CHANGING LOCALITY IDENTIFICATION IN THE METROPOLIS: SEATTLE, 1920-1978.

This paper analyzes a sample of real estate ads from the classified section of the Seattle Times newspaper for the period 1920-1978 to evaluate the changing nature of locality identification within the central city. Inconsistent with traditional versions of mass society theory, the importance of locality identification as revealed by the ads has not declined substantially over time; if anything, the evidence indicates a slight increase in identification. Variations in identification among Seattle neighborhoods suggest that social structural features of areas such as their social status and distance from the central business district are strong, enduring, determinants of locality naming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]