APHG Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land Use

Site

Characteristics that are specific to a location, including climate, natural resources, and absolute location.

Situation

The location of a place relative to other locations; impacts the development of a place.

Urban Sprawl

The expansion of urban areas into the surrounding countryside.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman will have during her lifetime.

Price Ceilings

Government-imposed limits on the price of a product or service to reduce its price.

Informal Settlements

Housing areas built without legal authorization, often lacking basic infrastructure and services.

Megacity

A city with a population of 10 million or more residents.

Metacity

A city with a population of 20 million or more residents.

Primate City Rule

A rule where the largest city in a country has at least twice the population of the second-largest city.

Rank Size Rule

A principle that states the population of a settlement ranked n will be 1/nth of the size of the largest settlement.

Gravity Model

A theory stating that larger settlements have a greater pull factor for migration.

Central Place Theory

A theory that explains the distribution pattern of cities and towns based on size, using hexagons for spatial organization.

Gentrification

The process of revitalization in lower-income neighborhoods leading to increased property values and displacement of existing residents.

De Facto Segregation

Separation of people along racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic lines not enforced by law.

Environmental Injustice

Unequal distribution of environmental hazards affecting marginalized communities.

Smart Growth Policies

Urban policies aimed at reducing sprawl and promoting mixed-use development and public transport.

New Urbanism

Urban planning that focuses on creating compact, walkable cities with mixed-income communities.

Disamenity Zones

Areas lacking public services and quality infrastructure, often with high poverty and crime rates.

Blockbusting

A real estate practice that exploits fears of racial integration to encourage white homeowners to sell at low prices.

Eminent Domain

The right of the government to take private property for public use.

Brownfields

Abandoned properties that were previously used for industrial or commercial purposes and are often contaminated.

Urban Blight

Decay of a city area characterized by abandoned buildings and declining economic activity.