Boneyfiddle District, it is located at the confluence of the Scioto and Ohio Rivers on Second Street and is bounded roughly by Front, Washington, 3rd and Scioto...
, Portsmouth, Ohio, USA - Broadway Theater and Commercial DistrictBroadway Theater and Commercial DistrictBroadway Theater and Commercial District in Downtown Los Angeles is the first and largest historic theater district listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
, Los Angeles, California, USA - Clematis Street Historic Commercial DistrictClematis Street Historic Commercial DistrictThe Clematis Street Historic Commercial District is a U.S. historic district located in West Palm Beach, Florida. The district runs along the 500 Block of Clematis Street. It contains 12 historic buildings....
, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA - Liverpool Commercial District, Liverpool, UK
- Ocala Historic Commercial DistrictOcala Historic Commercial DistrictThe Ocala Historic Commercial District is a U.S. Historic District located in Ocala, Florida. It encompasses approximately , and is bounded by 1st Street Northwest, 1st Avenue Southeast, 2nd Street Southwest, and 1st Avenue Southwest. It contains 20 historic buildings....
, Ocala, Florida, USA - Titusville Commercial DistrictTitusville Commercial DistrictThe Titusville Commercial District is a U.S. historic district in Titusville, Florida. It is bounded by Julia Street, Hopkins Avenue, Main Street, and Indian River Avenue, encompasses approximately , and contains 21 historic buildings. On January 10, 1990, it was added to the U.S...
, Titusville, Florida, USA