| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Edge cities | Urban areas located outside traditional central business districts, often featuring a mix of businesses, shopping, and entertainment options |
| Rank-size rule | A statistical relationship between the population sizes of a country's largest cities, with the nth largest city being 1/n the size of the largest city |
| Primate City | A city that is significantly larger and more influential than any other city in a country or region |
| Christaller’s Central Place Theory | A theory that seeks to explain the spatial arrangement of urban centers based on their economic functions, with a hierarchy of central places providing services to surrounding settlements |
| Gravity Model | The movement of people between two places is based on factors of population size and distance |
| Burgess Concentric Zone Model | A theory that urban areas develop in a series of concentric rings, each with a different economic function and social status |
| Hoyt Sector Zone Model | A theory that urban development occurs along transportation corridors, resulting in wedge-shaped sectors with different land uses |
| Harris & Ullman’s Multiple Nuclei Model | A theory that urban areas consist of multiple centers of activity, which can lead to specialized land-use patterns |
| Galactic City Model | A model of urban development that describes a central city with edge cities on the outskirts, connected by transportation networks |
| Bid-Rent Theory | A theory that explains the relationship between the distance from the central business district and declining land values |
| Urban models from Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa | Distinct approaches to understanding the growth and development of cities in these regions, characterized by unique socio-economic, historical, and cultural factors |
| New Urbanism | An urban design movement that promotes walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, and environmentally sustainable development |
| Green Belts | Areas of open space surrounding urban areas, designed to restrict urban sprawl and preserve natural landscapes |
| Redlining | The discriminatory practice of denying loans or insurance to people living in certain neighborhoods, often based on race |
| Blockbusting | The practice of convincing homeowners to sell their properties at low prices by using fear of racial or ethnic changes in the neighborhood |
| Squatter Settlements | Informal housing settlements, often in developing countries, where people build homes on land they do not legally own |
| Inclusionary Zoning | Local planning ordinances that require a percentage of new construction to be affordable for low to moderate-income residents |
| Zoning | The division of urban areas into zones with different land-use regulations and restrictions |
| Suburbanization | The growth and development of residential areas outside central cities |
| Gentrification | The process of higher-income residents and businesses moving into and revitalizing lower-income urban neighborhoods |
| Suburban Sprawl | The uncontrolled outward expansion of urban areas, often characterized by low-density, automobile-dependent development |
| Climate Change | Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation |
| Ecological Footprint | A measure of the impact of human activity on the environment in terms of land use, resource consumption, and waste production |
| World Cities | Major urban centers that drive globalization, such as New York City, London, and Tokyo |
| Decentralization | The distribution of functions and responsibilities away from central authorities to local or regional levels |
| Infilling | The development of vacant or underused land within existing urban areas |
| Urban Renewal | The process of redeveloping deteriorated urban areas, often involving demolition and new construction |
| Local Food Movements | Efforts to promote the consumption and production of locally sourced, sustainable food |
| Borchert's Epochs | A classification system for urban growth and development based on historical eras and technological advancements |