Urban Geography Concepts

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions from the lecture on urban geography concepts.

Central Place Theory

A theory developed by Walter Christaller that explains the distribution, size, and organization of settlements based on their provision of goods and services.

Threshold

The minimum number of people needed to support a service.

Range

The maximum distance people are willing to travel to use a service.

Suburbanization

The process by which people move from cities to residential areas on the outskirts of the city.

Exurbs

Areas beyond the suburbs that are typically more rural but house people who commute to the city for work.

Edge Cities

Urban centers located on the outskirts of older metropolitan areas, featuring office space, retail, and entertainment.

Concentric Zone Model

A model of urban structure developed by Ernest Burgess where cities grow outward in rings from a central business district.

Sector Model

A model by Homer Hoyt that suggests cities grow in sectors or wedges out from the center, often along transportation routes.

Multiple-Nuclei Model

A model by Harris and Ullman that suggests cities develop with multiple centers (nuclei), each serving different functions.

Megacities

Cities with over 10 million people, often characterized by rapid growth and significant urban challenges.

World Cities

Cities that function as global economic and cultural centers.

Rank-Size Rule

A pattern of settlements in a country such that the nth-largest city is 1/n the population of the largest city.

Primate Cities

A city that is disproportionately larger and more influential than any other city in the country.

Segregation

The separation of people into different areas based on race, income, or ethnicity.

Redlining

A discriminatory practice where banks refuse to lend money to people in certain neighborhoods, often based on race or income.

Blockbusting

A practice where real estate agents scare white homeowners into selling their homes cheaply by suggesting minorities were moving into the neighborhood.

Gentrification

The process of renovating urban neighborhoods, leading to increased property values and the displacement of lower-income residents.

Sustainability

Urban development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.

New Urbanism

A planning movement that promotes walkable neighborhoods, mixed-use development, and environmentally friendly urban growth.