AP Human Geography Unit 6.6: Urban Structure and Development

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the AP Human Geography Unit on Urban Structure and Development.

Zoning Ordinances

Legal regulations that designate how land in specific areas can be used, controlling whether areas are residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use.

Urban Planning

The process of designing and organizing the development of cities and towns to manage growth, improve infrastructure, and create functional urban spaces.

Residential Zones

Areas designated by local governments specifically for housing and residential purposes, often separated from commercial and industrial land use.

Inner City

The central area of a city, typically characterized by older housing, higher population density, and often experiencing economic decline or revitalization.

Residential Density Gradient

The pattern of decreasing population density from the city center outward toward the suburbs and rural areas.

Filtering

The process by which housing units change occupants as wealthier residents move to newer housing, leaving older housing for lower-income residents.

Invasion and Succession

The geographic process where a new group of people moves into an area previously occupied by another group, gradually replacing the original population and culture.

Urban Infill

The development of vacant or underutilized land within existing urban areas rather than expanding outward into undeveloped land.

Suburbanization of Business

The movement of commercial, retail, and office activities from central cities to suburban areas, following population shifts and changing consumer patterns.