Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes

These flashcards cover key concepts, vocabulary, and theories related to urban land-use patterns and processes in human geography.

What are Borchert's epochs of urban growth?

They describe how urban growth changes based on transportation technology.

What is urbanization?

The process that initiates and drives the growth of cities and suburban areas.

What does the site of a city refer to?

The physical character of a place, including its climate, water sources, topography, soil, vegetation, and elevation.

What does the situation of a city refer to?

The location of a place relative to other places, also known as relative location.

What are megacities?

Very large cities with populations typically exceeding 10 million people.

What is suburban sprawl?

The expansion of human populations away from central urban areas into low-density, car-dependent communities.

What is gentrification?

The process where middle-class people move into deteriorated inner-city neighborhoods, renovating housing and pushing low-income residents out.

What are central place and market area in urban geography?

Central place is a market center for the exchange of goods and services, while the surrounding area is its market area.

What is the rank-size rule?

A country's second largest city will be half the size of the largest city, and the fourth largest will be one quarter the size of the largest city.

What impacts do transportation changes have on urban structure?

They impact the shape, size, density, and spatial arrangement of cities.

What is the gravity model in urban geography?

It states that larger and/or closer places will have greater interactions than those that are smaller and farther away.

What is a bid-rent theory?

It explains that land rent will decrease as one gets farther away from central markets.

What are disamenity zones?

Zones within cities that lack desirable features or infrastructure, often associated with poverty.

What challenges do urban areas face in sustainability?

Challenges include suburban sprawl, sanitation issues, climate change, and energy usage.

How does infrastructure affect urban areas?

The location and quality of infrastructure directly influence economic and social development.

What does the term 'New Urbanism' refer to?

An urban design initiative that promotes walkable, mixed-use commercial and residential areas.

What is the significance of the Central Business District (CBD)?

It serves as the downtown area where commercial activities and services are concentrated.

What are the critiques of urban models like Burgess and Hoyt?

Critics point out that they are too simplistic, outdated, and do not account for modern urban complexities.