Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to urbanization, city structure, and sustainability, based on lecture notes.

Urbanization

The process through which cities grow and develop as populations increase and migrate.

Site

The physical geographical location on which a city is built, characterized by attributes such as fertile soil and abundant water.

Situation

The way an urban area is connected to other urban areas, considering its relative location.

Metropolitan Area

A densely populated region that includes a central city and its surrounding suburbs.

Urban Sprawl

The geographic expansion of an urban area without long-term planning, leading to spread into rural areas.

Megacities

Cities with populations exceeding 10 million people.

Primate City

The largest city in a country that dominates the political, economic, and cultural landscape.

Urban Hierarchy

A ranking of settlements based on size, economic function, and influence.

Threshold

The minimum number of customers needed to support a service or business.

Range

The maximum distance that people are willing to travel to access a good or service.

Counterurbanization

The process of people moving from urban to rural areas.

Redlining

A discriminatory practice in which banks refuse to lend money to buyers in certain neighborhoods.

Environmental Injustice

The unequal exposure of certain populations to environmental hazards.

Gentrification

The process of rebuilding and renewing deteriorating urban areas, often leading to increased living costs.

Infrastructure

The physical systems and services that support a society and its economy, such as transportation and utilities.

Smart Growth

Urban planning strategies that promote sustainable, compact, and walkable communities.