Urban Patterns in Human Geography

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture notes on urban patterns in human geography, including definitions, models, and associated terms.

Central City

An urban settlement that has been legally incorporated into an independent, self-governing unit known as a municipality.

Metropolitan Area

A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) that may include micropolitan statistical areas, core-based statistical areas (CBSA), and combined statistical areas (CSA).

Central Business District (CBD)

The area of a city where retail and office activities are concentrated.

Gentrification

The process of converting an urban neighborhood from a predominantly low-income, renter-occupied area to a predominantly middle-class, owner-occupied area.

Suburb

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

Urbanized Area

A densely populated region consisting of the city and its suburbs.

Concentric Zone Model

A model that describes urban land use in concentric rings radiating from the central business district.

Sector Model

A model that represents urban land use as a series of sectors extending from the central business district.

Multiple Nuclei Model

A model of urban land use that suggests cities develop around multiple centers (nuclei) rather than a singular CBD.

Suburban Sprawl

The spreading of urban developments on undeveloped land near a city, often leading to a decrease in population density.

Public Transit

Transportation systems provided for the public, including buses, trains, and subways, aimed at reducing reliance on personal vehicles.

Autonomous Driving Vehicles

Vehicles that can operate without human intervention, classified into five levels from assisted driving to fully automated.

Place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by particular characteristics.

Region

An area of Earth defined by one or more distinctive characteristics.

Scale

The relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole.

Space

The physical gap or interval between two objects.

Connection

Relationships among people and objects across the barrier of space.