The Origin and Influences of Urbanization - AP Human Geography
- What is the gravity model in urban geography?
- It predicts interaction based on population and distance. Larger, closer cities have stronger interactions than smaller, distant ones.
- What is the term for the decline of inner-city areas?
- Urban decay. Results from economic decline, population loss, and disinvestment.
- What are the two main causes of urbanization?
- Industrialization and economic opportunities are main causes. These pull factors attract people to cities for jobs and better living standards.
- What defines a metropolitan area?
- A metropolitan area includes a core city and its surrounding suburbs. It forms a continuous urban region for economic and social activities.
- What is the urban heat island effect?
- Urban areas being warmer than rural surroundings. Caused by concrete, asphalt, and reduced vegetation absorbing more heat.
- What is urban renewal?
- Redevelopment of areas within a city. Aims to revitalize declining urban neighborhoods and infrastructure.
- What is decentralization in urban planning?
- Decentralization is the distribution of population and industry. Moves economic activity away from central urban areas to suburban locations.
- What is the rank-size rule?
- A city's population is inversely proportional to its rank. The largest city is twice the size of the second largest, three times the third, etc.
- Identify a benefit of urbanization.
- Increased access to services and infrastructure. Urban areas concentrate services like healthcare, education, and utilities.
- What is deindustrialization?
- Deindustrialization is the decline of manufacturing industries. Often leads to urban decay and job loss in former industrial cities.
- What is an urban growth boundary?
- A regional boundary set to control urban sprawl. Legal tool used to manage urban expansion and protect surrounding areas.
- What is a megacity?
- A city with a population over 10 million. These massive urban areas face significant infrastructure and governance challenges.
- Identify an influence of colonialism on urbanization.
- Colonialism often established port cities as trade hubs. Colonial powers created urban centers to facilitate resource extraction and trade.
- What is the central place theory?
- Theory describing the size and distribution of cities. Developed by Christaller to explain spatial distribution of urban settlements.
- Which urban model includes multiple nuclei?
- The Multiple Nuclei Model by Harris and Ullman. Recognizes that cities develop around multiple centers, not just one CBD.
- What are edge cities?
- Edge cities are suburban business districts. Located outside traditional downtown areas but function as economic centers.
- What is a primate city?
- A primate city is disproportionately larger than other cities in a country. It dominates the urban hierarchy and often houses government and economic centers.
- Identify a negative effect of urbanization.
- Increased pollution is a negative effect. Results from concentrated industrial activity and vehicle emissions in urban areas.
- What is a greenbelt?
- A greenbelt is an area of open land around a city. Designed to control urban sprawl and preserve natural areas.
- What is a CBD?
- CBD stands for Central Business District. The commercial and financial heart of a city with the highest land values.
- What is gentrification?
- Gentrification is the process of urban renewal and displacement. Often displaces lower-income residents as property values increase.
- Identify the first region to urbanize.
- The first region to urbanize was Mesopotamia. Known as the Fertile Crescent, it developed the earliest urban centers around 3500 BCE.
- What is urban agglomeration?
- Urban agglomeration is the extended city area or urban cluster. Includes the main urban area plus connected smaller settlements.
- What is urban hierarchy?
- Urban hierarchy ranks cities by size and economic functions. Creates a system where larger cities provide more specialized services.
- What factor contributes to megacity growth?
- High rates of rural-to-urban migration. Push factors like poverty drive people from rural areas to urban opportunities.
- Which model explains urban land use with concentric rings?
- The Burgess Concentric Zone Model. Features rings expanding outward from the central business district.
- What is smart growth?
- Smart growth is planned economic and community development. Sustainable development approach that manages urban growth efficiently.
- What are squatter settlements?
- Informal housing areas often lacking basic services. Common in developing countries where urban growth exceeds infrastructure development.
- What is a world city?
- A world city is a primary node in the global economic network. These cities control global finance, business, and cultural influence.
- What is zoning?
- Zoning is the regulation of land use by local government. Separates residential, commercial, and industrial areas for planned development.
- Identify a characteristic of global cities.
- They have significant economic influence worldwide. They command and control global economic networks and cultural trends.
- Which model describes sectors radiating from the CBD?
- The Hoyt Sector Model. Shows how transportation routes create wedge-shaped land use patterns.
- Identify a key feature of the Latin American city model.
- A prominent commercial spine and peripheral squatter settlements. Shows economic inequality with wealthy commercial areas and poor informal settlements.
- What is an exurb?
- An exurb is a prosperous area beyond the suburbs. Rural areas beyond suburbs where wealthy residents seek space and privacy.
- Identify a factor that leads to suburbanization.
- Desire for more space and better living conditions. Pull factors include lower costs and perceived safety of suburban life.
- What is urban sprawl?
- Urban sprawl is the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas. Often results from automobile dependence and low-density development.
- Identify a challenge of rapid urbanization.
- Strain on infrastructure and resources. Urban growth often outpaces the ability to provide adequate services.
- What is mixed-use development?
- Mixed-use development combines residential, commercial, and cultural uses. Creates walkable communities that reduce car dependency and urban sprawl.
- Identify a characteristic of early cities.
- Early cities were often centers of trade and religion. These functions made cities essential gathering places for early civilizations.