Pearson Chapter 13 Key Terms

Annexation

Annexation

Legally adding land area to a city in the United States.

Census tract

Area delineated by the U.S. Bureau of the Census for statistics.

Central business district (CBD)

Area of a city with business, consumer, and public services.

Combined statistical area (CSA)

Two or more contiguous core-based statistical areas in the U.S.

Concentric zone model

Model of city structure with social groups in rings.

Core-based statistical area (CBSA)

Collection of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas.

Density gradient

Change in urban area density from center to periphery.

Edge city

Node of office and retail activities on urban edge.

Galactic (or peripheral) model

Model of urban areas with inner city and suburban areas.

Gentrification

Process of converting urban neighborhoods to middle-income.

Incorporated place

Urban settlement legally incorporated into self-governing unit.

Informal settlement

Area in developing country with unauthorized housing.

Megalopolis

Continuous urban complex, like in northeastern U.S.

Metropolitan statistical area (MSA)

Urbanized area of at least 50,000 population in the U.S.

Micropolitan statistical area (μSA)

Urbanized area with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants.

Multiple nuclei model

Model of city structure with social groups around activity nodes.

Municipality

Legally incorporated urban settlement.

Rush hour

Heaviest traffic periods in the morning and evening.

Sector model

Model of city structure with social groups in sectors radiating from CBD.

Smart growth

Urban expansion approach protecting rural land, following development principles.

Social area analysis

Statistical analysis identifying similar living standard groups in urban areas.

Sprawl

Development of low-density housing away from existing built-up areas.

Suburb

Residential or commercial area outside central city.

Urban area

Central city and surrounding suburbs in the U.S.

Urban growth boundary

Boundary around urban area where new development must occur.

Zoning ordinance

Law limiting land use and development density in a community.