hg vocab VII

African city model

A model that describes the structure and spatial layout of African cities, featuring traditional urban cores, colonial influences, and post-colonial developments.

Annexation

The process by which a city expands its territorial boundaries to include adjacent areas, incorporating surrounding land into the city's jurisdiction.

Bid-rent theory

An economic theory explaining land pricing based on distance from a central business district (CBD), asserting higher value near the CBD due to demand for accessibility.

Borchert's Epochs

A framework for understanding urban transportation systems' evolution over time, detailing different epochs of urbanization, including sail-wagon, iron horse, and car-oriented epochs.

CBD (Central Business District)

The commercial and business center of a city, characterized by a high concentration of businesses, offices, and retail establishments.

Census tract

A geographic region defined for census-taking, typically containing around 1,200 to 8,000 people, used for statistical purposes.

Central city

The main city or core area of an urban region, serving as the historical and economic center of metropolitan areas.

Christaller, Walter

A German geographer known for developing the central place theory, explaining the size, number, and distribution of human settlements.

Combined statistical area

A geographic region that includes multiple adjacent metropolitan areas, used for statistical purposes by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Concentric zone model

A model of urban land use dividing a city into concentric rings, with the CBD at the center and different social/economic groups in outer rings.

Commuter zone

The outer ring in the concentric zone model, where people live in suburban areas and commute to the central city for work.

Counter urbanization

A demographic trend of people moving from urban to rural areas, often for a higher quality of life or lower cost of living.

Density gradient

A concept describing the change in population density as one moves away from the city center.

Deindustrialization

The decline of industrial activity in a region, often characterized by factory closures and a shift to a service-based economy.

Economic base

The foundational economic activities that drive a city's economy, distinguishing between basic (export) and non-basic (local) industries.

Edge city

A suburban downtown that has developed its own economic and cultural identity, characterized by a concentration of business and commercial space.

Ethnic neighborhood

A residential area predominantly inhabited by members of a specific ethnic group, providing a sense of community and cultural identity.

Favela

A Brazilian term for a type of informal settlement or slum, characterized by substandard housing and a lack of basic services.

Forward capital

A city strategically placed to promote development in a specific area, often distanced from the traditional national capital.

Filtering (filter process)

An economic and social process in urban housing where higher-income households move out, allowing lower-income residents to move in.

Gateway city

A city serving as a point of entry into a country or region, facilitating trade and immigration.

Galactic city

An urban model describing a city with decentralized structures, multiple centers, and widespread urban footprint influenced by suburban growth.

Gentrification

The process by which wealthier individuals move into an urban neighborhood, raising property values and displacing lower-income residents.

Greenbelts

Areas of open land around a city preserved for agriculture, recreation, or conservation to prevent urban sprawl.

In-filling

The process of developing vacant or underused parcels within existing urban areas rather than expanding into undeveloped land.

Informal settlement

A residential area where inhabitants have no legal claim to the land and lack access to basic services, often termed a slum.

Infrastructure

The basic physical systems of a city, including transportation and utility systems essential for economic activity and quality of life.

Islamic City

A historical urban model reflecting Islamic culture and architecture, characterized by a central mosque and mixed residential/commercial uses.

Latin American city model

An urban model highlighting the structure of Latin American cities, characterized by a central plaza and slum sectors extending outward.

Megalopolis

A large, densely populated urban area that stretches across multiple cities and suburbs, characterized by economic and infrastructural interdependence.

Megacity

A city with a population exceeding 10 million people, exhibiting significant economic influence and complexity.

Mixed-use development

An urban planning strategy combining residential, commercial, cultural, and recreational spaces in one location to enhance interaction.

Metropolitan statistical area

A region encompassing a densely populated urban core and adjacent territories with high economic and social integration.

Micropolitan statistical area

A geographical region centered around a small city with a population of at least 10,000 linked economically to surrounding areas.

Multiple nuclei model

A model positing that cities consist of multiple centers around which different types of activities cluster.

New urbanism

An urban design movement promoting walkable neighborhoods and sustainable communities to enhance quality of life.

Peripheral model

An approach emphasizing suburb growth around a central city, often accompanied by challenges for the urban core.

Postindustrial city

A city characterized by a shift from manufacturing to a service-oriented economy, facing issues of decay and revitalization.

Primate city

A city significantly larger and more influential than any other city in a country, serving as a cultural and economic center.

Public housing

Government-subsidized housing designed to provide affordable accommodation for low-income residents.

Redlining

The practice of denying services to residents of certain areas based on racial composition, leading to discrimination in housing.

Squatter settlement

An unauthorized residential area where people illegally occupy land, often lacking basic services and infrastructure.

Sector model

A model developed by Homer Hoyt suggesting cities develop in sectors or wedges radiating from the CBD shaped by transportation lines.

Smart growth

An urban planning approach prioritizing sustainable land use, public transportation, and preservation of open space to combat sprawl.

Social area analysis

A research technique analyzing urban areas based on demographic factors to identify patterns of inequality.

Suburb

A residential area located on the outskirts of a city, typically characterized by lower population density and single-family homes.

Sustainable development

Development that meets current needs without compromising future generations, emphasizing ecological and social balance.

Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land, often resulting in traffic and environmental degradation.

Tenement

A multi-family urban dwelling often associated with low-income housing and poor living conditions.

Urban renewal

A program of land redevelopment in areas of high density aimed at improving infrastructure and housing.

Urbanization

The process by which an increasing percentage of a population lives in urban areas, affecting social and economic dynamics.

Underclass

A social class at the bottom of the socioeconomic hierarchy, characterized by poverty and lack of economic opportunities.

World city

A city that serves as a nodal point in the global economy, characterized by significant financial, cultural, and political influence.

Zoning ordinance

Legal regulations dictating land use and development in an area, designed to control urban development and land use.