Chapter 6: Urbanization

Urbanization

The process of people moving to cities due to changes in transportation, communication, population growth, migration, economic development, and government policies.

Edge Cities

More economic than residential areas that arise as businesses follow people moving out of the Central Business District (CBD).

Central Place Theory

A spatial theory in urban geography that explains the size, number, and distribution of human settlements, proposing that services determine settlement patterns.

Range

The maximum distance people are willing to travel to obtain a service.

Threshold

The minimum number of customers required for a business to survive.

Boomburb

An area experiencing explosive growth over a 10-year period, resembling a city but often formed accidentally and primarily residential.

Gentrification

The restoration of neglected urban areas by middle and upper classes, often resulting in the displacement of lower-income residents.

Redlining

A discriminatory practice in which banks refuse to loan money to people living in certain areas, outlined by red lines on maps.

Suburbanization

The process by which people move from cities to suburbs, facilitated by various factors including the availability of larger, cheaper homes.

Green Belts

Rings of conserved land surrounding urban areas that are designated to not be developed, preserving rural land for agriculture and recreation.

Mixed Use Buildings

Buildings that serve multiple purposes, typically combining residential, commercial, and sometimes industrial spaces.

Smart Growth Policies

Policies aimed at creating more compact, walkable urban areas and preserving rural land, promoting sustainable urban development.

Primate City

A city that is significantly larger than any other city in the country, having more than double the population of the second-largest city.

Urban Heat Island Effect

The phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities and infrastructure.

Blockbusting

A practice where real estate agents persuade property owners to sell their homes cheaply, based on fear of racial or class shifts in their neighborhood.

Infrastructure

The basic physical systems and structures (like transportation, communication, and public services) necessary for the operation of a city.

Exurbs

Affluent, low-density residential areas that are beyond the suburbs, often characterized by wealthier, more educated residents.

Market Analysis

The process of examining demographic data, such as census tracts and zip codes, to understand consumer behavior and business viability in an area.