Human Geography: Human Settlements

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 12 on Human Settlements in Human Geography.

Annexation

The process of legally adding land area to a city.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

Urban areas with populations between 10,000 and 50,000, including the county and adjacent counties tied to the city.

Central City

An urban settlement legally incorporated into an independent, self-governing unit.

Urban Area

Consists of a central city and its surrounding built-up suburbs.

Megalopolis

A collection of adjacent or overlapping metro areas merging into a continuous urban region.

Central Business District (CBD)

Also known as downtown, it is the home to various types of services.

Concentric Zone Model

A model of urban land use developed by Burgess in 1923.

Sector Model

A model of urban land use developed by Hoyt in 1939.

Multiple Nuclei Model

A model of urban land use developed by Harris and Ullman in 1945.

Galactic Model

A model of urban development proposed by Harris in 1960, emphasizing edge cities.

Informal Settlement

Housing areas with no legal claim to the land, often known as squatter settlements.

Smart Growth

Legislation and regulations aimed at limiting suburban growth and preserving farmland.

Density Gradient

The change in urban population density as one moves from the center of a city outward.

Suburb

A residential or commercial area situated within an urban area but outside the central city.

Gentrification

The process of converting an inner-city neighborhood from predominantly renter-occupied to owner-occupied by higher-income residents.