Urbanization and Urban Development

These flashcards cover key concepts of urbanization, urban development, and their environmental impacts as discussed in the lecture notes.

What year did urban population surpass rural population globally?

2019

What are some push factors leading to urbanization?

Poverty, lack of land to grow food, declining agricultural jobs, famine, and war.

What are some pull factors that attract people to urban areas?

Job opportunities, better access to food and housing, entertainment, and freedom from conflicts.

What are the living conditions for the urban poor in less-developed countries?

They often live crowded into slums or squatter settlements.

What dramatic change occurred in downtown Boston by 1838?

It was a peninsula surrounded by large islands and headlands along the Charles River.

What effect does urban sprawl have on the countryside?

It replaces farmland with shopping malls and parking lots.

What factors contribute to urban sprawl?

Ample affordable land, automobile use, federal and state highway funding, and inadequate urban planning.

How did the post-war boom years affect urban development?

It led to the rise of low-density development due to government loans to WWII veterans and low-cost gasoline.

What are some disadvantages of urbanization?

Unsustainable growth, lack of vegetation, water problems, pollution, noise, and health issues.

How can cities grow in terms of expansion?

Cities can grow outward or upward.

What is the benefit of compact cities like Hong Kong or Tokyo?

They allow movement by walking, biking, or using mass transit.

What initiative did Ventura County start for open space conservation?

S.O.A.R. (Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources) began in Ventura in 1995.

How does transportation impact urban environmental effects?

Sprawl and transportation create larger ecological/carbon footprints due to dependence on motor vehicles.

What is one method to reduce automobile use?

Implement full-cost pricing, which includes taxing gasoline.

What strategies can make cities more sustainable and livable?

Encouraging alternate transportation, recycling, growing own food, and preserving surrounding land.

What does 'smart growth' refer to in urban development?

Policies and tools that promote more environmentally sustainable urban development.

When was mass transit found in all major U.S. cities?

In 1917.

What company was formed in 1950 that impacted mass transit?

National Cities Lines, a holding company created by G.M., Firestone Tire, Standard Oil, Phillips Petroleum, and Mack Truck.