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A review and comparison of urban, suburban, and rural areas to see how they are similar and different.
Imagine you are a bird flying high in the sky. In one spot, you see thousands of tiny lights and buildings touching the clouds. In another, you see rows of houses with green yards. Further away, you see mostly golden fields and trees. Why do people choose to live in such different places?
An urban community is a large city where many people live and work very close together. Because there is not much land, buildings grow up instead of out. These tall buildings are called skyscrapers. In urban areas, the population density is very high. This means if you measured a small square of land, like square mile, you might find thousands of people living there! People in cities often use public transportation, like buses or subways, because everything is so close together.
Quick Check
If a community has many skyscrapers and thousands of people living on one block, what type of community is it?
Answer
It is an urban community.
Let's look at how many neighbors you might have: 1. In an urban apartment building, you might have neighbors living in the same building. 2. In a rural farmhouse, your closest neighbor might be mile away down a dirt road. 3. Because , the urban area is much more 'dense' with people.
Quick Check
Why do houses in rural areas have so much space between them?
Answer
Because the population density is low and the land is often used for farming or nature.
A suburban community (or 'the suburbs') is located just outside of a big city. It is a mix of both worlds! The population density is medium—higher than the country, but lower than the city. Most people live in single-family houses with yards. Suburbs often have shopping malls, parks, and schools nearby. Many adults who live in the suburbs commute, which means they travel into the urban city every day for work and then come back to their quiet neighborhood at night.
Imagine the Miller family is moving. 1. Dad works in a city skyscraper. 2. The kids want a backyard for their dog, Buster. 3. They decide to live in the suburbs. 4. This way, Dad can drive to the city for work, but the kids and Buster have a yard to play in at home.
When we compare these areas, we look at features. Urban areas have the most noise and traffic. Rural areas are the quietest. Suburban areas are right in the middle. Families choose where to live based on what they need. A farmer needs a rural area for crops. A person who loves museums and theater might love an urban area. A family who wants a quiet street but needs to be near city jobs might choose a suburban area.
Rank these three scenarios from lowest population density to highest: 1. A town where houses are separated by -acre yards (Suburban/Rural mix). 2. A city block with apartment towers (Urban). 3. A farm that covers acres with house (Rural).
Answer: The farm is lowest, the town is medium, and the city block is highest.
Which community type would most likely have a subway system?
If you see a lot of open land and very few people, you are likely in a ____ area.
Suburban communities are usually located very far away from any cities.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, look out your window. Can you name three things you see that prove you live in an urban, suburban, or rural area?
Practice Activity
Draw a 'Community Map.' Divide a paper into three sections and draw one house, one mode of transportation, and one type of plant for each community type.