Chapter 13: Urban Patterns Summary

  • CBD Land Uses

    • Central Business District (CBD) occupies <1% of urban land, but contains many services.
    • Types of services in CBD:
    • Public Services: City hall, courts, libraries for accessibility.
    • Business Services: Banks, advertising agencies promote collaboration.
    • Consumer Services: High-threshold (luxury) retailers, but less importance due to suburban migration.

  • Activities Excluded from CBDs

    • Lack manufacturing and residents; many move to suburbs.
    • Some population growth in CBDs, but services may still be lacking.

  • Competition for Land in the CBD

    • High demand leads to vertical development; skyscrapers are feasible economically.
    • Underground infrastructure (cables) separates pedestrians from vehicles.

  • Models of Urban Structure

    • Concentric Zone Model: City grows in rings from CBD.
    • Sector Model: Development occurs in sectors or wedges.
    • Multiple Nuclei Model: Cities have multiple centers (e.g., ports, universities).

  • Geographic Applications of the Models

    • Help understand social characteristics and habitation patterns.
    • Critics argue models are simplistic and outdated.

  • Urban Expansion Factors

    • Definition of cities and urban areas includes central cities and suburbs.
    • Density Gradient: Population density decreases away from city center.
    • Urban sprawl leads to suburban segregation by social class and land use.

  • Urban Transportation

    • Motor vehicles facilitate suburban growth but cause pollution and land use issues.
    • Public transit is more efficient but underutilized in U.S. cities.

  • Urban Challenges

    • Physical Geography: Deterioration due to filtering and redlining practices.
    • Social Geography: Economic and social issues of the underclass, characterized by high rates of unemployment and crime.
    • Economic Challenges: Eroding tax base due to low-income populations and the impacts of recessions on property values.