Urban Geography What is a city?
How do we define a City? Population, Economic Function, Political Organization, Urban Culture Does population alone make up a city? Does density have anything to do with it?
Population United States definition= 2500 Japan’s definition= 30,000 What is the problem with population alone as a definition ?
Economic Function & Political Organization An urban settlement that has been legally incorporated into an independent self governing unit Fixed boundaries, elected officials, taxes, ability to provided essential services
Urban Culture Urban vs. Rural (city slickers vs. country rubes) Are people in cities more cultured? Mass media has blurred that line Social differences: Large size Large size High density High density Social Heterogeneity Social Heterogeneity
Origins of the city Since the earliest origins, cities have been centers of education, religion, commerce, record keeping, communication, and political power. People moved to cities for employment, protection, and to be apart of civilization
City Landscape Macro- symbolic nature of the city cathedrals, monuments, bridges, skyscrapers, parks, sport stadiums etc… Micro- the nooks and crannies of the city. Street layout (grid and curved street patterns). Front porches, street signs, store fronts.
Urbanization The process by which a city grows The two dimensions of urbanization 1) Increase in the number of people living in the city 2) Increase in the percentage of people living in the city
Urbanization 1800 only 3% OF The World’s population lived in cities London the only city over 1 million citizens 2000 almost half of the World’s population inhabit cities 400 cities with at least 1 million
MDCs vs. LDCs More developed countries have a higher percentage of urban residents Less developed countries have more of the larger Urban areas
Cities with 10 million
Central City A city that is surrounded by suburbs Central City and Suburbs is call urbanized area 60% of the United States live in an urbanized area
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) The functional area of a City MSA includes 1) A central city of at least 50,000 2) The county within which the city is located 3) Adjacent counties with high population density, and a large percentage of residents work in the central city
Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) Two adjacent MSAs with overlapping commuting patterns,1 million in population or more, and has separate component areas CMSA Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and Weld.
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSA) With in a CMSA an MSA that exceeds 1 million may be classified as a PMSA Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson
Distribution of People within Urban Areas Three models of urban Structure 1) Concentric Zone Model 2) Sector Model 3) Multiple Nuclei Model
Concentric Zone Model Created by E.W. Burgess (1923) City grows outward like the growth rings of a tree
Sector Model Developed by Homer Hoyt (1939) As a city grows in wedges out, certain areas are more attractive of different activities
Multiple Nuclei Model C.D. Harris & E.L. Ullman (1945) A city includes multiple structures in which activity revolves