URBANIZATION

Urban geography is the study of urban areas. Urban areas have a high concentration of buildings and infrastructure. These are areas where the majority of economic activities are in the secondary sector and tertiary sectors. They often have a high population density.

URBANIZATION Urbanization – Growth and diffusion of city landscapes and urban lifestyles. (rural  urban) Urban areas provide; Protection Services & products (marketplace) Employment Cultural Features (Landmarks, Food) Educational Opportunities Transportation/Communication Hub Urban areas first developed when people stopped hunting and gathering, and became sedentary rather than nomadic.

Urbanization in the World's More Developed and Less Developed Societies

Emerging city – urban areas that are experiencing population growth as well as increasing their economic and political power throughout their region. – Shanghai, China – Hanoi, Vietnam – Bangkok, Thailand – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Dubai, U.A.E. – Singapore, Singapore – Mumbai, India – Jakarta, Indonesia

Gateway city – urban areas that connect two or more areas and serve as a gateway among them. – Boston – New York City – San Francisco – St. Louis – Miami – Toronto – Vancouver – Mumbai – Sydney – Istanbul – Cape Town – Hong Kong – Amsterdam – Barcelona – Dublin

GLOBAL CITIES A Global city (or world city) is a city deemed to be an important nodal point in the global economic system 2008 U.N. study – business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, & political engagement. 1New York City 2London 3Tokyo 4Paris 5Hong Kong 6Los Angeles 7Singapore 8Chicago 9Seoul 10Toronto

URBAN HIERARCHIES Hamlet – may only include a few dozen people and offer very limited services. The people in the hamlet are clustered around an urban center – which may consist only of a gas station or general store. Village – larger than hamlets and offer more services. Instead of just a general store, there may be stores specializing in the sale of food, clothing, furniture, etc.

URBAN HIERARCHIES Town – may consist of 50 to a few thousand people. The meaning of a town varies from State to State & Nation to Nation. City – Large, densely populated areas that may include tens of thousands of people. Large industrialized cities generally have advanced systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, housing, transportation, etc…

URBAN HIERARCHIES Metropolis – large city, large populations incorporating large areas. US Government states that a metropolis must have over 50,000 people.

URBAN HIERARCHIES Megalopolis – an area consisting of several metropolitan areas linked together that forms one huge urban area. Canada – Mainstreet Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, & Quebec City USA – Bosnywash Boston, Mass. Providence, R.I. Hartford, Conn. NYC Newark, NJ Philadelphia, PA Dover, DE Baltimore, MD Washington DC.

USA –ChiPitts Green Bay, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Buffalo USA –San San San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Jose, Sacramento, Napa, Freemont, Oakland, San Francisco

Europe – Blue Banana Dublin, Lon-Leeds-Chester, Paris, Flemish Diamond, Randstad, Rhine-Ruhr, Frankfurt, Munich, Basel, Zurich, Milan, Torino Japan – Tokaido corridor (Taiheiyo Belt) (Pacific Belt) Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi

Australia – The Boomerang Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane Brazil – Golden Triangle Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte

Why Do Services Cluster Downtown? CBD land uses – Central business districts (CBDs) – Retail services in the CBD Retailers with a high threshold Retailers with a high range Retailers serving downtown workers – Business services in the CBD

CBD of Charlotte, NC Figure 13-1

Why Do Services Cluster Downtown? Competition for land in the CBD – High land costs Some of the most expensive real estate in the world = Tokyo Intensive land use – Underground areas Skyscrapers – “Vertical geography”

Why Do Services Cluster Downtown? Activities excluded from the CBD – Lack of industry in the CBD Modern factories require large, one-story parcels of land – Lack of residents in the CBD Push and pull factors involved CBDs outside North America – Less dominated by commercial considerations.