AP Human Geo Unit 5

Urban

Relating to a city

Urbanization

The movement of people from rural areas to cities

Site

Absolute location on the earth and physical characteristics that do not change

Situation

Relative location based on surrounding features, which can change

First urban revolution

The historical period when small, agricultural villages transitioned into large, complex urban societies

Mega city

An urban area with a population exceeding 10 million people

Meta city

A very large urban area with a population exceeding 20 million people

Clustered settlement pattern

A rural settlement where a large number of houses and buildings are situated close together, often around a central point like a village square, creating. Tightly packs immunity with farmland surrounding the settlement area

Dispersed settlement pattern

A rural settlement where individual ones and farmsteads are scattered far apart across a large area, with significant distances between each dwelling, typical associated with extensive agriculture and large land holdings

Linear settlement pattern

A entitlement where buildings are arranged in a long line, typically developing along a transportation route like a road, river, or canal, creating a ribbon-like appearance

Metes and bounds survey system

A method of describing and boundaries by using natural landmarks, like rivers or large trees, along with precise measurements of distance and direction, essentially creating a detailed outline of property’s perimeter based on its surrounding features, often resulting in irregularly shaped plots of land

Township and range survey system

A method of dividing land into a grid-like pattern using baselines running east-west and meridians running north-south, creating rectangular sections of land called township and ranges, which are numbered to easily identify the specific parcels of land

Long-lot survey system

A method of dividing land into narrow, rectangular parcels that extend long and deep from a river or a road.

Central city

The main urban area within a metropolitan region, typically surrounded by suburbs, representing the core of a larger urbanized area and serving as the primary economic and administrative center for the surrounding region

Megalopolis

A very large, densely populated urban region formed when several metropolitan areas essentially merge together

Metropolitan Statistical Area (US)

A core area containing a substantial population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with the core

Gravity model

A concept that explains the interaction between two places based on their population sizes and the distance separating them

Rank-size rule

A pattern where the population of a city is inversely proportional to its rank within a country

Primate city

A city within a country that’s significantly larger than any other city, in that country, holding a disproportionate amount of economic, political, and cultural power

Global (or world) city

The cities that are the command and control centers of the global economy

Outsourcing

The practice of a company hiring an external party or organization to perform specific business functions or tasks, often in a another country, usually to reduce costs by taking advantage of lower labor wages in that location

Offshoring

The practice of a company relocating a business process, like manufacturing or customer service, to a different country, typically to take advantage of lower labor costs and potentially increase efficiency, often by moving operations to a developing nation with cheaper labor costs

Disamenity zones

The very poorest part of cities that in extreme cases aren’t even connected to the city’s amenities and are controlled by gangs and drugs

Squatter settlements

Densely populated areas where people establish homes inland they don’t own or have legal rights to

Burgess’ concentric zone model

A theory developed by sociologist Ernest Burgess that describes a city as a series of concentric rings, with the central business district at the center, and progressively outward zones representing different land uses and socioeconomic levels

Harris and Ullman’s multiple nuclei model

A theory of urban land uses that suggests cities Delos with multiple centers or “nuclei” rather than a single central business district

Hoyt’s sector model

An urban land uses that model developed by Homer Hoyt,, which suggests that cities develop in sectors or wedges radiating out from the central business district, with different land uses and socioeconomic groups occupying specific sectors Romario influenced by transportation routes and access to the city center

Harris’ galactic (or peripheral) model

A modern urban structure where a central city is surrounded by a network of suburban edge cities, connected by major transportation corridors

Edge cities

A significant urban area that develops on the outskirts of a traditional city, characterized by a concentration of retail, office space, and entertainment facilities

Suburb

A populated area within a metropolitan area, but outside the central city

Exurb

A semi-rural district beyond an urban area’s suburb

Sprawl

The tendency of cities to grow outward in an unchecked manner

Zoning ordinances

Classification of land according to restrictions on use and development

Smart growth policies

Policy aimed at environmental protection and compact cities

Green belt

Grassy, forested, or agricultural land preserved around a city

New urbanism

City planning that focuses on European-style, dense settlement with housing of different types and prices within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, jobs, and public transit.

Transit-oriented development

Located near public transit nodes, and situated to take advantage of transit connections

Mixed-use development

Mixes residential and commercial development and public spaces to create varied activity at different times.

Density gradient

The gradual decrease in population density as you move away from a central point, usually a city center

Infrastructure

The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society, including transportation systems, water supply, and communication networks

Infill development

The construction of new buildings on previously unused or underutilized land within an existing urban area

Walkability

The measure of how friendly an area is to walking

Affordable housing (or housing affordability)

The ability of individuals or families to pay for housing without compromising their quality of life or financial stability

Redlining

A discriminatory practice in which

Blockbusting

A process by which real estate agents convince white property owners to sell their houses at low prices because of the fear that black families will soon move into the neighborhood

Urban hierarchy

A system that ranks cities based on their size, economic power, and level of services they provide, with larger cities offering more services and influencing wider areas.

Boomburb

A rapidly growing suburb that has emerged as an urbanized area, often characterized by high population growth and a mix of residential and commercial development.

Christaller’s central place theory

A spatial theory in urban planning that explains the size, number, and distribution of human settlements, suggesting that cities and towns serve as 'central places' providing services to surrounding areas.

Bid-rent theory

A geographical economic theory that explains how the price and demand for land varies with distance from the central business district, where land closer to the city center is more valuable due to higher demand for accessibility.

Housing discrimination

The unfair treatment of individuals in housing-related activities based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.

White flight

The phenomenon where white residents move away from neighborhoods as minority populations, particularly African Americans, start to move in, often fueled by fear of property value decline and racial integration.

De Facto segregation

Segregation that occurs without formal laws or policies, resulting from social or economic factors, rather than legal requirements.

Gentrification

The process by which urban neighborhoods undergo transformation due to the influx of more affluent residents, leading to rising property values and often displacing lower-income families.

Urban renewal

A process of revitalizing deteriorating urban areas through redevelopment, often involving the clearing of old buildings and the creation of new infrastructure, housing, and public spaces.