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Unit 6

6.2 Cities Across the World

7 min read•january 12, 2023

Harrison Burnside

Riya Patel

AP Human Geography 🚜

320 resources

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What you should know:

Megacities vs. Meta cities, Different Types of Statistical Areas, Processes of Suburbanization

What is Urbanization?

When we define urban, we are talking about a built-up city or town and its surrounding environment. An urban area consists of a central city and its surrounding built-up suburbs, with at least 50,000 people. An urban cluster is an urban environment with around 2,500-50,000 people. Thus, urbanization refers to population shifts from rural to urban areas and people’s adaptation to these changes.

Mega + Meta Cities

Mega cities are urban areas with a population of over 10 million people. They are characterized by their size, complexity, and diversity, and are often centers of economic, political, and cultural activity.

One example of a mega city is Tokyo, Japan, which is the most populous city in the world with a population of over 37 million people. Tokyo is a major economic, political, and cultural center, and is home to many Fortune 500 companies and several universities. It is also a major transportation hub, with a comprehensive network of roads, railways, and airports. Tokyo is known for its high levels of population density, with over 6,000 people per square kilometer, and for its diversity, with a large immigrant population and a mix of modern and traditional cultures.

Here are a few more examples of mega cities:

New York City, United States: New York City is the most populous city in the United States, with a population of over 8 million people. It is a major global financial and cultural center, and is home to many world-renowned institutions, such as the United Nations and the New York Stock Exchange.
Mumbai, India: Mumbai is the most populous city in India, with a population of over 20 million people. It is a major financial and cultural center, and is home to many Fortune 500 companies and several universities.
São Paulo, Brazil: São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, with a population of over 21 million people. It is a major economic and cultural center, and is home to many international companies and several universities.
Mexico City, Mexico: Mexico City is the most populous city in Mexico, with a population of over 21 million people. It is a major economic and cultural center, and is home to many international companies and several universities.
Shanghai, China: Shanghai is the most populous city in China, with a population of over 24 million people. It is a major economic and cultural center, and is home to many Fortune 500 companies and several universities.

Meta cities, also known as "global cities" or "world cities," are urban centers that are major players in the global economy and are connected to a network of other global cities through economic, cultural, and political linkages. Meta cities are often centers of innovation and creativity, and they often have a significant influence on global trends and issues.

One example of a meta city is London, United Kingdom, which is a major global financial, cultural, and political center. London is home to many international institutions, such as the Bank of England and the British Museum, and is a leading center for industries such as finance, media, and creative arts. London is also a major transportation hub, with a comprehensive network of roads, railways, and airports, and is a gateway to the rest of Europe. The city is known for its diversity, with a large immigrant population and a mix of modern and traditional cultures.

Here are a few more examples of meta cities:

Paris, France: Paris is a major global financial and cultural center, and is home to many international institutions, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Louvre Museum. Paris is a leading center for industries such as fashion, luxury goods, and tourism, and is a major transportation hub with a comprehensive network of roads, railways, and airports.
Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong is a major global financial and transportation hub, and is a gateway to the rest of Asia. It is a leading center for industries such as finance, trade, and logistics, and is home to many international companies and institutions.
Singapore: Singapore is a small city-state in Southeast Asia that is a major global financial and transportation hub. It is a leading center for industries such as finance, trade, and logistics, and is home to many international companies and institutions.
New York City, United States: New York City is a major global financial and cultural center, and is home to many international institutions, such as the United Nations and the New York Stock Exchange. It is a leading center for industries such as finance, media, and creative arts, and is a major transportation hub with a comprehensive network of roads, railways, and airports.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai is a major global financial and transportation hub, and is a leading center for industries such as finance, trade, and tourism. It is home to many international companies and institutions, and is a gateway to the rest of the Middle East.

Both mega cities and meta cities are often characterized by high levels of population density, diversity, and economic activity. They can also be vulnerable to environmental, social, and economic challenges, such as pollution, inequality, and the negative impacts of globalization.

Source: World Atlas

Processes of Suburbanization and Urban Sprawl

Suburbanization refers to the process of population growth and development in suburban areas, which are typically located on the outskirts of urban centers. Urban sprawl refers to the spread of low-density, car-dependent development over a wide area, often resulting in the conversion of farmland and natural areas into suburban developments.

There are several factors that contribute to suburbanization and urban sprawl, including:

Population growth: As urban centers experience population growth, there is often a demand for additional housing and development in the surrounding suburbs.
Changes in transportation: The development of the automobile and the expansion of roads and highways have made it easier for people to live in suburbs and commute to work in urban centers.
Changes in land use policies: Governments can influence suburbanization and urban sprawl through land use policies that encourage or discourage certain types of development.
Economic factors: The availability of affordable land and housing in suburban areas can be attractive to people and businesses, leading to suburbanization and urban sprawl.

Suburbanization and urban sprawl can have both positive and negative impacts on communities. On the one hand, suburbanization can provide people with larger homes and yards, and can offer a sense of community and a more rural lifestyle. On the other hand, urban sprawl can lead to the loss of natural and agricultural lands, and can contribute to air and water pollution, traffic congestion, and the decline of urban centers.

Garden-City Movement

As detached single-family homes began to arise in the outskirts of cities, a new method of urban planning was created, called the garden-city movement.

The Garden-City movement was a social and urban planning movement that emerged in the late 19th century. It was founded by the British urban planner Ebenezer Howard, who argued that urbanization was creating unhealthy and overcrowded cities and that a new type of community was needed to provide a healthier and more balanced way of life.

The Garden-City movement advocated for the creation of self-contained, planned communities that combined the best features of the city and the countryside. These communities, which Howard called "garden cities," were designed to be large enough to support a range of amenities and services, but small enough to be walkable and to preserve open space.

The key principles of the Garden-City movement were:

Limited population: Garden cities were designed to have a population of around 30,000 to 50,000 people, which Howard believed was the optimal size for a balanced and healthy community.
Mixed land use: Garden cities were designed to mix residential, commercial, and industrial land uses in a way that was convenient and efficient.
Green belts: Garden cities were surrounded by green belts, which were areas of open space that protected the community from the negative impacts of urbanization and provided recreational and amenity value.
Radial layout: Garden cities were designed with a radial layout, with the central business district located at the center and residential neighborhoods radiating outward.

The Garden-City movement had a significant influence on urban planning and the development of suburbs around the world. It is credited with helping to shape the modern suburb and with influencing the development of planned communities such as Levittown, New York and Reston, Virginia.

Statistical Areas

Metropolitan Area

A metropolitan area is a region that includes a large city and its surrounding suburbs. The population of a metropolitan area is usually greater than 50,000 people, and the residents of the region typically work in the central city. The metropolitan area includes the county or town where the city is located.

Example: New York City, New York is a metropolitan area with a population of over 20 million people. It includes the city of New York and the surrounding suburbs in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Micropolitan Area

A micropolitan area is a region that includes a smaller city and its surrounding towns and counties. The population of a micropolitan area is usually between 10,000 and 50,000 people.

Example: Helena, Montana is a micropolitan area with a population of around 75,000 people. It includes the city of Helena and the surrounding towns and counties in Montana.

Core-based statistical area (CBSA)

A CBSA is a region centered on an urban center that includes adjacent "commuter counties" that are tied to the urban center. A CBSA can be either a metropolitan area or a micropolitan area.

Example: Atlanta, Georgia is a metropolitan area with a population of over 6 million people. It includes the city of Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs in the state of Georgia, as well as several adjacent "commuter counties" in the states of Alabama and Georgia.

Primary statistical area (PSA)

A PSA is a CBSA that is not centered in a metropolitan or micropolitan area. A PSA is typically a smaller urban center with a population of at least 10,000 people.

Example: Redding, California is a primary statistical area with a population of around 90,000 people. It includes the city of Redding and the surrounding towns and counties in the state of California.

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🌇Unit 6 – Cities & Urban Land-Use