Chapter 15

15.1 THE ORIGIN AND INFLUENCES OF URBANIZATION

Attraction to Cities

• Economic opportunities: Cities are often seen as hubs for jobs, trade, and innovation, drawing populations seeking better livelihoods and financial stability.

• Excitement of city life: The vibrancy of urban environments, characterized by social interactions, cultural events, and nightlife, makes cities attractive.

• Cities serve as political, economic, cultural, and educational centers, fostering diverse ethnicities and cultures through immigration and the exchange of ideas.

Historical Context

• For most of human history, people lived in rural areas, relying on agriculture for sustenance. With advances in farming techniques during the Neolithic Period (circa 10,000 B.C.E.), some populations began to settle and create larger communities.

• Early cities like Uruk (4500 B.C.E.) benefited from strategic locations, including proximity to water sources and trade routes, facilitating trade and societal development.

Urbanization

• Defined as the development of dense populations in settlements, urbanization is a key process that reshapes societies and environments.

• Historically, urban dwellers comprised a small portion of the global population until the Industrial Revolution, which dramatically increased urban growth due to factory jobs and technological advancements.

• Current trends indicate that 55% of the global population lives in urban areas, projected to rise to 68% by 2050.

Urban Area Definition

• The United States Census Bureau defines urban areas based on population density, classifying cities into two categories: urbanized areas (50,000+ people) and urban clusters (2,500-49,999 people).

• Other countries have different criteria; for instance, Mali considers an area urban if it has a population of 30,000, while Japan uses 50,000, and India classifies areas as urban based on less than 25% of the population engaged in agriculture.

City Services

• Cities provide vital services such as political, medical, financial, educational, and infrastructural support, which are essential for the functioning of modern life.

• Metropolitan areas include the city and its surrounding regions, while suburbs usually consist of lower-density housing that surrounds urban cores.

15.2 SITE AND SITUATION

Site vs. Situation

• Site: Refers to the actual physical location and characteristics of a city, including its landforms, climate, and resources (such as water supply and soil quality).

• Situation: Describes the city’s location concerning other areas, significantly influencing trade access, economic growth, and social connectivity.

Attractive Site Features

• Favorable topography, rich natural resources, and adequate defense capabilities are critical factors that determine the attractiveness of a settlement site. For example:

  • Athens in ancient Greece was strategically located for defense, influencing its growth into a powerful city-state.

  • San Francisco experienced rapid growth during the Gold Rush due to its advantageous location and access to resources.

Transportation's Role

• Cities are often strategically located near rivers, harbors, or along trade routes, enhancing their trade potential and settlement opportunities. For instance, Pittsburgh is situated at the confluence of three rivers, making it a vital trade and transportation hub.

Economic Development

• Technological advancements have fundamentally changed site desirability over time. Historically, industrial activities were concentrated near waterways, particularly in regions known as the Atlantic fall line, where rivers provided waterpower for milling and manufacturing.

Urban Change

• Cities continually evolve as transportation networks and economic conditions develop over time; some cities may decline while others transform their services to adapt to new realities.

15.3 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE URBAN GROWTH

Transportation and Communication

• These are essential for urban growth, facilitating the movement of raw materials and labor forces. Advancements in these areas have led to significant urban expansion and the relocation of economic activities toward suburban zones.

Rural-to-Urban Migration

• This migration is driven by push factors, such as economic hardship in rural areas, and pull factors, like job opportunities in cities. Notable examples include Silicon Valley and Shenzhen, showcasing rapid urban growth fueled by economic opportunities and technological development.

Economic Development

• The function of cities evolves based on their historical industrial ties and current economic needs. For example, Detroit has transformed from an automotive manufacturing hub to a city focused on technology and innovation.

Population Growth and Migration

• Migration trends lead to significant demographic shifts within cities as they adapt to accommodate expanding populations, often attracting retirees, workers, and immigrants alike.

Suburbanization and Sprawl

• Urban areas expand outward, leading to the development of suburbs, edge cities, and increasing sprawl. This unplanned growth often creates infrastructure challenges, such as traffic congestion and service delivery issues.

15.4 SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CITIES

Urban Patterns

• Cities are interdependent, shaped by transportation and communication linkages. Geographers use various models to study urban hierarchies and interactions, including:

  • Gravity Model: Indicates that the level of interaction between two cities correlates positively with their size and inversely with the distance between them.

  • Rank-Size Rule: Suggests that population distribution follows a pattern where the second-largest city is half the size of the largest, the third is a third, and so forth, representing urban hierarchy.

  • Primate City: A city that dominates significantly in size and influence within a country, such as Mexico City compared to Guadalajara.

  • Central Place Theory: Explains that settlements provide goods and services based on consumer behavior, with larger cities offering higher-order services due to greater thresholds and ranges of demand.

15.5 CITIES AND GLOBALIZATION

Global Nodes

• World cities serve as crucial nodes for economic, cultural, and communication networks globally, exerting influence on cities across the globe.

Megacities

• Defined as cities with populations exceeding 10 million, megacities are rapidly growing, particularly in peripheral countries, due to high birth rates and mass rural migration.

World City Characteristics

• These cities are not always the largest in size but are vital in terms of influence. They house key economic, cultural, and political organizations, with examples including New York, Tokyo, and London, each representing iconic places that symbolize their cultural identity.