APHG Chapter 15

Urbanization

The process of the development of dense concentrations of people into settlements.

Neolithic Period

About 10,000 b.c.e., a time when agricultural advances allowed for permanent settlements.

Metropolitan area

Includes a city and the surrounding areas that are influenced economically and culturally by the city.

Urban area

A city and its surrounding suburbs.

Site

The actual place or location of a settlement and the land on which the city was built.

Situation

The connections between a city's site and other sites important for growth.

Site factors

Include landforms, climate, availability of water, soil quality, and natural resources of the land.

Transportation systems

Influential in urban growth by providing means for raw materials and access to jobs.

Gravity Model

Explains the relationship between cities of various sizes based on population and distance.

Rank-Size Rule

Describes the distribution of city populations within a country ranked against the largest city.

Primate City

A city that exceeds, in population size and influence, the country’s next largest city.

Central Place Theory

Explains the hierarchical patterns in the number, size, and location of settlements.

Threshold

The number of people needed to support a certain good or service.

Range

The distance someone is willing to travel for a good or service.

High-order goods

More expensive and desired items requiring larger thresholds and ranges, located in cities.

Low-order goods

Less expensive, everyday items available in smaller communities.

World cities

Major cities with significant influence over global activities, not necessarily the largest by population.

Metacity

A city with a population of more than 20 million people.

Telecommunications

Technology that revolutionized business communication and urban growth.

Push factors

Reasons that compel people to leave rural areas, like lack of employment.

Pull factors

Reasons that attract people to urban areas, like economic opportunities.

Globalization

The process by which cities become interconnected through economic, social, and cultural exchange.

Iconic places

Famous landmarks that symbolize cities and attract tourists.

Agricultural advances

Innovations in farming that led to population settling in urban areas.

Industrial Revolution

A period of rapid urbanization due to the rise of factories and job opportunities.

Communication networks

Systems that allow for the exchange of information, impacting urban growth.

Job market

The availability of employment which influences urban migration patterns.

Urban system

The interconnected nature of cities functioning at regional, national, and international scales.

Suburbs

Less densely populated residential areas surrounding a city.

Economic hub

Cities that serve as centers for economic activities and trade.

Urban hierarchy

The organization of cities based on their size, capacity, and influence.

Trade networks

Routes along which goods are exchanged, influencing urban site selection.

Colonial past

Historical context where cities were shaped significantly by colonial powers.

Fall line

The narrow strip of land marking a geological boundary near water sources.

Labor markets

Availability of workers that influences the growth of urban areas.

Historical geography

Study of how geographic processes shaped cities over time.

Demographic trends

Patterns in population growth that affect urbanization.

Cultural industries

Sectors of the economy focused on cultural production in urban settings.

Environmental factors

Natural conditions impacting city site selection and urban growth.

Urban planning

The design and regulation of urban spaces to manage growth and services.

Economic development

Processes that enhance the economic well-being of urban areas.

Civic services

Services provided by cities to enhance the quality of life for residents.

Land use planning

The process by which land is designated for specific purposes in urban areas.

Urban sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into rural land.

Sustainability

Practices aimed at maintaining urban environments and resources over time.

Smart cities

Urban areas that leverage technology for efficient management and sustainability.

Gentrification

The process of affluent individuals moving into an urban area, often displacing lower-income residents.