Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success

The concentric zone model illustrates urban land use dynamics and population density patterns by depicting how urban areas typically develop in a series of concentric rings around a central point, such as a downtown area. Developed by sociologist Ernest W. Burgess in the 1920s, this model suggests that as populations grow, they expand outward from the city center, leading to distinct zones characterized by different types of land use and social structures.

The inner zones are generally more densely populated and are often associated with lower-income groups, while the outer zones tend to accommodate wealthier populations in residential neighborhoods. This framework helps explain spatial organization within urban environments, illustrating how social and economic factors influence where different groups live and work.

The other concepts listed do not capture the essence of the concentric zone model effectively. While rural to urban migration is a relevant phenomenon in urban geography, it is not the specific focus of this model. Similarly, the influence of transportation networks and regional cultural layers, though important in understanding urban dynamics, fall outside the specific framework that the concentric zone model provides regarding land use and population density.