unit 6

Origin and Influences of Urbanization

Urbanization

• Refers to the movement of people to towns/cities and the resulting expansion of the rural countryside.

Influences on Urbanization

• Changes in transportation and communication

• Population growth

• Migration

• Economic development

• Government policies

Physical Geography and Resources Impact on Cities

Site and Situation

• Site: The actual physical qualities of the place that a city occupies which can influence origin, function, and growth (e.g. coastal plain, valley, mountains)

• Situation: The relative location of a city which can influence origin, function, and growth (e.g. located near shipping routes like Hong Kong and Singapore)

Spatial Outcomes of Urbanization

• Megacity: A large city with over 10 million people found increasingly in the periphery and semi-periphery (e.g. Mumbai, Paris)

• Meta-city: A large city with over 20 million people found increasingly in the periphery and semi-periphery (e.g. Delhi, Tokyo)

New Land Use Forms

• Suburbanization: Transformation of rural land to urban uses

• Suburb: Residential area on the periphery of a city

• Suburban sprawl: Unrestricted suburban growth spreading from a city where cars are the primary transportation

• Edge city: Concentration of residential and economic activities in suburbs

• Exurb: Residential area beyond suburbs, often in rural areas

• Boomburb: Urban area with a large population spread along highways (e.g. Irvine, CA)

Global Connectivity of Cities

World Cities and Networks

• World city: Functions as a service center of the world economy (e.g. New York City, London)

• Network: System of interconnected people, goods, information, transportation, communication, finance

• Globalization: Increased interconnectedness among countries in economics, politics, and culture

Explanations for Distribution, Size, and Interaction of Cities

• Urban hierarchy: Settlements ranked by population, services, and sphere of influence

• Rank-size rule: Population of a city inversely proportional to its rank in the urban hierarchy

• Primate city: Country's largest city, at least twice as large as the next largest city (e.g. Paris, London)

• Gravity model: Measure of interaction of places used to predict movement of people

• Christaller’s Central Place Theory: Explains distribution, size, location, and interaction of settlements

Urban Models

Burgess Concentric Zone Model

• Spatial model of the American city with five concentric rings around a CBD

• Different rings represent zones of transition, modest older homes, better residences, and commuter zone

Hoyt Sector Model

• Spatial model suggesting land-use areas conform to a wedge-shaped pattern focused on the downtown core

• City develops in sectors with residential patterns based on wealth

Harris and Ullman Multiple Nuclei Model

• Shows American city consisting of land-use zones arranged around a CBD

• Different nodes attract specific activities, avoiding clustering of incompatible land uses

Galactic City Model

• Spatial model of American urban areas with a central city surrounded by suburban areas, shopping malls, etc.

• Connected by a beltway, or ring road

Bid-Rent Theory

• Extension of the von Thünen model implying rent is equal to the value of the product minus production and transportation costs

• Shows what land users are willing to pay for access to the CBD

Urban Challenges and Responses

Economic, Political, Cultural, Social, and Environmental Challenges

• Housing discrimination

• Red-lining

• Blockbusting

• Affordable housing

• High crime rates

• Environmental injustice

• Disamenity zone

• Zones of abandonment

Conflicts Over Land

• Squatter settlements

• Land tenure

Responses to Economic and Social Challenges

• Inclusionary zoning

• Local food movements

Urban Renewal and Gentrification

• Urban renewal: Redevelopment of areas in economic decline

• Gentrification: Restoration of deteriorated urban areas by wealthier individuals

Fragmentation of Governments

• Functional fragmentation of government

• Interaction between local government agencies

Challenges to Urban Renewal

• Urban sustainability

• Challenges and responses to urban sustainability

Residential Land Use and Infrastructure

Residential Buildings and Land Use Patterns

• Low density housing

• Medium density housing

• High density housing

• Residential buildings shaping city's culture and development

Sustainable Design Initiatives and Zoning Practices

• Sustainable development

• Zoning classifications

• Mixed land use

• Walkability

• Transportation-oriented development

• Smart growth policies

• New urbanism

• Green belt

• Slow growth cities

Effects of Urban Design Initiatives

• Increased housing costs

• De facto segregation

• Loss of historical character

• Reduction of urban sprawl

• Improved walkability

• Improved transportation

• Diverse housing options

• Improved livability

• Promotion of sustainable options

Qualitative and Quantitative Data in Urban Areas

Quantitative Data

• Census and survey data for population changes

Qualitative Data

• Field studies and narratives for individual attitudes toward urban change