1. Urban Geography

2. What is it? The study of how people use space in cities. What is where? How are things arranged in relation to each other? Cities A city isn’t just a descriptive definition (it’s big with a lot of people), it’s a functional one. That is, it’s defined by what it does, not just by what it is. It’s the center of business and culture in a given area The hub around which regional life revolves. What’s the hub that you live around?

6. Elements Suburbs Sub-urban Touch the central city or touch other suburbs that touch the central city Differing levels of development – some residential, some commercial, some industrial What are examples of each of these around Houston?

7. Exurbs Smaller units farther away from the main city The city, the suburbs and the exurbs make up the metropolitan area.

8. Where do cities tend to develop? Why there? What factors spur urban development in certain places? Here are a few: Water access Dry area Easy access to building materials Defensive position Fuel supply Food supply Travel intersections or bridge points Sheltered areas

9. Land-Use Patterns How is the land used and for what? Residential Where people live/dwell – their homes. Industrial Where things are made, stored, or shipped What sort of examples can you think of? Commercial Private businesses and retail Examples?

10. Central Business District The locus of commercial activity in the city. Expensive real estate

11. Which model do you think Houston has?