AP HUG OCAB

Urbanization

The process by which an increasing percentage of a population moves from rural areas to cities, driven by economic opportunities, industrialization, and improved services such as healthcare and education. This often leads to the expansion of infrastructure, changes in land use, and increased population density in urban areas.

Suburbanization

The movement of people from city centers to residential areas on the outskirts, often motivated by the desire for larger homes, lower crime rates, better schools, and a higher quality of life. This process has contributed to urban sprawl and increased dependence on automobiles for commuting.

Site

The physical and geographical characteristics of a place, including climate, landforms, water access, soil fertility, and natural resources. These factors influence the development and sustainability of a settlement.

Situation

The relative location of a place in relation to other places, considering factors such as trade routes, transportation networks, and access to resources. A city's ______ can determine its economic growth and strategic importance over time.

Megacity

A city with a population of more than 10 million people, often experiencing rapid urbanization, congestion, and significant economic, social, and environmental challenges such as pollution, housing shortages, and inadequate public services. Examples include Tokyo, Mumbai, and São Paulo.

Metacity

A metropolitan area or urban region with a population exceeding 20 million, characterized by extreme urban sprawl, diverse economic hubs, and infrastructural complexities. These cities often extend across multiple administrative boundaries, such as the Greater Tokyo Area or the Pearl River Delta in China.

Periphery

______ countries are less economically developed, have weaker infrastructure, and often rely on raw material exports. Examples of ______ countries include Chad and Haiti

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural lands, often leading to inefficient land use, environmental degradation, and increased reliance on automobiles. ______ can create challenges such as loss of farmland, increased pollution, and rising infrastructure costs.

Boomburbs

Rapidly growing suburban areas that function like large cities in terms of population and economic activity but lack a well-defined downtown or central business district (CBD). Examples include Plano, Texas, and Irvine, California, which have substantial job markets and urban infrastructure.

Exurb

A residential area located beyond the suburbs, often characterized by lower population density, larger homes, and a reliance on long-distance commuting to urban job centers. ______ appeal to those seeking a rural-like environment while maintaining some urban accessibility.

Edge City

A large, self-sufficient urban area on the outskirts of a metropolitan region, featuring office spaces, shopping centers, entertainment facilities, and residential zones. These cities emerge along highways and function as alternative business hubs to traditional downtowns, such as Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness of the world through trade, communication, technology, and cultural exchange. ______ influences urbanization by promoting the spread of multinational corporations, technological advancements, and cultural diffusion, leading to more integrated economies and cities.

Primate City

A city that is disproportionately larger than others in the country and dominates the nation's economy, culture, and political life. Often, these cities hinder balanced regional development. Examples include Bangkok, Thailand, and Mexico City, Mexico.

Rank-Size Rule

A geographical pattern where the second-largest city in a country is approximately half the size of the largest city, the third-largest city is one-third the size, and so on. This rule reflects a balanced urban hierarchy and more evenly distributed services.

Gravity Model

A theory predicting that the level of interaction between two places depends on their population sizes and the distance between them. Larger, closer cities are more likely to engage in trade, migration, and communication than smaller, distant ones.

Christaller's Central Place Theory

A model that explains the distribution and size of settlements based on their role as service providers. It suggests that cities and towns develop in a hexagonal pattern, with larger settlements offering specialized services and smaller settlements catering to basic needs.

Threshold

The minimum population required to support a business, service, or urban function. Higher-______ businesses, such as luxury retailers, require large customer bases, while lower-______ businesses, like convenience stores, can survive with fewer customers.

Range

The maximum distance consumers are willing to travel to access a good or service. Services with a short ______, such as grocery stores, are located frequently, while those with a long ______, such as stadiums or specialized hospitals, are more dispersed.

Bid-Rent Theory

A theory that explains how land prices and rent values decrease as distance from the central business district (CBD) increases. Businesses willing to pay higher rents cluster near the CBD, while lower-value land uses, such as residential areas, spread outward.

Concentric Zone Model

A city model that describes urban growth in rings surrounding a central business district (CBD), with different land uses radiating outward. The model includes zones such as the transition zone, working-class housing, and commuter suburbs.

Sector Model

A city model proposing that urban land use develops in wedge-shaped sectors radiating from the CBD, influenced by transportation routes and economic factors. Higher-income areas often extend along major roads, while industrial zones follow rail lines or waterways.

Galactic City Model

A model of modern urban development where cities expand into decentralized suburbs with distinct commercial hubs and business districts, reducing reliance on a single downtown core. This model reflects the impact of automobile-based transportation and urban sprawl.

Multiple Nuclei Model

A city model suggesting that urban areas develop around multiple centers of activity rather than a single CBD, leading to distinct business districts, industrial zones, and residential areas. This model explains the polycentric nature of modern metropolitan regions.

Infilling

The development of vacant or underutilized land within an existing urban area to maximize land use efficiency. ______ helps reduce urban sprawl and supports sustainable growth by using already-established infrastructure.

Infrastructure

The physical systems necessary for a city's operation, including transportation networks, utilities, communication systems, and public services such as schools and hospitals. Strong ______ supports economic growth and improves quality of life.

Mixed-Use Zoning

Urban planning that combines residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within a single area to promote walkability, reduce traffic congestion, and encourage vibrant communities. This approach contrasts with traditional zoning that separates land uses.

New Urbanism

A design movement promoting sustainable, walkable neighborhoods with diverse housing options, green spaces, and public transportation access to counteract urban sprawl and automobile dependency.

Greenbelt

A zone of open land surrounding a city, typically protected from development to limit urban expansion, preserve nature, and maintain biodiversity. Greenbelts help reduce pollution and enhance quality of life.

Walkability

A measure of how pedestrian-friendly an area is, considering factors such as sidewalk quality, street connectivity, safety, and proximity to essential services like shops, schools, and parks.

Slow-Growth Policies/Cities

Urban planning strategies aimed at limiting the rapid expansion of cities to maintain sustainable development, protect natural resources, and improve infrastructure efficiency. These policies help manage traffic congestion and preserve community character.

De Facto Segregation

Segregation that occurs through social and economic factors rather than legal enforcement, often influenced by housing patterns, school district boundaries, and economic disparities.

Quantitative Data

Numerical data used to analyze urban patterns, including population density, crime rates, and income levels. This type of data helps policymakers make data-driven decisions about urban planning.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive, non-numerical data that provides insights into cultural, social, and economic aspects of urban life, such as personal interviews, field observations, and historical narratives.

Blockbusting

A practice where real estate agents manipulate homeowners into selling their properties at low prices by exploiting racial fears, often leading to rapid demographic shifts and neighborhood decline.

Redlining

A discriminatory banking practice where financial institutions refuse to provide loans or services to residents of certain areas, often based on racial or economic criteria, contributing to long-term economic disparities.

Gentrification

The process of renovating urban neighborhoods to attract higher-income residents, leading to rising property values and displacement of lower-income communities.

Squatter Settlement

An informal, often illegal housing area where people build makeshift homes due to lack of affordable housing. These settlements typically lack proper infrastructure, sanitation, and government services.

Brownfields

Abandoned or underutilized industrial and commercial sites contaminated by pollutants, requiring environmental cleanup before redevelopment can occur.

Ghetto

A part of a city where a specific racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group is concentrated, often due to historical discrimination, economic factors, or social pressures. Ghettos are sometimes characterized by poverty, limited access to quality education and healthcare, and inadequate infrastructure.

Food Desert

An urban or rural area where residents have limited access to affordable, nutritious food due to a lack of nearby grocery stores or fresh food markets. Food deserts are often found in low-income communities, leading to higher reliance on processed and unhealthy food options, which can contribute to health issues such as obesity and malnutrition.