Population Density And Rural-Urban Continum EQ1 Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is population density?
-The number of people per unit area (usually km^2)
-a place could be densely or sparsely populated
What is population structure ?
-the composition of the population in a particular country, region or area
-Key aspects of this composition are age group and gender balance as well as other factors like life expectancy
What is a population pyramid?
A population pyramid is a graphical representation of a population’s age and sex structure, visually showing the distribution of people across different age groups and genders
What does the height of a population pyramid tell you?
The height of the pyramid tells us what the life expectancy is like
What do “bulges” (a higher than average population in a specific age group) in a population pyramid show?
“Bulges” show a baby boom or period of high immigration
What does the base of a population pyramid tell us?
The base of the pyramid tells us about the birth rate (and is the fertility rate increasing or decreasing)
Why is the number of people in the “economically active” group significant in a population pyramid important?
-The number of people in this group is significant as they have to sustain the dependent populations through taxes etc:
•0-15 = Young dependent population
•65+ = Elderly dependent population
What is a dependency ratio?
-a ratio that compares the number of people not in the workforce with the working age to give an idea of an economic burden
-if there is a high dependency there would be strain on services and the economy
What is the rural to urban continuum?
-The rural-urban continuum is the gradual change from busy cities to quiet countryside, with areas like suburbs and small towns in between (CBD, the inner urban ridge, rural urban fringe, beyond urban fringe)
-Instead of a sharp divide, places slowly become less crowded and more spread out as you move away from the city
-This idea helps planners understand how different areas need services like transport, housing, and jobs
What is the rural to urban fringe ?
-The rural-urban fringe is the blurred boundary between the city and countryside, where urban areas expand into rural land through urban sprawl
-Villages near cities became suburbs as roads made them more accessible, leading to housing estates for commuters
-Over time, these areas gained urban features like shops and schools, but as distance from the city increases, they gradually transition into less accessible, sparsely populated rural areas
Why is population density low in the CBD (central business district) and what factors have contributed to this?
-The population density in the CBD is low because the area has become dominated by commercial activities and public buildings e.g. Northumberland street
-Over time, the permanent residential population has been pushed out to make space for offices, retail outlets, and administrative centres
-This shift reflects land value prioritisation, where high land prices make it more profitable to use space for business rather than housing
Why does the inner urban ridge (inner city) show peak population densities, and how has housing changed here?
-Population densities peak in the inner city because it contains some of the earliest built housing, originally made up of densely packed terraced houses built for industrial workers e.g.Elswick -Although many of these houses have been demolished or replaced with high-rise flats or new builds, the overall density remains high due to the compact nature of the housing and the need to accommodate large numbers of people close to the city centre
What factors caused lower population densities in interwar suburban areas?
-Interwar suburban areas refer to the suburbs built between 1918 and 1939, the period between World War I and World War II
-During the interwar period (1918–1939), new housing developments focused on lower density living. Many houses built at this time were three- or four-bedroom homes with gardens, located on larger plots of land
-This suburban expansion aimed to provide better living conditions away from the overcrowded inner city, which resulted in an overall lower population density in these zones
How has the population density changed in the rural urban fringe, and what role has planning law played?
-Since World War II, there has been an increase in the number and density of houses on the rural urban fringe, followed by a sharp decline often referred to as the “cliff”
-Planning laws, particularly the implementation of the green belt policy, have influenced this pattern
-While large social housing estates were initially built in this zone, green belt regulations now protect rural areas from further urban sprawl, causing a sudden drop in density at the edge of the fringe
What pattern of population density exists beyond the urban fringe, and why?
-Beyond the urban fringe, population density continues to decline as the landscape becomes more rural
-These areas are characterised by scattered settlements and lower levels of infrastructure
-However, there are occasional small peaks in density linked to commuter towns, market towns, and villages, where people may live while travelling into urban areas for work
How does the physical environment influence population density?
-Areas with flat land and good drainage are easier and cheaper to build on, so they attract more housing developments, which increases population density
-In contrast, areas with steep slopes, rocky ground, or flood risk are harder and more expensive to develop, so they tend to have fewer homes and lower density. These less accessible or hazardous places are often avoided unless space becomes limited
How does physical environment influence population density ?
-Areas with flat land and good drainage are easier and cheaper to build on, so they attract more housing developments, which increases population density
-In contrast, areas with steep slopes, rocky ground, or flood risk are harder and more expensive to develop, so they tend to have fewer homes and lower density
-These less accessible or hazardous places are often avoided unless space becomes limited.
E.g. Newham is built on flat, accessible land and has a high population density of 8,672 people per km². The Highlands, with steep and mountainous terrain, have a very low density of just 9 people per km²
Why does socio-economic status affect population density?
-Wealthier people often choose to live in low-density housing areas, like the suburbs, where they can afford larger properties and prefer cleaner, quieter environments
-In contrast, people with lower incomes often live in high-density housing like flats, which are cheaper and closer to jobs or public transport
-This divide leads to more crowded housing in poorer areas and spacious housing in wealthier ones
-e.g. In Kingston, where the average population density is 4,400 people per km², many people live in detached or semi-detached homes. In Newham, with a higher level of deprivation, most residents live in flats or terraced houses, contributing to its much higher density of 8,672/km²
How do dwelling types and household sizes influence density?
-Areas made up of flats or terraced housing usually have higher densities because more people can live in smaller spaces
-Detached houses take up more land, so density is lower
-Household size matters too: areas with larger families or multiple people per home will have a higher population density, even if the housing is more spaced out.
-e.g.Newham has a high general fertility rate of 76.6 per 1,000 women, reflecting its younger population and larger households, which raise density. In contrast, North Yorkshire, with a much lower fertility rate of 60.3, has smaller households and detached housing, contributing to its low density of just 68 people per km²
How do land use and environmental quality shape density?
-If an area is used for industrial or commercial activities (like factories or warehouses), it often won’t be suitable for lots of housing. Noise, pollution, and traffic make it less attractive, so residential density is lower
-These areas may be avoided by wealthier people, or only have cheaper housing
-High-quality environments (clean, green, quiet) usually encourage more desirable and spacious residential development.
-e.g. Some parts of Newham still include older industrial sites, lowering environmental quality and making nearby housing cheaper and more crowded. Meanwhile, Kingston has very little industrial land use and a clean, green suburban environment, which supports lower-density residential areas
What role does planning play in population density?
-Local councils and governments control how much housing can be built in an area through planning permission
-They can set limits on how many dwellings are allowed per hectare and where development is allowed. Green belts, zoning laws, and density targets all affect whether housing is packed closely or spaced out
-This directly shapes how dense the population will be
-e.g. In North Yorkshire, green belt protection and strict planning rules help maintain a low population density of 68/km². In Newham, recent regeneration projects like the Olympic Village have allowed dense housing developments to meet demand, contributing to its high density of 8,672/km
What is the difference between birth rate and fertility rate?
What is the difference between birth rate and death rate?
-Birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people in the total population each year
-Fertility rate is the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth patterns.
What are the fertility rate, birth rate and average age like for Newham and why?
-Density: 8,672 people per km²
-Fertility rate (2014): 76.6 per 1,000 women
-Average age: 31
Explanation:
Newham is a highly urbanised, densely populated borough in East London
-The high fertility rate and low average age show that this area has a younger population with more children
-This reflects the presence of large households, social housing, and a fast-growing population typical of inner-city environments with diverse migrant communities
