Topic 4: Diverse Places

Question 1

population structure

Answer 1

the composition of a population, based on age and sex

Question 2

population density

Answer 2

the number of people living in an area

Question 3

the rural-urban continuum

Answer 3

• the gradual transition between urban and rural areas
• as you move along this continuum, population density and structure change

Question 4

accessibility

Answer 4

• areas closer to major roads/railways/transport hubs are more accessible and so more densely populated
• e.g. Newham is accessible for work/leisure, 10 mins from financial centre and 15 mins from the West End
• commuter towns, e.g. Southend-on-Sea, grow as they are accessible to cities

Question 5

physical factors

Answer 5

• flat, fertile land = easier to build and farm = higher population
• mountains, coasts, flood-prone areas = fewer people
• e.g. Scottish Highlands

Question 6

historical development

Answer 6

• e.g. Newham
• significant growth during Industrial Revolution
• Royal Docks construction
• trade/commerce centre

Question 7

planning

Answer 7

• e.g. Newham
• resulted in regeneration of London Docklands and Lea Valley
• use of derelict land by planners for housing expansion
• e.g. Kingston
• restricted by London’s Green Belt (protected to prevent urban sprawl)

Question 8

fertility rates

Answer 8

• high fertility = more young people, youthful population, growth
• common in some inner-city immigrant communities or rural areas in developing countries
• low fertility = ageing population, fewer young people, decline
• seen in wealthy suburban/rural UK areas like parts of the South East
• higher birth rates in some ethnic groups lead to growing influence of those cultures (e.g. language, religion)

Question 9

mortality rates

Answer 9

• improved healthcare = people live longer, more elderly
• areas with high mortality (e.g. deprived urban areas) may have lower life expectancy and more early deaths
• mortality rates also affected by lifestyle, access to services, and income
• ageing areas lose cultural diversity, elderly populations may reinforce majority traditions

Question 10

internal migration

Answer 10

• young adults often move to cities for education/work
• increases youth % in urban areas, depopulates rural areas
• families may move to suburbs for schools and housing
• retirees often move to rural/coastal areas, increasing elderly population there
• redistributes cultural traits across regions
• may increase or dilute diversity depending on direction

Question 11

international migration

Answer 11

• brings young working-age people, often increasing birth rates (e.g. London boroughs)
• adds ethnic and cultural diversity
• can slow ageing in some areas (e.g. cities)
• introduces new cultures, religions, languages
• increases diversity and multiculturalism
• post-colonial flows from former British colonies (India, Pakistan, the West Indies)
• economic migration from the EU

Question 12

variation in gender

Answer 12

• some areas (especially urban e.g. Newham) have more males, especially young men
• migration for work or education
• temporary populations (e.g. students)
• other areas (especially rural/coastal e.g. Highland County) may have more females, especially elderly women
• women live longer (higher life expectancy)
• older people tend to retire to these areas

Question 13

variation in ethnicity

Answer 13

• urban areas tend to be more ethnically diverse e.g. Newham
• international migration (job opportunities)
• established ethnic communities
• rural areas tend to be less diverse e.g. North Yorkshire
• migration less common (fewer jobs)
• smaller existing ethnic communities

Question 14

cultural diversity

Answer 14

the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a city or society

Question 15

social clustering

Answer 15

• cultural groups often settle near each other by choice
• support networks (family, friends)
• shared language, religion and services (e.g. halal butchers, mosques)
• sense of belonging and safety in numbers
• reinforces diversity in certain areas over time
• e.g. Southall in London, strong Indian community

Question 16

accessibility to key cities

Answer 16

• big cities = job opportunities, transport links and global connections
• migrants often settle where there are good rail/road/airport links
• where they can find work more easily
• cities = international gateways → high cultural diversity
• e.g. London, Birmingham, Manchester, all highly accessible and very diverse compared to remote rural areas e.g. Highland County

Question 17

physical factors

Answer 17

• some diverse urban areas developed in flat, buildable areas (e.g. East London)
• remote/mountainous areas are less likely to attract large migrant populations
• climate or environmental hazards may also limit settlement
• e.g. Highland County, low diversity due to remoteness and harsh physical geography
• limited car ownership also affected initial settlements (i.e. distance)

Question 18

government planning policy

Answer 18

• policies can encourage inclusion (e.g. housing, schools), or suppress it (e.g. anti-immigration laws)
• affordable/social housing in cities attracts diverse populations
• overseas job advertisements after WWII, Empire Windrush, Afro-Caribbean migrants in London e.g. Brixton
• actions by governments may foster or suppress diversity

Question 19

representation of places

Answer 19

• formal data e.g. stats, census data, IMD (Index of Multiple Deprivation), government reports
• objective, but may lack emotion, local nuance, or lived experience
• informal sources e.g. media, social media, art, graffiti, local blogs, photography, TV shows
• add depth and perspective, but may be biased, stylised, or selective

Question 20

lived experience

Answer 20

an individual’s personal and subjective experience of living in a specific place or environment

Question 21

historical vs. current (positive) perceptions of urban places

Answer 21

• during industrialisation: perceived by some as dangerous and threatening (e.g. Victorian London)
• portrayed as grim through the work of Victorian writers e.g. Dickens via Oliver Twist
• currently could be seen as attractive because of their range of economic opportunities and variety of social and leisure activities that attract young people and migrants
• e.g. Manchester

Question 22

current (negative) perceptions of urban places

Answer 22

• perceived as undesirable by residents and/or outsiders
• high crime rates create fear, damage reputations
• poor environmental quality e.g. litter, graffiti, derelict buildings
• population characteristics and resultant racism (bias/stereotypes), as well as poverty/unemployment
• reputation
• perceptions based on quantitative data but also on lived experience and media representation
• e.g. Salford, Manchester

Question 23

segregation

Answer 23

the separation of people of different backgrounds, wealth, cultures or nationalities