AP Human Geography: Urban Patterns

Urban Patterns Study Notes

• Annexation: Legal process of adding land area to a city in the U.S., crucial for urban expansion.

• Census Tract: Areas defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical publication, approximating neighborhood boundaries.

• Concentric Zone Model: Describes urban internal structure with social groups organized in concentric rings around a central point.

• Council of Government: A cooperative coalition of local governments in a metropolitan area promoting regional planning and governance.

• Density Gradient: Refers to the variation in population density from urban centers to outskirts, indicating urban sprawl or concentration.

• Edge City: A significant urban area characterized by business and retail development located at the city's edge, reflecting suburban growth.

• Filtering: A change in property use where houses transition from single-family ownership to abandonment, often due to economic shifts.

• Gentrification: Transformation of a low-income neighborhood into a middle-class area, leading to displacement of existing residents.

• Greenbelt: Designated open space, such as parks or agricultural land, surrounding cities to limit urban sprawl and maintain ecological balance.

• Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA): U.S. region with a central city of at least 50,000 people and surrounding areas that exhibit economic and social connections.

• Micropolitan Statistical Area: Defined as an urban area with populations between 10,000 and 50,000, including surrounding counties linked to the core city.

• Multiple Nuclei Model: Proposes that cities organize around multiple nodes or centers of activity rather than a single central business district.

• Peripheral Model: Depicts urban areas as composed of an inner city surrounded by suburban developments and connected by highways or ring roads.

• Public Housing: Government-owned housing rented to low-income residents, typically costing 30% of family income, aimed at addressing housing needs.

• Redlining: A discriminatory practice where banks outline areas on maps to deny loans for property purchase or improvement based on location.

• Rush (or Peak) Hour: The periods during mornings and evenings when traffic volume reaches its highest levels, impacting urban mobility.

• Sector Model: A framework for understanding urban structure where social groups are arranged in sectors radiating out from a central business district.

• Smart Growth: Urban planning concept focused on sustainable development, limiting suburban expansion, and conserving farmland.

• Sprawl: Refers to the expansion of urban areas at low density, characterized by scattered development away from existing urban centers.

• Squatter Settlement: Informal urban areas in developing countries where individuals occupy land without legal ownership, often building makeshift homes.

• Underclass: Societal group hindered from accessing material benefits due to social and economic challenges, impacting urban demographics.

• Urbanization: The increasing trend of people moving from rural to urban areas, significantly impacting city growth and infrastructure.

• Urban Renewal: Program aimed at revitalizing blighted neighborhoods through property acquisition, redevelopment, and infrastructure improvement.

• Zoning Ordinance: Regulatory framework that dictates land use and density of development in urban settings, impacting community planning.