2022 Human Geography Unit 3 - Main Vocabulary

Human Development Index (HDI)        HDI - A numerical way of measuring the development of a country that looks at demographic, social and economic factors

More Developed Countries (MDCs)        has progressed further along the UN HDI continuum (.8-1.0)

Less Developed Countries (LDCs)        has made some progress along the UN HDI continuum but its progress is less compared to developed nations (0-.6)

Urbanization        The process in which people move from rural areas to those with higher population densities

Central Business District (CBD)        Symbolic center of a city for business and entertainment.  Can be found by its tall and modern buildings

Squatter Settlements        Less developed areas of a city where people live illegally - often these are for new migrants to cities who can’t afford to live anywhere else. Seen on the edges of many megacities

Suburbs        Residential areas located around the city. People often live in the suburbs and commute to the CBD for work

Ethnic enclaves        an area of a city or region that has a distinctive ethnic identity that is different than the surrounding areas

Commercial Zone        Where people work and businesses are located (offices, stores)

Residential Zone        Where things are made and factories are located (also warehouses)

Industrial Zone        Where people live  (houses, townhomes and apartments are located there)

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)        an area with a central city that has 50,000 people or more

Megacity        a city that has more than 10 million (10,000,000) people in it

World Cities        Cities that have an influence on culture or finance that is more important than their population size

New Urbanism        a planning and development approach based on the principles of: walkable blocks and streets, housing and shopping in close proximity, and accessible public spaces.

Urban renewal          When the government Takes old parts of a city and tears them down to build new, modern buildings (could be residential/housing) or for businesses.

Gentrification        When private individuals or businesses take low income parts of a city and rebuild them to try to attract more high income residents.

Heat Islands        A condition where the urban area can be warmer than the surrounding areas due to human activities

Placelessness        Similar design styles and construction materials as well as architecture styles mean that places often look similar all over the world causes a loss of a sense of community

Sprawl        When suburbs keep growing further and further from city centers they take up more and more rural land

Smart Growth        city planners pass laws to design and plan for sustainable city growth

Zoning Laws        Laws that specify what kind of development is allowed where (ex. residential, commercial, industrial)

Green spaces        undeveloped sections within a city or on its outskirts where people can enjoy nature and relaxation

Commuter roads        large roads, highways, or freeways that are designed to get people into and out of the city as quickly as possible (ex. Highways and freeways)

Grid organization        Streets are arranged on a grid (usually North/South - East/West) to make finding absolute locations easier

Site Factors        the physical characteristics of a place considered when deciding where to locate an industry

Situation Factors        where to put an industry as it relates to nearby factors, especially transportation

Agglomeration        When businesses locate close together to take advantage of supply networks and infrastructure to lower their transportation costs

Range The maximum distance a person will travel to purchase something

Threshold  The minimum number of people to support a service