The Central Business District, is the focal point of a city. It is the financial and cultural center of the city and it is the nodal point for transportation networks.
The CBD developed as the market square in ancient cities. On market days, farmers, merchants, and consumers would gather in the center of the city to exchange, buy, and sell goods.
This ancient market was the forerunner to the CBD.
As cities grew and developed, CBDs became a fixed location where retail and commerce took place. The CBD is typically at or near the oldest part of the city and is often near a major transportation route that provided the site for the city’s location, such as a river, railroad, or highway.