Unit 6 Comprehensive Review: Urban Systems and Spatial Patterns

Rank-Size Rule

A theory that suggests a predictable mathematical relationship between a city's population and its rank in the urban hierarchy.

Primate City

A city that is more than twice as large as the next largest city and is the central hub of a nation's life.

Concentric Zone Model

A model that represents urban land use patterns as rings radiating from a central business district.

Sector Model

A model that shows urban land use in sectors or wedges radiating from the center based on historical transportation routes.

Multiple Nuclei Model

A model that describes cities having multiple centers of activity rather than a single central business district.

Galactic City Model

A model that describes a decentralized city structure, characterized by peripheral edge cities connected by a beltway.

Bid-Rent Theory

An economic theory explaining how land value decreases as one moves away from the central market.

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas onto rural land.

Gentrification

The process of urban renewal where wealthier individuals move into and renovate deteriorating neighborhoods, often displacing original residents.

Redlining

A discriminatory practice where banks refuse loans to residents in certain areas, often leading to economic decay.

Blockbusting

Real estate practice where agents induce panic selling by white homeowners, leading to racial change and displacement.

Brownfields

Abandoned industrial sites that are cleaned up and redeveloped for use.

Greenfields

Undeveloped lands, such as farms or forests, that are built upon for the first time.

Smart Growth

Urban planning movement that aims to limit sprawl and promote sustainable land use.

New Urbanism

Design philosophy that encourages walkable neighborhoods with mixed-use developments.

Squatter Settlements

Informal housing areas where the poorest residents live, often lacking proper infrastructure.

The Gravity Model

A model predicting the interaction between two places based on population size and distance.

Invasion and Succession

The process by which new immigrants occupy inner rings of a city, pushing established residents outward.

Edge Cities

Suburban hubs that have developed around beltways, often containing their own economic and entertainment facilities.

Uneven Development

The disparity in economic and social conditions between urban centers and surrounding areas.

Transit-Oriented Development

Urban planning approach aimed at creating dense, walkable communities near public transport.

Mixed-Use Development

The integration of residential and commercial spaces into the same building or area.

Centrally Planned City

A city that is governed and planned by a central authority, often resulting in a dominant primate city.

Population Density

The amount of population per unit area, usually expressed as people per square mile.

Historical Transportation Trends

Patterns of urban growth and structure shaped by the development of transportation technologies.

Cultural Hub

A city that serves as a center of cultural, political, and economic life for its country.

Residential Accessibility

The ease of access to various urban services and amenities from residential areas.