Urban Models in Geography

Questions and Answers

What does the African City Model describe?

Colonial city structures

Fastest growing cities with high diversity (correct)

The world's highest levels of urbanization

Economic models of African cities

What is the Concentric Zone Model?

A structural model of the American central city that has five concentric land-use rings.

What is the Sector Model?

It models the internal structure of cities where social groups are arranged around sectors radiating from the CBD.

What does the Southeast Asian City Model focus on?

The old colonial port zone. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Griffin-Ford Latin American City Model?

A model combining elements of Latin American culture and globalization. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Galactic City Model represent?

Decentralization of the commercial urban landscape. Signup and view all the answers

What is blockbusting?

A process convincing white property owners to sell their homes at low prices due to fear of racial integration. Signup and view all the answers

What is white flight?

The movement of working and middle-class white people to white suburbs. Signup and view all the answers

What is redlining?

A process where banks refuse to lend to specific areas on maps. Signup and view all the answers

What are boomburbs?

Rapidly growing cities that remain suburban in character. Signup and view all the answers

What does Borchert's Model of Urban Evolution describe?

It outlines the growth of cities in four stages of transportation history. Signup and view all the answers

What are brownfields?

Contaminated industrial or commercial sites needing cleanup. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Central Business District (CBD)?

The downtown nucleus of a city with high retail and office density. Signup and view all the answers

What is central place theory?

A theory explaining service distribution based on settlement size. Signup and view all the answers

What does range refer to in urban studies?

The maximum distance people are willing to travel to use a service. Signup and view all the answers

What is threshold in terms of service?

The minimum number of people needed to support a service. Signup and view all the answers

What is a census tract?

An area delineated for statistical publication by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conurbation?

A continuous urban area formed by the merging of several cities. Signup and view all the answers

What is density gradient?

The change in density from the center to the periphery of an urban area. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disamenity zone?

A zone with few services and undesirable surroundings. Signup and view all the answers

What is an edge city?

A significant concentration of retail and office space on the outskirts of metropolitan areas. Signup and view all the answers

What is eminent domain?

The government's right to expropriate private property for public use. Signup and view all the answers

What is exurbanization?

The movement of households from urban areas to outlying locations. Signup and view all the answers

What is filtering in housing?

A process of change in the use of a house from owner occupancy to abandonment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a gateway city?

Cities that serve as ports of entry and distribution centers. Signup and view all the answers

What is gentrification?

A process converting low-income areas into middle-class neighborhoods. Signup and view all the answers

What are greenbelts?

Rings of land maintained as parks or agriculture to limit urban sprawl. Signup and view all the answers

What does infilling refer to in urban planning?

Increasing population density by building on underused land. Signup and view all the answers

What is infrastructure?

The basic physical structures and facilities needed for society's operation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

African City Model

Africa experiences the lowest levels of urbanization globally, despite rapid city growth.
Features three Central Business Districts (CBDs): a colonial CBD, an informal market zone, and a transitional business center.
Colonial CBDs exhibit vertical development; traditional centers usually have one-story buildings.
Ethnic neighborhoods are common, often near zones of mining and manufacturing.
Surrounding areas consist of squatter settlements and informal townships.

Concentric Zone Model

Illustrates five concentric land-use rings around a central point in American cities.

Sector Model

Cities structured around social groups arranged in sectors or wedges radiating from a central business district.

Southeast Asian City Model

Developed by Terry McGee, this model identifies similar land-use patterns in medium-sized Southeast Asian cities.
Central focus is on the old colonial port zone with elements of CBD existing as separate clusters.

Griffin-Ford Latin American City Model

Integrates Latin American cultural elements and globalization, merging radial sectors with concentric zones.
Features a vibrant CBD and a commercial spine; housing quality declines with distance from the CBD, especially in Disamenity sectors.

Galactic City Model (Peripheral Model)

Represents decentralization of urban commercial landscapes influenced by a transition to service-based economies.
Marked decline in manufacturing, shifting towards specialized industrial parks.

Multiple Nuclei Model

Model representing cities structured around multiple activity nodes, accommodating various social groups.

Blockbusting

Real estate agents influence white homeowners to sell cheaply due to fears of incoming racial minorities.

White Flight

Movement of working and middle-class white populations from racially diverse areas to predominantly white suburbs.

Redlining

Banks deny loans within certain mapped boundaries, impacting investment in those neighborhoods.

Boomburbs

Rapidly expanding suburban cities that reach large populations but retain suburban characteristics.

Borchert's Model of Urban Evolution

Identifies four phases of urban growth related to transportation: sail wagon (1790-1830), iron horse (1830-1870), steel rail (1870-1920), and the contemporary automobile/air travel era post-1920.

Brownfields

Previously used industrial/commercial sites requiring environmental cleanup before redevelopment or expansion.

Central Business District (CBD)

The heart of a city characterized by high densities of retail, offices, and cultural activities, where transportation systems converge.

Central Place Theory

Explains service distribution through settlement size, with larger centers serving broader markets compared to smaller settlements.

Range

The greatest distance consumers are willing to travel for a service.

Threshold

Minimum number of potential customers necessary to support a service.

Census Tract

Defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census for statistical publication, generally aligning with neighborhood boundaries in urban areas.

Conurbation

A vast, extended urban region formed by the merging of several growing cities.

Density Gradient

The change in population density from the urban center to the outskirts.

Disamenity Zone

Areas lacking services and characterized by poor surroundings.

Edge City

Significant nodal concentrations of retail and office activities located outside central cities, often near major highways.

Eminent Domain

Government's authority to acquire private property for public use, with compensation offered to property owners.

Exurbanization

Population movement from urban centers to surrounding areas within commuting distance.

Filtering

Change in house usage from owner-occupied to abandonment over time.

Gateway City

Cities that function as significant entry and distribution points due to their geographic locations.

Gentrification

Transition of neighborhoods from low-income rental areas to predominantly middle-class owner-occupied spaces.

Greenbelts

Areas reserved as open space, parks, or agriculture to limit urban sprawl.

Infilling

Increasing urban population density by developing vacant or underutilized land.

Infrastructure

Essential physical and organizational facilities (e.g., roads, buildings) necessary for societal function.

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Description

Explore the diverse urban models used to analyze cities, including the African City Model, Concentric Zone Model, Sector Model, and Southeast Asian City Model. Understand how various factors like colonial history, social groups, and land-use patterns shape urban environments. This quiz will deepen your knowledge of urban geography concepts.