AP Human Geography Flashcards: The Size And Distribution Of Cities

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on The Size And Distribution Of Cities, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Human Geography.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the Rank-Size Rule in urban geography?

Answer: The nth largest city is 1/n the size of the largest city. Mathematical relationship where city size decreases proportionally with rank.

Flashcard 2: What is a 'village' in urban hierarchy?

Answer: A small community larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town. Basic services like school, church, and general store.

Flashcard 3: Define 'urban ecology'.

Answer: Study of the relationship between urban environments and their inhabitants. Examines interactions between built environment and social systems.

Flashcard 4: What is a 'village' in urban hierarchy?

Answer: A small community larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town. Basic services like school, church, and general store.

Flashcard 5: What is the central business district (CBD)?

Answer: The commercial and business center of a city. Highest land values and building density in urban areas.

Flashcard 6: What is the significance of 'urban density'?

Answer: Measure of population per unit area in urban regions. Indicates concentration levels affecting infrastructure and quality of life.

Flashcard 7: Define the term 'primate city'.

Answer: A city more than twice the size of the next largest city. Demonstrates urban primacy when one city dominates a country's urban system.

Flashcard 8: What is a 'metropolis' in the urban hierarchy?

Answer: A large city that is a significant economic and cultural center. Regional dominance with specialized services and major institutions.

Flashcard 9: What is 'exurbia'?

Answer: Regions beyond the suburbs with a rural character. Low-density areas beyond traditional suburban boundaries.

Flashcard 10: What is the primary characteristic of 'urban agglomeration'?

Answer: Cluster of cities forming a continuous urban area. Creates economies of scale and shared infrastructure benefits.

Flashcard 11: What is 'urban decay'?

Answer: Deterioration of urban areas due to neglect. Economic decline leading to abandonment and infrastructure problems.

Flashcard 12: What is the primary characteristic of a 'megacity'?

Answer: A city with over 10 million inhabitants. Population threshold that defines the world's largest urban centers.

Flashcard 13: What does 'gentrification' imply?

Answer: Revitalizing urban areas, often displacing lower-income residents. Process that can improve areas but create displacement issues.

Flashcard 14: What is a 'hamlet' in urban hierarchy?

Answer: A small settlement, often smaller than a village. Smallest settlement type with minimal services available.

Flashcard 15: Define 'urban hierarchy'.

Answer: A ranking of cities based on size and services. System organizing settlements by population size and function level.

Flashcard 16: What defines a 'megalopolis'?

Answer: A chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas. Large-scale urbanization creating continuous metropolitan regions.

Flashcard 17: What does 'gentrification' imply?

Answer: Revitalizing urban areas, often displacing lower-income residents. Process that can improve areas but create displacement issues.

Flashcard 18: What is the Multiple Nuclei Model's key concept?

Answer: Cities have multiple centers for different activities. Harris-Ullman model reflects modern cities' decentralized structure.

Flashcard 19: What is an 'edge city'?

Answer: Suburban development with the characteristics of a city. Developed outside traditional downtown areas, typically near highways.

Flashcard 20: Define 'urban fringe'.

Answer: Transition zone where urban and rural areas meet. Mixed land use area experiencing urban pressure and change.

Flashcard 21: Define 'city' in the context of urban hierarchy.

Answer: A large and permanent settlement with significant services. Complex service structure serving large regional populations.

Flashcard 22: What is the Multiple Nuclei Model's key concept?

Answer: Cities have multiple centers for different activities. Harris-Ullman model reflects modern cities' decentralized structure.

Flashcard 23: What does 'urban morphology' study?

Answer: The layout and structure of cities. Analyzes physical form and spatial organization of cities.

Flashcard 24: What is the 'urban heat island' effect?

Answer: Urban areas being warmer than their rural surroundings. Caused by concrete, reduced vegetation, and human activities.

Flashcard 25: What does 'urbanization' refer to?

Answer: Increase in the population living in urban areas. Global trend toward city growth and rural-to-urban migration.

Flashcard 26: Identify the main purpose of urban models.

Answer: To explain the spatial organization of cities. Models predict patterns of land use, growth, and development.

Flashcard 27: What is the main goal of smart growth policies?

Answer: Control urban sprawl and promote sustainable growth. Planning approach emphasizing compact, walkable development.

Flashcard 28: What is 'exurbia'?

Answer: Regions beyond the suburbs with a rural character. Low-density areas beyond traditional suburban boundaries.

Flashcard 29: What is a 'conurbation'?

Answer: An extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging. Result of urban growth and regional economic integration.

Flashcard 30: What is the significance of 'urban density'?

Answer: Measure of population per unit area in urban regions. Indicates concentration levels affecting infrastructure and quality of life.

Flashcard 31: What is a 'metropolis' in the urban hierarchy?

Answer: A large city that is a significant economic and cultural center. Regional dominance with specialized services and major institutions.

Flashcard 32: Define 'urban renewal'.

Answer: Redevelopment of areas within a city. Government-led efforts to improve deteriorating urban districts.

Flashcard 33: What does 'urban morphology' study?

Answer: The layout and structure of cities. Analyzes physical form and spatial organization of cities.

Flashcard 34: What does the Central Place Theory explain?

Answer: Distribution of services in urban areas. Walter Christaller's theory predicting optimal location and hierarchy of services.

Flashcard 35: What defines a 'megalopolis'?

Answer: A chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas. Large-scale urbanization creating continuous metropolitan regions.

Flashcard 36: What is an 'edge city'?

Answer: Suburban development with the characteristics of a city. Developed outside traditional downtown areas, typically near highways.

Flashcard 37: Define 'urban hierarchy'.

Answer: A ranking of cities based on size and services. System organizing settlements by population size and function level.

Flashcard 38: What is a 'world city'?

Answer: A city that is a global economic and cultural hub. Connects global networks of finance, politics, and culture.

Flashcard 39: Identify the primary focus of the Hoyt Sector Model.

Answer: Urban land use in sectors radiating from the CBD. Hoyt's model emphasizes transportation corridors shaping development.

Flashcard 40: What is the main focus of the Burgess Concentric Zone Model?

Answer: Urban land use in concentric rings. Burgess model shows zones expanding outward from city center.

Flashcard 41: What characterizes a 'town' in urban hierarchy?

Answer: A larger settlement than a village, often with more services. More specialized services including government and retail functions.

Flashcard 42: What is a 'satellite city'?

Answer: A smaller city near a larger metropolitan area. Depends on larger city for employment and services.

Flashcard 43: What is the core concept of the Galactic City Model?

Answer: Suburban areas connected by ring roads. Reflects post-industrial urban form with multiple commercial centers.

Flashcard 44: Define the term 'primate city'.

Answer: A city more than twice the size of the next largest city. Demonstrates urban primacy when one city dominates a country's urban system.

Flashcard 45: What is a 'conurbation'?

Answer: An extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging. Result of urban growth and regional economic integration.

Flashcard 46: What is a 'hamlet' in urban hierarchy?

Answer: A small settlement, often smaller than a village. Smallest settlement type with minimal services available.

Flashcard 47: What is a 'satellite city'?

Answer: A smaller city near a larger metropolitan area. Depends on larger city for employment and services.

Flashcard 48: What is 'urban decay'?

Answer: Deterioration of urban areas due to neglect. Economic decline leading to abandonment and infrastructure problems.

Flashcard 49: Identify the primary focus of the Hoyt Sector Model.

Answer: Urban land use in sectors radiating from the CBD. Hoyt's model emphasizes transportation corridors shaping development.

Flashcard 50: What is a 'world city'?

Answer: A city that is a global economic and cultural hub. Connects global networks of finance, politics, and culture.

Flashcard 51: What is the core concept of the Galactic City Model?

Answer: Suburban areas connected by ring roads. Reflects post-industrial urban form with multiple commercial centers.

Flashcard 52: What does 'range' mean in Central Place Theory?

Answer: Maximum distance consumers will travel for a service. Determines the market area boundary for central place services.

Flashcard 53: What is the central business district (CBD)?

Answer: The commercial and business center of a city. Highest land values and building density in urban areas.

Flashcard 54: What is the primary feature of a 'metropolitan area'?

Answer: A region with a densely populated urban core. Includes central city plus surrounding suburbs and communities.

Flashcard 55: Identify the primary function of zoning laws.

Answer: Regulate land use within urban areas. Legal tools separating incompatible land uses for order.

Flashcard 56: Define 'urban fringe'.

Answer: Transition zone where urban and rural areas meet. Mixed land use area experiencing urban pressure and change.

Flashcard 57: What is a 'gateway city'?

Answer: A city that acts as a port of entry and distribution center. Strategic location for trade and transportation networks.

Flashcard 58: Identify the primary function of zoning laws.

Answer: Regulate land use within urban areas. Legal tools separating incompatible land uses for order.

Flashcard 59: What is the primary characteristic of a 'megacity'?

Answer: A city with over 10 million inhabitants. Population threshold that defines the world's largest urban centers.

Flashcard 60: Define 'urban sprawl'.

Answer: Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas. Low-density development consuming large amounts of land.

Flashcard 61: What does the Central Place Theory explain?

Answer: Distribution of services in urban areas. Walter Christaller's theory predicting optimal location and hierarchy of services.

Flashcard 62: What is the 'urban heat island' effect?

Answer: Urban areas being warmer than their rural surroundings. Caused by concrete, reduced vegetation, and human activities.

Flashcard 63: What characterizes a 'town' in urban hierarchy?

Answer: A larger settlement than a village, often with more services. More specialized services including government and retail functions.

Flashcard 64: Define 'urban ecology'.

Answer: Study of the relationship between urban environments and their inhabitants. Examines interactions between built environment and social systems.

Flashcard 65: What is the threshold in Central Place Theory?

Answer: Minimum population needed to support a service. Critical mass of customers required for a business to be profitable.

Flashcard 66: What is 'squatter settlement'?

Answer: Informal housing lacking legal property rights. Common in developing countries due to housing shortages.

Flashcard 67: What is the primary characteristic of 'urban agglomeration'?

Answer: Cluster of cities forming a continuous urban area. Creates economies of scale and shared infrastructure benefits.

Flashcard 68: Identify the main purpose of urban models.

Answer: To explain the spatial organization of cities. Models predict patterns of land use, growth, and development.

Flashcard 69: What is the primary feature of a 'metropolitan area'?

Answer: A region with a densely populated urban core. Includes central city plus surrounding suburbs and communities.

Flashcard 70: What is 'squatter settlement'?

Answer: Informal housing lacking legal property rights. Common in developing countries due to housing shortages.

Flashcard 71: What does 'urbanization' refer to?

Answer: Increase in the population living in urban areas. Global trend toward city growth and rural-to-urban migration.

Flashcard 72: What does 'range' mean in Central Place Theory?

Answer: Maximum distance consumers will travel for a service. Determines the market area boundary for central place services.

Flashcard 73: Define 'city' in the context of urban hierarchy.

Answer: A large and permanent settlement with significant services. Complex service structure serving large regional populations.

Flashcard 74: What is the main focus of the Burgess Concentric Zone Model?

Answer: Urban land use in concentric rings. Burgess model shows zones expanding outward from city center.

Flashcard 75: What is the main goal of smart growth policies?

Answer: Control urban sprawl and promote sustainable growth. Planning approach emphasizing compact, walkable development.

Flashcard 76: What is the threshold in Central Place Theory?

Answer: Minimum population needed to support a service. Critical mass of customers required for a business to be profitable.