UNIT 2: Chapter Three - 2.1 & 2.2, Pages 55-63 Flashcards
Population Distribution
The pattern of human settlement (the spread of people across the earth)
Population Density
A measure of the average population per square mile or kilometer of an area (measures how crowded a place is)
Physical factors that influence where people live (5)
Climate/Weather, Soil, Water, Landforms, Resources/Food
Human factors that influence where people live (4)
Economic, Cultural, Historical, and Political
The scale of analysis and physical factors
The basic principle that people want to live on the most desirable land applies at any scale, or level of analysis by size.
The scale of analysis and human factors
Factors influencing a city’s population distribution such as elevation, proximity to desirable land, and land use laws commonly result in a population distribution that reflects social stratification
Social Stratification
The hierarchical division of people into groups based on factors such as economic status, power, and/or ethnicity.
Arithmetic Population Density
Most commonly used, calculated by dividing a region’s population by its total area, says little about population distribution.
Physiological Population Density
Calculated by dividing population by the amount of arable land, much more useful than arithmetic density to determine a region’s carrying capacity.
Arable
Land suitable for growing crops
Agricultural Population Density
Compares the number of farmers to the area of arable land. Gives an indication of the efficiency of the region’s farmers.
Redistricting
Boundary adjustments because urban areas are increasing in population while rural populations are shrinking. (Usually result in physically smaller urban districts and larger rural districts)
Infrastructure
Refers to the facilities and structures that allows people to carry out their typical activities.
Overpopulation
Having more people that it can support
Carrying Capacity
The number of people a region can support without damaging the environment
