AP Human Geography - Unit 6 Review

Introduction

• Focus on Unit 6 of AP Human Geography.
• Concepts from the Course and Exam Description (CED) by College Board.
• The unit focuses on cities and urban land use.
• Emphasis on vocab and key concepts.

Urban Hearths

• Importance of site (absolute) and situation (relative) factors.
• Urban areas around trade routes, rivers, oceans, arable land.

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Transportation influences urbanization and city development.
• Changes in transportation and communication affect urbanization.

Mega Cities and Meta Cities

• Mega City: 10 million+ residents.
• Meta City: 20 million+ residents.
• Primarily in less economically developed areas.

Urban Decentralization

• Population shift from urban core to peripheral areas.
• Impact on resources, power, and voting.

Urban Sprawl

• Unrestricted and expansive growth.
• Often replaces arable land, causing environmental impact.

Land Use Terms

• Boomberb: Rapidly growing suburban area.
• Exerb: Settlement outside suburban area, lower density.
• Edge City: High business concentration, often by highways.
• World City: Major city with global influence (e.g., New York, Tokyo).

Primate City vs. Rank-Size Rule

• Primate City: Dominant city in size compared to others.
• Rank-Size Rule: Predicts city size distribution.

Interdependence and Linkages

• Mutual reliance between regions and sectors.
• Connections through trade, communication, and infrastructure.

Central Place Theory

• Consists of threshold (minimum population) and range (distance willing to travel).
• Urban hierarchy and spatial distribution.

Urban Models

• Concentric Zone Model: Zones radiating out from CBD.
• Hoyt Sector Model: Emphasizes transportation paths.
• Multiple Nuclei Model: Multiple centers for different activities.
• Galactic Model: Suburbanization with transport nodes.
• Latin American City Model: Influence of colonialism.
• African City Model: Influence of colonial CBDs and ethnic division.
• Southeast Asian City Model: Influence of port-based trade.

Density Gradient and Bid Rent Theory

• Higher densities near urban core, decrease further out.
• Bid Rent: Land cost decreases further from the center.

Urban Sustainability

• Balance economic, social, and environmental needs.
• Zoning: Controls how land is used (residential, commercial, etc.).
• Inclusionary Zoning: Incentivizes affordable housing.
• Green Belts: Non-developed land around cities for conservation.

Challenges and Responses

• Urban Sprawl: Solutions like infilling and growth boundaries.
• Environmental Injustice: Unequal distribution of environmental hazards.
• De Facto Segregation: Segregation not enforced by law.
• Gentrification: Wealthier people moving in, displacing lower-income groups.

Summary

• The unit covers a wide range of topics focusing on the development, structure, and issues related to urban areas.
• Understanding urban models and theories is crucial for the AP exam.
• Students should be aware of the spatial distribution and urban planning concepts discussed in this unit.