AP Human Geography: Cities & Urban Land Use Vocabulary

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to urbanization, city structures, and urban challenges as outlined in Chapters 15, 16, and 17 of AP Human Geography.

Deurbanization

The process of population decline in urban areas, leading to the relocation of residents to rural areas.

Disamenity Zones

Areas within cities that are considered undesirable or lacking in basic services and infrastructure.

Suburban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into the suburban regions, often characterized by low-density residential development.

Exurbs

Residential areas that exist outside of a city and its suburbs, often characterized by a rural atmosphere.

Urbanization

The process by which populations move from rural to urban areas, leading to the growth and development of cities.

Site

The physical characteristics of a place, including its topography, climate, and resources, which influence the location and development of a settlement.

Situation

The location of a place relative to its surrounding environment and other locations, affecting its accessibility and economic relationships.

City-State

An independent political entity that consists of a city and its surrounding territory, functioning as a sovereign state.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

A geographical region with a high population density and close economic ties, typically consisting of a city and its suburbs.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

A geographical region with a smaller population density than a metropolitan statistical area, typically centered around an urban core and its adjacent areas. Between 10,000 and 50,000 people

Borchert’s Transportation Model

A model that describes the evolution of American cities based on changes in transportation technology, including stages that reflect the impact of horse-drawn vehicles, railroads, and automobiles.

Suburbanization

The process by which people move from urban areas to suburban areas, leading to the growth of suburbs and changes in urban land use.

Boomburbs

Large, rapidly growing suburbs that are characterized by a population of over 100,000 and are often economically independent from nearby metropolitan areas.

Edge Cities

suburban areas that have developed their own economic centers, typically located near major highways, featuring office complexes, shopping centers, and entertainment facilities.

Megacities

large cities with a population exceeding 10 million

Metacities

cities with populations over 20 million, often facing significant challenges such as infrastructure demands and environmental issues.

Megalopolis

an extensive metropolitan area that comprises multiple major cities and their suburbs, often spanning several states.

Conurbation

a region made up of several interconnected urban areas that have grown together, often forming a continuous urban landscape.

Exurbs

relatively affluent (wealthy) areas situated outside the suburbs of a city, often characterized by a low population density and a high degree of commuting to the city for work.

Deurbanization

the process by which populations move from urban areas to rural or suburban areas, leading to city decline.

World Cities

large cities that have a significant influence on global economic, political, and cultural activities, serving as checkpoints in the global network.

Urban hierarchy

A ranking of cities based on their size, population, and economic influence, with larger cities having more services and greater global connectivity.

Rank Size Rule

A concept in urban geography that states that the population of a city will be inversely proportional to its rank in the urban hierarchy. For example, the second largest city will have about half the population of the largest city.

Primate City

A city that is the largest and most important in a country, often disproportionately larger than the second-largest city, serving as a hub for economic and cultural activities.

London, UK; Mexico City, Mexico

Primate City

Gravity Model

A model in urban geography that predicts the interaction between two cities based on their populations and the distance between them, suggesting that larger cities attract more people/more interaction and connectivity.

Central Place Theory

A spatial theory in urban geography that explains the sizes and distribution of human settlements in a hierarchical manner, suggesting that cities provide goods and services to surrounding areas.

Threshold

The minimum market size needed for a business to operate successfully.

Range

The maximum distance consumers are willing to travel to purchase a good or service

High order services

specialized services that require a larger population to sustain them, such as universities and hospitals, and are typically located in larger urban centers.

Low order services

basic services that require a smaller population to sustain them, such as convenience stores or gas stations, and are usually found in smaller towns or neighborhoods.

Hexagonal Hinterlands

A theoretical model used in urban geography that describes the market areas or influence zones of different services in a hexagonal layout, allowing for the equal distribution of services and minimizing overlap.

Concentric Zone Model

explains urban social structures as a series of circles emanating from the center, with different zones representing various land uses and social groups.

Hoyt Sector Model

suggests cities develop in sectors or wedges rather than concentric circles, with different sectors for various social groups and land uses based on transportation routes.

Multiple Nuclei Model

proposes that cities have multiple centers (nuclei) rather than a CBD that influence their surrounding areas, with various land uses dispersed around these centers, reflecting the influence of the automobile and transportation networks

Galactic City Model

describes a decentralized urban structure characterized by a central city and its surrounding suburbs, connected by a network of highways and infrastructure, allowing for the development of edge cities connected by highways.

Squatter Zones

informal settlements or shantytowns located on the outskirts of cities, typically inhabited by low-income residents and lacking basic services.

Disamenity Zones

areas within a city that suffer from severe social and economic issues, often characterized by neglect, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure.

Traditional CBD

includes the formal economy—permanent stores with full-time jobs that comply with local regulations and have set wages.

Colonial CBD

the historical center of a city established during colonial times, often featuring architecture and infrastructure from the colonial period, with a mix of commercial and governmental functions.

Latin American City Model

a model describing urban land use in Latin American cities, featuring a dual economy, a central spine of commercial activities, and squatter settlements/favelas in the periphery.

African City Model

a model illustrating the structure of cities in _____, characterized by the influence of colonialism, ethnic enclaves, and a central business district surrounded by informal settlements.

Southeast Asian City Model

a model depicting the urban structure of Southeast Asian cities, featuring a port as the central CBD, colonial districts, and peripheral settlements and suburbs in the same zone.

Infilling/Urban Infill

the process of developing vacant or underused parcels within existing urban areas, often to increase density and utilize land more efficiently

Zoning Ordinances

rules governing land use and development in a municipality to ensure organized growth and protect property values.

Urban Planning

the process of designing and regulating the use of land in urban areas to create functional and sustainable environments.

Infrastructure

the fundamental facilities and systems that support the functioning of a city or community, including transportation, utilities, and communication systems.

Municipal

related to a city or town and its local government.

Municipality

a political unit, such as a city or town, that has its own local government and administrative functions.

Sustainability

the practice of using natural resources responsibly, so they can support both present and future generations

Greenbelts

designated areas of land, that are kept free from development to preserve natural spaces and promote environmental sustainability.

New Urban Design

an urban planning approach that promotes walkable neighborhoods, mixed-use development, and sustainable transportation options.

Mixed-Use Development

the integration of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within a single area to enhance community interaction and reduce dependency on automobiles.

Smart Growth Policies

strategies designed to promote sustainable urban development, prioritize public transportation, and reduce urban sprawl.

Slow Growth Policies

strategies that emphasize gradual and controlled urban development to limit sprawl and preserve natural resources

Inclusionary Zoning

a policy that requires a percentage of new housing developments to be affordable for low- and moderate-income residents

Eminent Domain

the power of government to take private property for public use, with compensation to the owner.

Suburban Sprawl

the spread of urban developments into rural areas, leading to increased traffic, dependence on cars, and the loss of open space.

Ecological Footprint

the measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems, expressed as the amount of land and water area required to sustain a given level of consumption.

Brownfields

abandoned or underused industrial and commercial properties that may be contaminated by hazardous substances, but have potential for redevelopment

Mesa, Arizona; Plano, Texas

Boomburbs

Vatican City and Singapore

City-States

Denver metro area, Dallas-Fort Worth

Metropolitan Statistical Area

BosWash Corridor, Tokyo-Yokohama

megalopolis