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2.1 Population Distribution Notes

There are many reasons why people would choose to move some of these include:

Physical Factors

  • Climate-weather pattern- over time (people tend to live in more moderate temperatures instead of cold or warm climates).
  • Landforms- where can I survive? (places with farming land and opportunities of food and safety).
  • Water bodies- Water for me and my plants (trading, fishing and clean water).

}}Physical factors whether it be climate or one’s place on a continent influence where people choose to live.}}

Human Factors

  • Culture- My people (traditions, acceptance and security)
  • Economics- How can I make money? (job, opportunities and trade)
  • History- Events of the past influences where people live today (wars and relationships with neighboring places)
  • Political- Types of government and levels of freedom (democratic, republican and rights)

}}Human factors such as culture and other aspects of the human existence also influence where people live.}}

Population Density vs Population Distribution

Density is the number of people in a space and distribution is the spatial spread of people in a space. There are multiple ways a geographer calculates density:

  • Arithmetic Density- The number of people per square mile or per square kilometer. This is the most common type of density.
  • Physiological Density- The number of people per unit of arable land
  • Agricultural Density- The number of farmers per unit of arable land

2.1 IMPORTANT VOCABULARY

Population Distribution- The pattern of human settlement, the spread of people across Earth.

Population Density- Is the measure of the average population per square mile or kilometer of an area. It measures how crowded a place is.

Social Stratification- The hierarchical division of people into groups based on factors such as economic status, power and/or ethnicity

Arithmetic Population Density- Calculated by dividing a region’s population by its total area

Physiological Population Density- Calculated by dividing population by the amount of arable land

Arable- Land suitable for growing crops

Agriculture Population Density- Compares the number of farmers to the area of arable land