Urban PatternsAP Human Geography

Urban Geography

Urban refers to highly developed areas where businesses, people, and industry cluster.

Not limited to big cities….also includes sub-urban areas.

Where are people and activities distributed in urban areas?

What patterns develop in urban areas?

Central Business District (CBD)

Aka “Downtown”

Less than 1% of land area

High % of services, public institutions

High accessibility

Focal point of transportation

Who locates in the CBD?

Retailers w/ high threshold

Ex. Department stores

Now replaced by malls

Retailers w/ high range

Specialists, unique shops

Retailers serving downtown workers

Office supplies, coffee shops, dry cleaning, fast food restaurants

Characteristics of the CBD

Large public buildings such as libraries, churches, stations and town halls.

Specialty shops and branches of major department stores.

Movie theatres, clubs and theatres.

Very little housing, but often hotels.

Little or no industry.

Offices and other professional buildings.

High pedestrian levels and the greatest parking restrictions.

Geographical center of the settlement.

Area with the highest land value.

Well connected by public transport, with large numbers of passengers.

High traffic levels.

Chicago

Downtown Traffic

Road and Rail In Chicago

Where is the CBD?

Chicago at Night

Land Use in CBD’s

Land is expensive in CBD’s

Tokyo, London, NYC

High cost of land forces vertical and underground expansion

Skyscrapers

Underground cities

Worlds Most Expensive Land

Cost of Land per square meter 1. Monte Carlo, Monaco –

$47,5782. Moscow, Russia – $20,8533. London, England – $20,7564. Tokyo, Japan – $17,9985. Hong Kong – $16,1256. New York, USA – $14,8987. Paris, France – $12,1228. Singapore – $9,7019. Rome, Italy – $9,16610. Mumbai, India – $9,163

Land in LDC’s might be closer to $3-15 per square meter

Rural land is cheaper than urban land

Not Found in CBD’s

Industry

Have relocated to suburban areas

Old industrial areas (harbors/ piers) are now tourist attractions

Ex. Navy Pier

Residents

Fluctuation: originally rich mansions and crowded apts., then suburbs, now “empty nesters” return in search of nightlife, entertainment, etc.

Skyscrapers

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Underground Tunnel System in Montrea

Urban Models

3 models, all developed in Chicago

Why Chicago?

Flat (prairie)

Few physical features that interrupt growth (except Lake Michigan)

Predict how cities will develop

Where will different groups of people live in urban areas?

Concentric Zone Model

E.W. Burgess

City grows outward in a series of rings

5 Rings

1. CBD

2. Transition (industry/ poor housing)

3. Working class

4. Better homes

5. Commuters/ suburbs

Concentric Zone Model

Burgess’ Concentric Zone Model

Sector Model

Homer Hoyt

City develops in sectors (sections/ wedges) not rings.

Industry and retail develop along transportation lines

Sector Model

Multiple Nuclei Model

Harris and Ulmann

Multiple nodes (centers) around which activities revolve.

Certain activities choose to locate in certain nodes.

Ex.

Bookstores and bars near college campus

Hotels and warehouses near airport

Multiple Nuclei Model

Dallas TX (Concentric and Sector)

Latin American Model

Wealthiest residents live in CBD and long a commercial spine.

CBD features a market and town square, left over from colonial days.

Sub-Saharan African Model

DeBlij

3 CBD’s

Colonial (vertical)

Traditional (single story shops)

Market Area (open air market)

Satellite townships on the edge.

Informal Settlements

Squatter settlements, favelas (Brazil), townships (Africa), slums, etc.

175 million world wide

Large numbers of people migrate to cities rapidly; cities cannot keep up with growth.

Poorly constructed houses.

Lack basic services: schools, water, electricity, paved roads, sewers.

Mumbai, India

Brazil

Soweto, South Africa