AP Human Geography: Urban Geography & Land-Use Patterns

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts in urban geography and land-use patterns, suitable for exam preparation.

What is the definition of 'Situation' in the context of urban geography?

The relative location of a city and its connectivity to other places, trade routes, or resources.

How is Chicago situated in relation to U.S. infrastructure?

Chicago is a primary 'entrepôt' and transportation hub, connecting the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway to the Mississippi River.

Where are urban dwellers predominantly found by total number?

In developing nations (LDCs), particularly in Asia and Africa, though MDCs have higher percentages of urbanization.

What constrained U.S. suburbs before 1950?

Transportation technology; people were limited by walking distance or streetcar lines.

Where were most U.S. cities situated prior to 1850?

On navigable waterways (coasts or rivers) to facilitate trade and transport.

What are MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas)?

A central city of at least 50,000 people, the county it resides in, and adjacent counties with high social/economic integration.

Why was the site of Brasilia chosen as a capital?

It is a 'forward-thrust capital' built in the interior to encourage inland development and move the population away from the crowded coast.

What were the reasons for U.S. rapid suburbanization after WWII?

Post-WWII GI Bill (housing loans), the Interstate Highway Act, and the cultural desire for larger homes/yards.

Why do Multinational Corporations locate in World Cities?

Due to agglomeration economies providing access to global financial markets, high-end legal services, and international air hubs.

What are Edge Cities and how do they differ from La Défense?

Edge cities are suburban nodes of office/retail, while La Défense is a planned high-rise business district in Paris.

What describes the Galactic City Model?

A post-industrial city where the CBD is decentralized and linked to 'edge cities' by a peripheral ring road.

What are the components of Central Place Theory?

Threshold (min. population needed for a service) and Range (max. distance people will travel for a service).

What distinguishes a Primate City from the Rank-Size Rule?

A Primate City is more than twice the size of the next largest city, while Rank-Size Rule suggests the nth city is 1/n the size of the largest.

What are the Big Three Urban Models?

Burgess' Concentric Zone Model, Hoyt's Sector Model, and Harris-Ullman's Multiple Nuclei Model.

What does Bid-Rent Theory state?

Land cost is highest near the CBD, with users who profit from accessibility outbidding others for central land.

What is New Urbanism in urban planning?

A movement to reduce sprawl via walkable neighborhoods, higher density, and mixing residential/commercial zones.

What are Redlining, Blockbusting, and White Flight?

Discriminatory practices that led to racial segregation and middle-class movement to suburbs.

What is gentrification?

The renewal of inner-city areas by wealthier people, often displacing lower-income residents.

What are Exurbs?

Wealthy residential areas located beyond the suburbs, often populated by telecommuters.