Definitions and facts

Question 0

Millionaire Cities Figures

Answer 0

• 1950 = 75 millionaire cities in the world

- 2012 = 476 millionaire cities in the world

Question 1

Millionaire Cities Definition

Answer 1

Those which have more than 1 million people

Question 2

Mega Cities Definition

Answer 2

Those with more than 10 million people. The population density is usually over 2000 people/km2

Question 3

Mega Cities Figures

Answer 3

• 1950 = 2 mega cities (New York and Tokyo)
• 2014 = 22 mega cities
• Tokyo = most populated mega city - over 30 million people

Question 4

World Cities Definition

Answer 4

Those which have a great influence on a global scale due to their financial status and worldwide commercial power

Question 5

World Cities Figures

Answer 5

London and New York are considered the most important world cities and both have alpha ++ ratings

Question 6

Where do Millionaire/Mega Cities tend to be found?

Answer 6

Tend to be found in less developed/industrialising countries

Question 7

Sub-world Cities Definition

Answer 7

National capital and specialised cities, below world cities (e.g. Milan and Manchester)

Question 8

Urbanisation Definition

Answer 8

The process where an increasing proportion of the population lives in towns/cities (reduction living in rural areas)

Question 9

Urban Area Definition

Answer 9

A built up area such as a town or city. An urban area will change depending on what a country thinks an urban area is

Question 10

Urban Area Figures

Answer 10

• Asia has the most people living in urban areas - 1.5 billion
• over 50% of total population live in urban areas

Question 11

Urban Sprawl

Answer 11

Later stage of urbanisation. After a city has grown vertically/filled to a certain density, it begins to grow horizontally/spills out its borders into typically low density areas - eventually extends to a sizeable area around the city (e.g. LA)

Question 12

Urbanisation Causes

Answer 12

• Economic opportunities provided - jobs = money and wealth
• social facilities
• health facilities
• mechanisation (putting rural people out of work)

Question 13

Urbanisation Pull Factors

Answer 13

• better jobs/employment
• urban seen as attractive/rural seen as unattractive (see better quality of life in urban areas)
• more facilities (e.g. education, health care and entertainment)

Question 14

Urbanisation Push Factors

Answer 14

• agriculture problems
• natural disasters (earthquakes, storms, floods)
• health problems

Question 15

Urbanisation Environmental Impacts

Answer 15

• air pollution (leads to health problems) - blankets if smog over cities
• ‘heat islands’ - concrete/paving = increased temperatures by about 10c
• water issues
• destruction of habitats

Question 16

Sub-Urbanisation Definition

Answer 16

The movement of people from the city centre to lower density housing on the outskirts of a city/rural urban fringe

Question 17

Sub-Urbanisation Pull Factors

Answer 17

• more space in suburbs (gardens etc)
• perception if being closer to nature
• lower price if land/housing
• increased job opportunities

Question 18

Sub-Urbanisation Push Factors

Answer 18

• overcrowded/high population density
• pollution
• traffic/congestion
• perception of lower quality if life
• high house prices (due to high demand)

Question 19

Sub-Urbanisation Demographic Changes

Answer 19

• ageing population
• rural depopulation
• suburbanisation and second homes (people have more disposable income)

Question 20

Sub-Urbanisation Economic Changes

Answer 20

• primary sector changes - declined traditional farming/increased hobby farming/more non-agricultural land use
• tertiary sector changes - increased influence of tourism/decline in number of services

Question 21

Sub-Urbanisation Technological Changes

Answer 21

• increased accessibility

- more work done at home (due to internet, express delivery etc)

Question 22

Sub-Urbanisation Social Changes

Answer 22

• more professional middle classes
• fewer farm workers
• more retired people

Question 23

Sub-Urbanisation Cultural Changes

Answer 23

• media changing people’s perceptions therefore decline in rural traditions
• introduction in middle class culture therefore more environmental lobbying

Question 24

Sub-Urbanisation LEDC/MEDC

Answer 24

• sub-urbanisation mainly found in MEDC’s (USA has highest percentage)
• sub-urbanisation is very advanced in the UK
• some LEDC’s witnessed sub-urbanisation

Question 25

Counter-Urbanisation Definition

Answer 25

The process in which people move out and beyond the rural-urban fringe into areas that are truly rural (opposite of urbanisation)

Question 26

Counter-Urbanisation Push Factors

Answer 26

• loss/lack in inner city jobs (e.g. Newcastle = collapse of heavy industry/ship building jobs = inner city declined)
• perceived as a lower quality of life
• poor quality housing (cramped - flats and terraced housing, no gardens etc)
• increased crime rates (in blocks of flats etc)

Question 27

Counter-Urbanisation Pull Factors

Answer 27

• larger houses, gardens, many detached houses = less cramped
• seen as better quality of life
• lower crime rates
• businesses, shopping centres, supermarkets etc followed = facilities still available
• people can work from home - internet, express delivery etc

Question 28

The New Towns Act (1946)

Answer 28

• law passed after WW2 to try and repair/rebuild urban communities
• authorised the building of new towns
• 1946-1970 = 21 new towns built
• example = Milton Keynes acted as an overspill for London

Question 30

Counter-Urbanisation Effects (Positives)

Answer 30

• improvement in public services (e.g. schools, doctors etc)

- improvement/opening of other new facilities (e.g. Restaurants, B&Bs etc) which can benefit locals

Question 31

Counter- Urbanisation Effects (Negatives)

Answer 31

• deterioration of the city
• rural towns/villages become sub-urbanised = loose some of their original charm
• increased house prices due to higher wages = young families can’t afford properties
• supermarkets/large businesses might put small local businesses out of work (competition)
• decline in public transport = problem for the elderly - increased car ownership = congestion/noise