Ideas, Terms and concepts to know for Urban Geography

for my unit 6 test

Urban Hierarchy

a pyramid where large cities are at the top and smaller towns are at the bottom

PLV’S

a classification system that ranks urban areas based on factors like population and services.

Hinterland

The area surrounding a city that provides resources and economic support, often extending to the surrounding rural areas and smaller towns.

Urbanization

the process by which rural areas develop into urban ones, often leading to population growth in cities.

Rapid Urbanization

refers to the swift increase in urban population and expansion of cities, often resulting in significant social, economic, and environmental changes.

Site

refers to the physical and geographical characteristics of a location, including its topography, soil, and climate.

Situation

the relative location of a place in relation to other places, including its accessibility and connectivity to surrounding areas.

Urban revolutions

are transformative periods in history marked by significant changes in urban life.

Zoning laws

regulations that govern land use and development in urban areas, aimed at organizing city growth and ensuring public welfare.

Primate cities

are the largest cities in a country, larger than any other city

rank size rule

states that the population of a city will be inversely proportional to its rank in the urban hierarchy

walter christaller

was a German geographer known for developing the central place theory, which explains the size and distribution of human settlements.

Central place theory

is a spatial theory in urban geography that seeks to explain the number, size, and location of human settlements in an urban system.

Food deserts

are urban areas where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, often resulting in poor dietary habits and health issues.

Shantytowns

are unplanned settlements characterized by substandard housing and inadequate infrastructure, often populated by low-income individuals.

Squatter villages

are informal settlements where people occupy land without legal title, often lacking basic services and infrastructure, similar to shantytowns.

Core/Periphery

is a model in urban geography that describes the spatial distribution of economic, social, and political resources, with core regions being more developed and periphery regions being less developed.

New urbanism

is a planning movement that promotes environmentally friendly and sustainable urban design, emphasizing walkable neighborhoods, mixed-use development, and community-oriented spaces.

Mega city

Mega cities are urban areas with a population of over 10 million people.

Meta city

Meta cites have populations over 10 million

Blockbusting

is a practice where real estate agents induce panic selling in homeowners to manipulate racial or ethnic demographics in a neighborhood.

Gentrification

is a process where urban neighborhoods undergo transformation, often leading to rising property values and displacement of lower-income residents.

Agglomeration

is the clustering of firms and industries in a specific location, which can lead to increased efficiency and economic benefits.

Galactic city

is a type of urban form characterized by dispersed suburban development, often featuring decentralized business districts and extensive transportation networks.