Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the sociologist who authored the famous statement defining urbanism not just as a location but as a distinct social and cultural experience.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The phrase "Urbanism is a way of life" comes from the title of a highly influential essay, "Urbanism as a Way of Life," published in 1938 by Louis Wirth, a sociologist associated with the Chicago School.
In this essay, Wirth argued that the unique characteristics of cities—large population size, high density, and social heterogeneity—produce a distinct mode of living characterized by impersonal, superficial, and transitory social relations.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Louis Wirth said, "Urbanism is a way of life".