Cities and Urban Land Use Study Guide

A collection of important vocabulary related to cities and urban land use.

Urbanization

The process by which people live and are employed in a city.

Central Business District (CBD)

The commercial center of an urban area.

Primate City

A city that has at least twice the population of the next largest city in the same country.

Concentric Zone Model

A city model that describes urban land use in concentric rings around a central area.

Multiple Nuclei Model

A model that suggests urban growth is independent of the central business district and centers around multiple nodes or nuclei.

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into rural land.

Dispersed Form of Settlement

A type of settlement typical of rural areas, where houses are far apart.

Zoning Laws

Regulations that determine how land and buildings can be used.

Gentrification

The process of wealthier individuals moving into inner-city neighborhoods, often displacing lower-income residents.

Megacity

A city with a population of over 10 million people.

Bid-Rent Theory

A theory suggesting that land value decreases with distance from the central business district.

Greenfields

Zones of land where there is little to no urban development.

Underemployment

A situation where individuals are not fully utilizing their skills or are not working enough hours.

Census Tracts

Geographic areas that contain about 5,000 people on average, used for statistical analysis.

Urban Heat Island Effect

An urban area that is significantly warmer than its rural surroundings due to human activities.

Disamenities

Factors that deter people from living in certain areas of a city.

Core Area

The center area of development in a city.

Emerging Cities

Cities that are experiencing growth in population and economic importance.

Gated Communities

Residential areas with restricted access meant to enhance security for residents.