APHG Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land Use

Site

The physical and geographical characteristics of a specific location, including climate, natural resources, and absolute location.

Situation

The location of a place relative to other geographic features or places, describing its connections to the surrounding area.

Urban Sprawl

The expansion of urban or suburban areas into the surrounding countryside, often resulting in increased reliance on automobiles.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman will have during her lifetime.

Price Ceilings

Government-imposed limits on the price of a product or service, aimed at making it more affordable.

Informal Settlements

Residential areas built without legal authorization, often lacking basic infrastructure and services.

Megacity

A city with a population of 10 million or more residents.

Metacity

A city with a population of 20 million or more residents.

Core Countries

Countries that have industrialized and possess the most advanced economies.

Semi-Periphery Countries

Countries with emerging economies that are industrializing.

Periphery Countries

Countries that rely heavily on the exportation of raw resources and are less economically developed.

Devolution

The transfer of power from a national government to regional governments.

Gravity Model

A model that suggests larger settlements attract more people and have more pull factors.

Central Place Theory

A theory that explains the distribution pattern of cities and towns concerning size.

Threshold

The minimum number of people required to support any good or service.

Range

The maximum distance that a consumer is willing to travel for a certain good or service.

Gentrification

The process where a neighborhood changes as wealthier people move in, often displacing lower-income residents.

Urban Renewal

Government-led rebuilding of cities to make them more modern, functional, and economically active.

Smart Growth Policies

Urban policies that seek to reduce urban sprawl and encourage mixed-use development.

Disamenity Zones

Areas within a city that lack public services and have a higher concentration of crime and poverty.

Redlining

A discriminatory practice where banks refuse to provide loans to individuals in certain neighborhoods.

Blockbusting

A practice where real estate agents manipulate housing markets by creating fear among homeowners regarding declining property values due to minority populations.

Environmental Injustice

The disproportionate distribution of environmental hazards among different social groups.

Bureaucracy

An organization with multiple levels that seek to carry out specific tasks.