Post on 14-Jan-2016
Urban Geography
Where are cities located and why?
Although The U.S. and Europe have a higher percentage of urbandwellers, India and China both have higher numbers of urbandwellers.
Settlement Factors: Topography
• Orientation and shelter
Settlement Factors: Topography
• A river crossing
Settlement Factors:Topography
The floor of a river valley.
Settlement Factors:Topography
• Machu Pichu—symbolic significance
Site Factors for Settlements: Key resources
• Mining towns
Site Factors for Settlements:Key resources
Water and energy supply
Site Factors for SettlementsKey resources
The Fall Line—Important resource sites
Jackson, MS
Montgomery, AL
Atlanta GA
Columbia SC
Raleigh NC
Richmond VA
Washington D.C.
Baltimore MDPhiladelphia PA
Trenton NJ
Site Factors for Settlements:Key resources
• Outside of a river’s meander
Site Factors for Settlements:Key resources
At a desert oasis
Site Factors for Settlements:Trade Routes
• At a crossroads
Site Factors for Settlements:Trade Routes
Site Factors for Settlements:Defense
A hilltop city
Site Factors for Settlements:Defense
New Orleans—The “Crescent City”
Walter Christaller Location Theory
The nested hexagons show urban areas with their surrounding market area (hinterland). Hinterland is the surrounding area served by an urban center
Walter Christaller Location Theory
A hamlet provides some basic services to the people living there and those nearby.
Walter Christaller Location TheoryA village is likely to
offer several dozen services. There will be some specialization.
Walter Christaller Location TheoryA town is larger
than a village and has a higher level of specialization.
Walter Christaller Location TheoryA city has more
specialization and a larger hinterland than a town..
A ciy has suburbs while a town has outskirts
Walter Christaller Location Theory
An urban hierarchy is a ranking of settlements according to their size and functions.
Where do you see
Christaller’s Location
theory work?
How are cities organized?
Traditional models of urban structure:
How are cities organized?
The Concentric Zone Model reflects the walking-horsecar era--early 20th century.
How are cities organized?
The Sector Model reflects the influence of transportation corridors.
How are cities organized?
The Multiple Nuclei Model reflects the influence of the automobile on suburbanization.
Present-day United States metropolitan area.
The Galactic City