Unit 7 APHUG 2

Site:

the place where the settlement is located. Absolute location of a city Ex. on a hill or in a sheltered valley

Situation:

describes where the settlement is in relation to other settlements and features of the surrounding area. Relative location of a city  Ex. the settlement surrounded by forest or next to a large city

Urbanization:

the movement of people from rural areas to cities.

Origins of Urbanization:

1. Early humans were nomadic, meaning no permanent home  

2. Some decided to stop and stay put in certain areas (settlements originated in Mesopotamia: part of the Fertile Crescent in SW Asia).

3. These areas began to grow in size and became cities as we know them today

4.Early settlements were agricultural villages that formed after humans began growing food and crops 

5. Typically located in fertile river valleys (nutrient rich topsoil/silt and water source for crops) 

6. Farmers were able to produce surplus crops which could feed larger populations  

7. Led to people being able to pursue other occupations and trades

Socioeconomic Stratification:

differentiation of society into classes based on wealth, power, production or prestige.

First Urban Revolution:

agricultural and socioeconomic innovations that led to the rise of early cities.

Factors that influence Urbanization:

Transportation: innovations in transportation have shaped and reshaped the layout and size of cities and their surrounding areas over time.

Communication: innovations in communication systems allowed businesses, and therefore cities, to grow.

Rural to Urban Migration: movement of people (typically farmers) from rural settlements to urban centers in search of jobs.

Redevelopment:set of activities intended to revitalize an area that has fallen on hard times.

Megacities:

10 million inhabitants or more (Cairo, Mumbai, Beijing, Dhaka, Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto)

Metacities:

20 million inhabitants or more (Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, São Paulo, Mexico City)

Micropolitan Area:

Micropolitan Area: Population between 10,000 - 50,000 people. Smaller City and Surrounding Towns/Counties

Megalopolis:

a region in which several large cities and surrounding areas grow together

Metropolitan statistical area:

a central city of at least 50,000 people and urban areas linked to it

Suburbanization

is a population shift from central urban areas into suburbs, resulting in the formation of (sub)urban sprawl. As a consequence of the movement of households and businesses out of the city centers, low-density, peripheral urban areas grow.

Sprawl (or urban sprawl):

 Inclination of cities to grow outward in an uncontrolled manner

Edge Cities:

nodes of economic activity that have developed in the periphery of large cities. 

Exurbs:

a district outside a city, especially a prosperous area beyond the suburbs. Often found near farmland, beaches or mountains

Boomburbs:

large, rapidly growing, incorporated communities of more than 100,000 residents that are not the biggest city in their region.

World City:

(or global city) a city that is a control center of the global economy, in which major decisions are made about the world’s commercial networks and financial markets. (Tokyo, Paris, New York City)

Urban Hierarchy:

Ranking urban settlements by: Population size and economic function (i.e. # of services provided)

Cities are connected globally by networks and linkages:

Transportation Services: those activities designed to assist a person to travel from one place to another to obtain services or carry out life’s activities.

Communication Systems: advanced communication systems that provide immediate access to information.

Business Services: services which serve as links to the corporate headquarters of international companies.