URBANIZATION Process by which an increasing proportion of population lives in cities. Metropolis -- large cities that exert influence over a region. Megalopolis -- overlapping area consisting of at least two large cities and their suburbs. Suburbs-- urban areas beyond the political boundaries of the city.

What are the problems confronting urban areas? Urban renewal (gentrification) -- refurbishing of old buildings to put them to new use. Read about what metropolitan statistical and consolidated metropolitan areas are.

Experiencing the City Ferdinand Toennies Gemeinschaft -- people are bound closely together by kinship and tradition. Gesellschaft -- people have weak social ties and are self interested.

Emile Durkheim Mechanical solidarity -- social bonds based on collective conformity to tradition. Organic solidarity -- social bonds based on interdependence. Urban Ecology link between physical and social dimension of cities.

Urbanization in Poor Countries. Contain most of the world largest cities. Cities have a tough time supporting the growing urban populations. Why are people moving to cities? What are the problems of urbanization in poor countries?