When was the last time you took a moment to reflect on what a neighborhood really is?

There is the standard dictionary definition: 1. a particular community, district or area; 2. the people living near one another. I like the second definition.

For sociologists, however, there are more complex definitions. Broadly, neighborhoods are local communities. The professional literature defines several local communities including but not limited to (1) the defended neighborhood; (2) the community of limited liability; (3) the expanded community of limited liability and (4) the contrived or conscious community.

The defended neighborhood is an area in which residents feel safe from external change, the place where people feel safe and secure, and the neighborhood of the heart. Maybe it has a name, maybe not. Maybe it’s recognized by government, maybe not. However, the people within this defended neighborhood have a common residential identity. There is internal community awareness.

The community of limited liability has voluntary and limited involvement of its residents. These residents invest time, resources and emotions in their areas. The level of investment is based on how well the community meets the needs of the individuals. These communities usually have named boundaries and are recognized by local government. Often there are local organizations and membership groups that have a vested interest in maintaining this identity. These are the neighborhood groups with which we are most familiar.

The expanded community of limited liability is more diffuse. It may take in whole sections of a city such as the north side, east side or west side but it has little cohesiveness as an actual unit.

The contrived community is an area created by builders, financers or public agencies. A community image is created. Boundaries are clearly laid out. Often the housing is identical. It may include single-family detached homes, apartments, town homes or a mixture of housing styles. Its builder usually names the community.

The dictionary neighborhood and all four of these sociological neighborhoods exist side by side or overlap one another. In a large city like San Antonio there are many neighborhoods. What a neighborhood is depends on who is answering the question and where they are standing.

What is a neighborhood? Create your own definition. While I am not able to articulate a precise definition that all can agree on, I know what a neighborhood is when I see it.

Jackie Pepper, Neighborhood Resource Center Board Member