Cities and Urban Land Use Patterns and Processes Checklist
Define "urbanization."
Urbanization is the process by which an increasing percentage of a population lives in cities and suburbs, often driven by migration from rural areas and natural population growth.
Explain one reason early cities first developed near rivers.
Rivers provided reliable water for drinking and agriculture, routes for transportation and trade, and fertile land for food production.
Define "primate city" and give one example.
A primate city is a country's largest city that is disproportionately larger and more influential than the next largest city (often over twice the size). Example: Bangkok (Thailand), Paris (France historically), or Mexico City (Mexico).
Name and describe the concentric zone model.
The concentric zone model divides a city into rings around the CBD: central business district, transition zone (industry/low-income housing), working-class residential, better residences, and commuter zone; it assumes expansion outward in rings.
: Define "infrastructure" and list three types.
Infrastructure = the physical and organizational structures needed for society to function. Examples: transportation (roads, transit), water and sewage systems, energy grids.
List three characteristics commonly used to define a city.
Examples: large population size, high population density, and specialized economic activities/infrastructure (transportation, services).
Give one example of a pull factor that encourages rural-to-urban migration.
Examples: better job opportunities, access to education, improved healthcare, or perceived higher standard of living.
Explain the rank‑size rule in plain language.
The rank‑size rule says a country's nth largest city has about 1/n the population of the largest city; e.g., the 2nd largest is about half, the 3rd about one-third.
Major difference between sector model and multiple nuclei model.
Sector model emphasizes wedges or sectors radiating from the CBD along transportation lines; multiple nuclei model says a city has several separate centers (nuclei) around which different activities cluster.
What is one-way cities can reduce GHG emissions from transportation.
Invest in frequent, affordable public transit and active-transport infrastructure (bike lanes, pedestrian zones) to reduce car use.
Name two common measures used to define metropolitan areas.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and urban agglomeration (or metropolitan area defined by contiguous built-up area and commuter patterns).
Describe how industrialization influenced urban growth in the 19th century.
Industrialization concentrated jobs in factories in urban areas, attracting rural workers; it stimulated development of housing, transportation, and services, causing rapid city population growth.
Given city populations, decide primate vs. rank‑size
Country with cities 1,000,000; 500,000; 333,000 — does this follow the rank‑size rule?
Yes — these approximate the rank‑size distribution (1, 1/2, 1/3 of the largest).
Given a simplified city map, identify CBD, low‑cost housing, and industrial parks (sample answer).
CBD at city center where roads/rail meet; low‑cost housing in inner‑city transition zone adjacent to industry; industrial parks near transportation corridors or outskirts with space for factories—justify by access and land cost.
Water scarcity + aging pipes — propose two infrastructure investments and trade-offs.
Investments: (1) Replace and modernize pipe networks to prevent leaks (trade-off: high upfront cost). (2) Implement water recycling and conservation programs (trade-off: behavioral change required and initial retrofitting costs).
Two policies to limit urban sprawl and one downside each.
(1) Urban growth boundaries — downside: can raise land and housing prices inside the boundary. (2) Compact, mixed‑use zoning and higher-density incentives — downside: local opposition and displacement risk without affordable-housing safeguards.
Map reasoning (short answer) — Given settlements near a major river, which is most likely to become a trade center and why?
The settlement at a confluence, natural harbor, or where transportation routes converge—because access for boats, cross-river trade, and connectivity attract merchants and markets.
Map‑based clue question — identify location of largest city from population density map (expected student reasoning).
The largest city is where the highest-density cluster appears, near transport hubs or coastal ports; clues: darkest density shading, radiating commuter patterns, major river mouth or coastline.
How did transportation innovations change urban land use? Give an example.
Streetcars and rail allowed outward residential growth (streetcar suburbs); highways enabled suburbanization and edge cities (example: U.S. post‑WWII Interstate construction led to suburban expansion).
From a municipal budget table, which supports sustainability most directly?
Investment in public transit or water treatment supports sustainability directly—public transit reduces emissions; water treatment protects ecosystems—justify with impacts on emissions, resource use, and resilience.
How zoning can protect neighborhoods and create inequities + mitigation.
Zoning can preserve residential character and prevent incompatible uses, but exclusionary zoning (large lot requirements) can limit affordable housing and reinforce segregation. Mitigation: inclusionary zoning, accessory dwelling units, and targeted affordable-housing programs.
One way globalization changed economic function of cities in past 50 years.
Cities shifted from manufacturing bases to service-oriented economies (finance, tech, creative industries), concentrating high-skilled jobs and international firms.
Two reasons for many medium cities vs. one very large city + examples.
Reasons: (1) Historical political/economic centralization produces a primate city (example: Paris in France). (2) Balanced regional development and good transportation fosters many medium-sized cities (example: United States or Germany with multiple regional centers).
Predict effects of a mixed‑use urban renewal project over 20 years.
Likely increases local property values, attracts businesses and residents (winners: developers, higher-income newcomers); may displace lower-income residents (losers) unless policies include affordable housing; increased walkability and transit use are possible benefits.
Evaluate pros/cons of densification.
Pros: reduces sprawl, supports transit, more efficient land use. Cons: can increase local housing prices and strain services; may change neighborhood character. Mitigation: require inclusionary zoning or expand affordable housing.