Urban Settlements Summary

Nature of Cities

  • A city is a multifunctional settlement with a Central Business District (CBD) and both residential and nonresidential land uses.
  • Emerged from culture hearths developed with sedentary agriculture.
  • Required: agricultural surplus, fresh water, social stratification, labor specialization, food storage/distribution.
  • Important locational advantages: productive agricultural land and defensible sites; most cities are near rivers or coasts.

The Origin and Influences of Urbanization

  • Growth of cities linked to agricultural advances.
  • First cities emerged around 4500 B.C.E in places like Uruk (Mesopotamia) and the Nile River Valley.
  • Ancient cities often formed city-states dominated by their central city.

Urban Population Statistics

  • Urbanization has increased, with 55% of the global population living in urban areas in 2018, projected to reach 68% by 2050.
  • Urbanized areas have populations of 50,000+; urban clusters range from 2,500–49,999 residents.

Urban Hierarchy

  • Top-tier World Cities: London, New York, Tokyo.
  • 2nd-tier World Cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris.
  • Global cities are centers for finance, culture, and business, influencing globalization.

Factors Influencing Urban Growth

  • Transportation: Highly influential; connects raw materials, access to jobs, shaped settlement patterns (e.g., colonial cities along waterways).
  • Population Growth: Driven by urban push/pull factors.
  • Economic Development: City functions depend on location and history, affecting industry types present in a city (e.g., D.C. for government).

Urban Models

  1. Burgess Concentric Zone Model: Outlines land use in concentric rings around the CBD.
  2. Hoyt Sector Model: Displays wedge-shaped sectors extending from the CBD.
  3. Multiple-Nuclei Model: Includes different nodes of economic activity.

Urban Trends and Issues

  • Suburbanization: Urban sprawl and the rise of edge cities.
  • Gentrification: Wealthy individuals moving in, raising property values and displacing lower-income residents.
  • Informal Settlements: Rapid urbanization leads to squatter settlements without legal ownership or infrastructure.

Housing and Infrastructure

  • Housing density: Generally, higher near the CBD, varying from high-rise apartments to single-family homes in suburbs.
  • Urban Infrastructure: Vital for economic development; poor infrastructure leads to social and environmental issues.