AP Human Geography Unit 6 Cheatsheet: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes

Site vs. Situation

• Site: Physical characteristics (water, elevation, resources)
• Situation: Location relative to other places (trade routes, markets)

Key Drivers of Urbanization

• Transportation & communication improvements
• Population growth & migration
• Economic development & industrialization
• Government policies & investment

Suburbanization & Sprawl

• Movement of people/jobs from city center outward
• Creates edge cities, exurbs, boomburbs
• Results from transportation access, housing costs, lifestyle preferences

Low-Density Residential

• Single-family homes, large lots, suburban/exurban
• Requires car dependence, infrastructure spread
• Reflects wealth, space availability, cultural preference

Medium-Density Residential

• Townhouses, small apartment buildings, mixed neighborhoods
• Moderate walkability, some transit access

High-Density Residential

• Apartment towers, condos, urban cores
• Walkable, transit-oriented, efficient land use

Infilling & Redevelopment

• Filling vacant urban land with new construction
• Reflects cycles of disinvestment & reinvestment
• Shaped by technology, culture, economic cycles

Key Initiatives

• Mixed-use development: Residential, retail, office in one area
• Walkability: Pedestrian-friendly streets, reduced car dependence
• Transit-oriented development (TOD): Dense housing near transit
• New Urbanism: Human-scale, diverse neighborhoods
• Greenbelts: Protected open space around cities
• Slow-growth policies: Limit sprawl, preserve character

Benefits

• Reduced sprawl & ecological footprint
• Improved walkability, transit, housing diversity
• Enhanced livability & sustainability

Criticisms

• Increased housing costs, gentrification risk
• Possible de facto segregation (affordability barriers)
• Loss of historical character or local identity