Reviewed here is the historical development of urban growth models, showing how different disciplines and diverse theories have come together over time to produce the models used today. This review is divided into two sections, the first section reviews the early models that are rooted in transportation and land-use planning and form the foundation on which nearly all modeling efforts are based. These models are already well documented in the literature and an overview here is sufficient. In the second section, an exploration is made into the theories and approaches that have been integrated into urban modeling efforts. The concepts are outlined and one or more contemporary examples are highlighted. These theories and approaches represent the major areas of development that exist in published work.
