Urbanization is one of the most important processes students study in AP® Human Geography Unit 6, because it explains why cities form, where they grow, and how geography shapes human settlement patterns over time. Topic 6.1 focuses specifically on the origin and influences of urbanization, emphasizing how physical geography, resources, transportation, and economic forces drive the growth of cities.
This post breaks down Topic 6.1 in clear, student-friendly language while highlighting exactly what the College Board expects students to understand for the AP exam.
What Is Urbanization?
Urbanization is the process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in cities and urban areas rather than rural areas. This process occurs when people migrate to cities for economic opportunities, access to services, or improved transportation and communication networks.
In AP Human Geography, urbanization is not just about population size. It is about why cities emerge in certain locations and how geographic factors influence their growth and function.
Enduring Understanding PSO-6: Why Cities Grow Where They Do
The College Board’s enduring understanding for Topic 6.1 states:
The presence and growth of cities vary across geographical locations because of physical geography and resources.
In other words, cities are not randomly located. Their development is closely tied to natural features, access to resources, and connections to other places. To understand urbanization, students must analyze how site and situation work together to shape city growth.
Site and Situation: The Foundation of Urban Growth
Site
Site refers to the physical characteristics of a location, including landforms, climate, water sources, soil quality, and natural resources.
Cities often originate in locations with:
- Reliable freshwater sources (rivers, lakes, coastlines)
- Flat land suitable for building
- Favorable climate
- Access to natural resources
Historically, many early cities developed along rivers because rivers provided water, fertile soil, and transportation routes.
Situation
Situation describes a city’s relative location—how it is connected to other places through trade routes, transportation networks, or economic relationships.
A city with a strong situation may:
- Be located along major trade routes
- Serve as a transportation hub
- Connect inland regions to ports or markets
Together, site explains why a city started, while situation explains how it grew and interacted with other regions.
Key Influences on Urbanization (PSO-6.A.2)
After cities emerge, several major processes influence their expansion and continued growth.
Transportation and Communication
Improvements in transportation, like railroads, highways, and ports, allow cities to expand beyond their original boundaries. Advances in communication technologies also make cities more attractive for business and economic coordination.
Population Growth and Migration
Urbanization increases as populations grow and people migrate from rural areas to cities. This movement is often driven by:
- Job opportunities
- Education and healthcare access
- Industrial and service-sector growth
Economic Development
Cities tend to grow faster in regions experiencing industrialization or economic expansion. Manufacturing, finance, and service industries cluster in cities, reinforcing urban growth over time.
Government Policies
Governments influence urbanization through:
- Infrastructure investment
- Zoning laws
- Housing policies
- Economic development initiatives
These policies can encourage urban growth, suburban expansion, or redevelopment of existing urban areas.
Why Topic 6.1 Matters for the AP Exam
Topic 6.1 sets the foundation for the rest of Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes. Students must understand why cities originate and grow before they can analyze:
- Urban models
- Suburbanization
- Urban challenges
- Land-use patterns
On the AP exam, students are often asked to:
- Explain how site and situation influence city growth
- Identify factors that drive urbanization
- Apply urbanization concepts to real-world examples
A strong grasp of Topic 6.1 makes later urban topics much easier for students to master.
Teachers looking for a hands-on way to teach the origin of urbanization in Topic 6.1 may also find this urban settlement simulation activity helpful.
Classroom-Ready Support for Topic 6.1
If you’re looking for a ready-to-use, CED-aligned lesson that reinforces everything covered in Topic 6.1, I’ve created a resource designed specifically for AP Human Geography classrooms.
👉 AP® Human Geography Unit 6 Topic 6.1: Origin of Urbanization Lecture & Notes
This resource includes:
- Clear lecture slides with detailed teacher notes
- Guided student notes
- Activities that reinforce site, situation, and urban growth factors
- Alignment to College Board learning objectives
It works well for direct instruction, review, or blended learning.
Key Takeaway
Urbanization is driven by geography, resources, connectivity, and human decision-making. Topic 6.1 helps students see cities not just as places where people live, but as geographic systems shaped by physical and human forces over time.
When students understand the origin and influences of urbanization, they are better prepared to analyze modern urban patterns and succeed throughout Unit 6 and on the AP exam.
AP® Human Geography Topic 6.1: Origin & Influences of Urbanization — FAQs
What is urbanization in AP Human Geography?
Urbanization is the process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in cities and urban areas rather than rural areas. In AP Human Geography, urbanization focuses on why cities form, where they grow, and how geography influences that growth.
What does Topic 6.1 cover in AP Human Geography?
Topic 6.1 covers the origin and influences of urbanization, including how site and situation affect city locations and how transportation, migration, economic development, and government policies drive urban growth.
What is site in relation to urbanization?
Site refers to the physical characteristics of a city’s location, such as climate, landforms, water sources, soil, and natural resources. Site helps explain why a city originally developed in a specific place.
What is situation in urban geography?
Situation describes a city’s relative location and its connections to other places, including trade routes, transportation networks, and economic relationships. Situation explains how a city grows and interacts with surrounding regions.
Why are site and situation important for city growth?
Site and situation work together to shape urban development. Site influences a city’s origin, while situation affects its function, economic connections, and long-term growth.
What factors influence urbanization according to the AP Human Geography CED?
According to the AP Human Geography Course and Exam Description, urbanization is influenced by transportation and communication changes, population growth, migration, economic development, and government policies.
How does transportation influence urbanization?
Transportation systems such as roads, railways, ports, and highways allow cities to expand, connect to markets, and attract people and businesses, accelerating urban growth.
Why does migration increase urbanization?
Migration increases urbanization when people move from rural areas to cities in search of jobs, education, healthcare, and other services, causing urban populations to grow faster than rural populations.
How does Topic 6.1 appear on the AP Human Geography exam?
On the AP exam, Topic 6.1 may appear in multiple-choice or free-response questions that ask students to explain site and situation, identify causes of urbanization, or apply urbanization concepts to real-world examples.
How is urbanization different from suburbanization?
Urbanization refers to population growth in cities, while suburbanization is the movement of people from urban centers to surrounding suburbs. Both processes are addressed in Unit 6 but serve different roles in urban development.
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