Unit 7 AP human geo

African City Model

A model that shows the typical structure of African cities with a central business district, colonial city center, ethnic neighborhoods, and informal settlements.

Annexation

The process by which a city expands its boundaries by incorporating adjacent areas into its jurisdiction.

Bid-Rent Theory

A theory that explains how real estate prices change with distance from the central business district, with land closer to the CBD being more expensive.

Borchert's Epochs

A model describing the evolution of American cities in five stages based on transportation technology.

CBD (Central Business District)

The commercial center of a city characterized by high land values and concentrated retail and office spaces.

Census Tract

A small, permanent statistical subdivision of a county representing local population characteristics.

Central City

The core urban area of a city, distinct from suburbs, containing the CBD and various services.

Christaller, Walter

A geographer who developed the Central Place Theory explaining city distribution based on goods and services.

Combined Statistical Area (CSA)

A geographic area that groups related metropolitan and micropolitan areas based on commuting patterns.

Concentric Zone Model

A model of urban land use suggesting cities grow in concentric rings from a central area.

Commuter Zone

The outermost zone in the Concentric Zone Model where residents commute to the city center for work.

Counter Urbanization

The process of people moving from urban areas to rural areas, seeking a better quality of life.

Density Gradient

The change in population density as one moves from the city center to the outskirts.

Deindustrialization

The decline of manufacturing industries in a region, leading to a shift towards service-based economies.

Economic Base

The set of economic activities providing employment and income to a region.

Edge City

A suburban area that has developed its own economic and social functions outside the central city.

Ethnic Neighborhood

A residential area with a concentration of a specific ethnic group and its cultural practices.

Favela

A term in Brazil for informal, impoverished urban settlements.

Forward Capital

A capital city moved to a new location for political, economic, or strategic reasons.

Filtering (Filter Process)

A process where housing quality declines over time as wealthier residents move out.

Gateway City

A city that serves as an entry point for immigrants or goods, characterized by trade and migration.

Galactic City

A city model representing urban areas shaped by dispersed, decentralized growth.

Gentrification

The process of wealthier individuals moving into a low-income neighborhood, raising property values.

Greenbelts

Open land around a city where development is restricted to preserve the environment.

In-Filling

The development of vacant or underused land within an existing urban area.

Informal Settlement

A residential area with housing not built according to official regulations, often found in developing countries.

Infrastructure

The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society.

Islamic City

A city model characterized by a central mosque, market area, and pedestrian-friendly streets.

Latin American City Model

An urban structure model where the CBD is surrounded by elite housing and informal settlements.

Megalopolis

A large urban region formed by the merging of multiple metropolitan areas.

Megacity

A city with a population over 10 million, characterized by rapid growth and high density.

Mixed-Use Development

An urban development combining residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

A geographic region defined by the U.S. Census Bureau including a central city and surrounding suburbs.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

A smaller urban area with a population of 10,000 to 50,000, defined by social and economic integration.

Multiple Nuclei Model

A model suggesting cities grow in multiple centers or nuclei with distinct land uses.

New Urbanism

A planning approach promoting walkable, mixed-use communities focusing on sustainability.

Peripheral Model

A model describing the spread of cities into peripheral areas with decentralized growth.

Postindustrial City

A city that has transitioned from manufacturing to a service-based economy.

Primate City

A city that is disproportionately larger and more influential than any other in a country.

Public Housing

Government-subsidized housing for low-income individuals and families.

Redlining

The practice of denying financial services based on racial or ethnic composition of neighborhoods.

Squatter Settlement

An area where people build homes on land they do not own, often in substandard conditions.

Sector Model

A model suggesting that cities develop in sectors or wedges along transportation routes.

Smart Growth

Urban planning policies aimed at sustainable development and controlling urban sprawl.

Social Area Analysis

A method to identify and analyze patterns of social characteristics within neighborhoods.

Suburb

A residential area on the outskirts of a city, characterized by lower density and reliance on cars.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs.

Sprawl

The uncontrolled, low-density expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land.

Tenement

A run-down, overcrowded apartment building in urban areas lacking adequate infrastructure.

Urban Renewal

The process of revitalizing urban areas, often by demolishing old buildings for new developments.

Urbanization

The process of an increasing percentage of a population moving from rural to urban areas.

Underclass

A segment of the population experiencing persistent poverty and social exclusion.

World City

A city with significant global influence due to its economic, political, or cultural importance.

Zoning Ordinance

A legal regulation controlling land use in a municipality.