1. Chapter 4, Section 4
Urban Geography

2. Urban Geography 4.4
The study of how people use space in cities is called urban geography
Cities are centers of business and culture
They serve as the birthplace of innovation and change
Urban lifestyles are different from those of towns, villages and rural areas
An urban area develops around a central city
A built up area in the surrounding area of the main city is called a suburb
If it has open land separating from the city it is called an exurb
All these areas together form what is called a metropolitan area
A megalopolis is formed when several metropolitan areas grow together
The dramatic rise in the number of cities and the number of people living in cities since the Industrial Revolution is called urbanization

3. City Location
Many cities are found in locations that allow good transportation: river valleys, lakes, coastlines
Cities may grow close to resources
Sacramento grew from a gold discovery
Cities are often places were goods are shifted from one form of transportation to another
Along the Fall Line at the Piedmont
Chicago lies where railroads meet a lake
Cities may benefit from specific functions
Pittsburgh: Steel
Brasilia: Government
San Diego: Navy port
Knoxville: University

4. Basic land use patterns found in cities are
Residential: single- and multi-family housing
Industrial: factories and assembly plants
Commercial: used for private business and selling of retail products
The core of the city is almost always based on commercial activity and is called the central business district (CBD)
Generally, the further away from the CBD you are the lower the value of the land

5. The city is the center of many functions
Government
Commercial offices and shopping
Education, culture and entertainment
Warehousing and manufacturing
Residential
Transportation systems can give geographers clues to the distribution of functions