The characteristics if Urban places Flashcards
What are urban places?
Settlements that include villages, towns, and cities with high density of buildings and various activities.
Urban places have diverse functions such as residential, commercial, and industrial activities.
What is the hierarchy of settlement?
An order of settlement by type that shows the importance of functions and their frequency.
Settlements can be classified based on population size or political/religious importance.
Define ‘function’ in the context of urban places.
The dominant industry activity or use of a building, such as a bank or restaurant.
Function can refer to either the overall activity of a settlement or specific buildings.
What does ‘land use’ refer to?
The dominant pattern of use for an area or district of a settlement, such as commercial or residential zones.
Land use can also be synonymous with the function of buildings.
What is a megacity?
A city with a population larger than 10 million.
Megacities often face unique challenges due to their rapid growth.
What is meant by ‘site’?
The physical and human characteristics of a location, applicable to an entire settlement or specific functions.
Site factors historically explain the location of settlements.
Define ‘situation’ in urban geography.
The location of a settlement in relation to important physical features, communication routes, and other settlements.
Situation helps to locate a settlement within a regional context.
What is the ‘sphere of influence’?
The area surrounding a function or settlement from which people would travel to use or visit it.
It indicates the reach of a settlement’s services.
What does ‘spontaneous settlements’ refer to?
Unplanned urban growth where people build informal houses and slums.
These often occur on the outskirts of cities.
What is urbanization?
The movement of people to a town or city.
Urbanization is often driven by economic opportunities.
Define ‘urban sprawl’.
The outward growth of a settlement.
Urban sprawl can lead to increased connectivity along transport routes.
What is the relationship between population growth and urban growth?
Urban growth generally occurs as a direct result of a growing population and economic activity.
Larger towns attract more people and businesses, leading to outward growth.
What is Christaller’s Central Place Theory?
A theory that shows how urban places grow in importance due to centrality and connectivity to surrounding areas.
It explains the dominance of certain urban places over smaller towns.
What does the Vance Model emphasize?
The importance of transport for mercantile trade and how it affects the growth of urban places.
It links to Central Place Theory by showing how transport connections can elevate a town’s status.
Fill in the blank: A _______ is a city with a population size of over 10 million.
megacity
True or False: The site of a settlement only refers to its physical characteristics.
False
Site characteristics today also include social, economic, and political factors.
List the types of settlement sites.
- Defensive
- Hill-foot
- Gap
- Wet point
- Dry point
- Route centre
- Bridging point
Each type has its own strategic advantages.
