APHG Unit 6

Urbanization

The increase in the number of people living in cities.

Suburbanization

Growth of areas on the outskirts of cities.

Exurbanization

People moving from cities to rural areas while still connected to urban economies.

Counterurbanization

Net migration from urban to rural areas.

Urban sprawl

Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas.

Edge cities

New urban centers on the outskirts of old cities with offices, shopping, etc.

Boomburbs

Rapidly growing suburban cities that remain suburban in character.

Megalopolis

Several large cities that are connected (e.g., BosWash Corridor in the U.S.).

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

A city and its economically connected surrounding areas.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

A smaller city-based urban area (10k–50k people).

Site

The physical characteristics of a place (e.g., rivers, harbors).

Situation

A place’s location relative to other places.

Urban hearths

The earliest cities (e.g., Mesopotamia, Nile Valley, Indus Valley).

Urban Hierarchy

Hierarchy of urban areas: Hamlet → Village → Town → City → Metropolis → Megalopolis.

Rank-size rule

The nth largest city is 1/n the size of the largest.

Primate city

A city more than twice the size of the next largest (e.g., Paris).

Concentric Zone Model (Burgess)

Rings of land use around a Central Business District (CBD).

Sector Model (Hoyt)

City develops in sectors based on transportation and income.

Multiple Nuclei Model

City grows around multiple centers or nodes.

Peripheral Model

Suburban edge cities surround inner city (beltways).

Latin American City Model

Wealthy live near CBD, squatter settlements on outskirts.

Southeast Asian City Model

No CBD; focus on port zone.

Sub-Saharan African City Model

Three CBDs: colonial, traditional, market.

Infrastructure

Basic services (e.g., transportation, water, electricity).

Public transportation

Buses, subways, trains—reduces congestion and pollution.

Zoning laws

Rules on how land can be used (residential, commercial, industrial).

Smart growth

Urban planning to reduce sprawl and promote sustainability.

New urbanism

Walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.

Greenbelts

Open land around cities to limit sprawl.

Mixed-use development

Buildings for both residential and commercial use.

Filtering

Large homes split into smaller apartments—leads to decline.

Redlining

Banks denying loans in minority neighborhoods (discriminatory).

Blockbusting

Realtors scare white homeowners into selling cheap.

Gentrification

Wealthy move into and renovate poorer neighborhoods.

Disamenity zones

Areas lacking in services or amenities (often very poor).

Urban renewal

Redevelopment of rundown areas.

Housing discrimination

Unequal treatment in renting or buying.

Squatter settlements

Illegal housing without basic services (e.g., favelas).

Informal economy

Unregulated, untaxed economic activity.

Urban sustainability

City development that meets current needs without harming the future.

Walkability

Designed for pedestrians, reducing car dependence.

Transit-oriented development

Urban planning centered around public transit access.