Distribution in Human Distribution in Human GeographyGeography

Objective: Describe how the concept of distribution is used to analyze population patterns

Distribution has to do with Distribution has to do with arrangement.arrangement.

Three kinds of distribution:Three kinds of distribution:

•DensityDensity – frequency – frequency

•ConcentrationConcentration – spread, clustered or – spread, clustered or dispersed?dispersed?

•PatternPattern - Is there one? - Is there one?

Arithmetic density:Arithmetic density:

•people per square mile people per square mile (P/A or population / area)(P/A or population / area)

A large population is not A large population is not always the densest. always the densest.

Think: China. A smaller Think: China. A smaller population could be much population could be much more dense. (Bangladesh)more dense. (Bangladesh)

Physiological DensityPhysiological Density

•Number of people per arable land; Number of people per arable land; this may explain whether a country this may explain whether a country

has enough foodhas enough food

Agricultural densityAgricultural density

•Number of farmers per Number of farmers per arable land; this shows up in arable land; this shows up in

standard of livingstandard of living

Agricultural density

ConcentrationConcentration

ClusteredClustered DispersedDispersed

Concentration is not the Concentration is not the same as density:same as density:

•Concentration focuses on Concentration focuses on changeschanges in distributionin distribution•The U.S. population has shifted from The U.S. population has shifted from the Northeast to be more evenly the Northeast to be more evenly dispersed across the country.dispersed across the country.

PatternsPatterns

Geographers Geographers look for look for linear and linear and geometric geometric patterns.patterns.

Common city grid pattern

Can you see a distribution pattern?Can you see a distribution pattern?

How is what we learned like . . .

Arithmetic density, Agricultural density, physiological density, clustered, dispersed, patterns