APHG Unit 6 - Urban Models + Types of Cities

This flashcard set reviews all urban models such as the Burgess and Hoyt Sector Model, and types of cities such as primate and metacities. Please note that the first four models and most of the city types are guaranteed to be on the exam. you are EXPECTED to know these.

Concentric Zone Model / Burgess Model

• City grows OUTWARDS

• Central Business District → Factories → Low Class Residential (Zone of Transition) → Middle Class Residential → Upper Class Residential

  • Therefore, the further you are from the CBD the more land costs/wealthier you are

• Outdated - predates the widespread use of cars

• Think about Burgess + Bullseye

EXAMPLE- 1920s Chicago

Sector Model (Hoyt)

• Split into uneven pieces rather than being uniform circles

• Different sectors grow outward from CBD along railroads, highways, etc.

• Think about poorly cut pizza

EXAMPLE- Calgary- city in Canada, industrial zones grow alongside rail lines

Multiple Nuclei Model (Harris & Ullman)

• think MULTIPLE CBDs

• Unlike previous two, not all activities revolve around the CBD

• Odd shape

EXAMPLE-

• New York City’s major CBDs include Midtown Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, etc.

• Atlanta’s major CBDs include Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead

Latin American City Model (Griffin-Ford Model)

• Has CBD with a spine

• Includes disamenity zones/squatter settlements + a sector of elite housing.

• Elite housing is located on the spine + near the CBD, squatter settlements are on the outskirts

  EXAMPLE- Mexico City, Mexico or Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Primate City

A city that is significantly larger than any other city in the country and dominates economic, political, and cultural life. Primate cities often serve as the main hub for transportation and services.

EXAMPLE- Paris, France

Megacity

A metropolitan area with over 10 million inhabitants, characterized by high population density and significant economic influence.

EXAMPLE- Lagos, Mumbai

Metacity

A city with a population exceeding 20 million people, often facing challenges related to infrastructure, housing, and transportation.

EXAMPLE- Delhi, Shanghai

Edge City

A suburban area that has developed its own CBD, often with office spaces, retail centers, and entertainment facilities, distinct from traditional urban areas.

EXAMPLE- Tysons, Virginia

Squatter Settlement

A densely populated urban area that develops spontaneously, usually on the outskirts of cities, where residents lack legal claims to the land and often live in inadequate housing.

EXAMPLE- Kibera, Kenya

World City

A significant urban center that serves as a hub for global economic, cultural, and political activities, often influencing international relations and trade.

EXAMPLE- New York City, London

Rank-Size Rule

A statistical relationship that indicates that the size of a city or town is inversely proportional to its rank in the hierarchical order of cities, suggesting that the nth largest city is 1/n the size of the largest city. If the city does NOT follow RSR, it is likely a primate city.

RSR FORMULA- Pop. of largest city ÷ N (rank of city)

EXAMPLE- population- 10,000, rank 4. 10,000 ÷ 4 = 2,500
this is almost GUARANTEED to be on the exam!

Megalopolis

A large urban region formed by the merging of several metropolitan areas, characterized by high population density and economic interdependence.

EXAMPLE- BosWash corridor in the northeastern United States.