Definitions and facts Flashcards
Millionaire Cities Figures
- 1950 = 75 millionaire cities in the world
- 2012 = 476 millionaire cities in the world
Millionaire Cities Definition
Those which have more than 1 million people
Mega Cities Definition
Those with more than 10 million people. The population density is usually over 2000 people/km2
Mega Cities Figures
- 1950 = 2 mega cities (New York and Tokyo)
- 2014 = 22 mega cities
- Tokyo = most populated mega city - over 30 million people
World Cities Definition
Those which have a great influence on a global scale due to their financial status and worldwide commercial power
World Cities Figures
London and New York are considered the most important world cities and both have alpha ++ ratings
Where do Millionaire/Mega Cities tend to be found?
Tend to be found in less developed/industrialising countries
Sub-world Cities Definition
National capital and specialised cities, below world cities (e.g. Milan and Manchester)
Urbanisation Definition
The process where an increasing proportion of the population lives in towns/cities (reduction living in rural areas)
Urban Area Definition
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
Urban Area Figures
- Asia has the most people living in urban areas - 1.5 billion
- over 50% of total population live in urban areas
Urban Sprawl
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)
Urbanisation Causes
- Economic opportunities provided - jobs = money and wealth
- social facilities
- health facilities
- mechanisation (putting rural people out of work)
Urbanisation Pull Factors
- 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)
Urbanisation Push Factors
- agriculture problems
- natural disasters (earthquakes, storms, floods)
- health problems
Urbanisation Environmental Impacts
- 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
Sub-Urbanisation Definition
The movement of people from the city centre to lower density housing on the outskirts of a city/rural urban fringe
Sub-Urbanisation Pull Factors
- more space in suburbs (gardens etc)
- perception if being closer to nature
- lower price if land/housing
- increased job opportunities
Sub-Urbanisation Push Factors
- overcrowded/high population density
- pollution
- traffic/congestion
- perception of lower quality if life
- high house prices (due to high demand)
Sub-Urbanisation Demographic Changes
- ageing population
- rural depopulation
- suburbanisation and second homes (people have more disposable income)
Sub-Urbanisation Economic Changes
- 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
Sub-Urbanisation Technological Changes
- increased accessibility
- more work done at home (due to internet, express delivery etc)
Sub-Urbanisation Social Changes
- more professional middle classes
- fewer farm workers
- more retired people
Sub-Urbanisation Cultural Changes
- media changing people’s perceptions therefore decline in rural traditions
- introduction in middle class culture therefore more environmental lobbying
Sub-Urbanisation LEDC/MEDC
- 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
Counter-Urbanisation Definition
The process in which people move out and beyond the rural-urban fringe into areas that are truly rural (opposite of urbanisation)
Counter-Urbanisation Push Factors
- 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)
Counter-Urbanisation Pull Factors
- 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
The New Towns Act (1946)
- 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
Counter-Urbanisation Effects (Positives)
- 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
Counter- Urbanisation Effects (Negatives)
- 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
