Synthesis

Models are very important to human geographers. In human geography, models are not a three dimensional object, but more of an idea. This idea can usually be graphed or shown by a picture, but never really three dimensional objects. Models communicate important concepts in human geography that may be new or old. Some of the models have been altered over time but some have also stayed the same. How these models were figured out differs between each different model. There are many types of models. A few examples are the Demographic Transition Model, the Core Periphery Model, and the Gravity Model.
The Demographic Transition Model shows how countries population grows over time. This model was first discovered when geographers looked at the baptism and funeral church records in Great Britain. By looking at these records the geographers could see how the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) compared to the Crude Death Rate (CDR). The CBR is the number of live births per 1,000 people in the population per year and the CDR is the number of deaths per 1,000 people in the population per year. The data the geographers found revealed that before the industrial revolution the CDR and the CBR were high. Because both of these rates were high, there was low population growth in Great Britain. After they look at this time frame of data, they looked at the data for after the industrial revolution began, the CDR dropped due to increase in medicine and easier access to food. As the CDR was falling the CBR stayed at the same rate which caused a population explosion. In the late 1800s to the 1900s during two world wars, the CDR and the CBR both declined which caused a slow population growth. In most recent times the CBR and the CDR are both low which means a very slow or stabilized population growth. This specific model just shows how countries populations grow and the stages most of them take to get to a slow or stabilized population. Although this is just an example of one country, Great Britain, many other countries seem follow this pattern.
Another model is the Core Periphery Model. This model identifies the spatial distance from the core. This model was developed in 1963 by John Friedmann. One example to show the Core Periphery Model is Brazil and the cities of Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro. As overheating becomes a problem in the peripheral cities, many people are moving to the core cities. This is a problem because the peripheral cities are losing educated people. This can cause the core to fall because without educated people in the peripheral cities, the core will not have that support around it. All of the core cities developed for a specific reason that the peripheral cities do not have. Sao Paulo developed because of coffee exports, Rio de Janeiro developed because it is a port city.
One of the most important models in human geography is the Gravity Model. The Gravity Model predicts the movement of ideas and people between two places. This model has a formula states (population1 * population2) divided by the (distance^2). Since larger places attract people, ideas, and supplies more than smaller places and places closer together have a greater attraction. The gravity model includes these two features. For example, New York City and Los Angeles: New York City population is 8,244,910 and Los Angeles’ is 3,819,702. The distance between the two cities is 2,789.5 miles. If we use the Gravity Model (8244910*38197052)/(2789.5^2) we get 40472779.7617. The greater the final number, the stronger the bond between the two places. Although the model was created to anticipate migration between two places, it can be used now for traffic flow, flow of goods, people, and ideas. This model was developed by Tinbergen in 1962. Because this model is somewhat outdated and as time went on it is not as useful now as it used to be, William J. Reilly reconstructed the model to calculate between two places where customers will be drawn to one or another of two competing commercial centers.
Models are very important in human geography. Although some of the models are outdated, they usually get re-made to fit the current situation, or they do not need any change because they can fit the current situation. Models help explain concepts and why things happen. There are many more models than the three talked about that all play an important role in human geography.
From blogging about human geography and models specifically I have learned that models are very important.Throughout doing the blog I have seen that models can explain most all parts of human geography. What I struggled with most was finding credible research and a group on campus. Human geography is a very rare topic of groups so I was unable to find a group on campus that was for human geography. Also because blogging was a new form of writing for me it was just different for me to have to use this type of writing. I thoroughly enjoyed learning this new form of writing, and also learning more about human geography. All I hope is that through this blog, my readers also learned something new about human geography.

Party party party

As it is my freshman year in college I am figuring out what "college life" is all about. One aspect of college life is school. Another part is the social life. From some experience going out to parties I have seen certain trends. These trends range from the type of people, and the activities that go on.
At each different party with different people hosting you can see the type of people the thrower hangs out with. If I were to attend a party at a fraternity, I would mostly see frat boys, or sorority girls. Also at those parties, because they are more well known and have bigger houses, you see many people that do not have any association with that fraternity. If I were to attend a party at an athletes home, you will see many athletes. I have gone to parties at the baseball house and many of these parties are filled with other athletes.
The activities that go on vary. Some parties play games, others have music, and others may have just mingling amongst people. In my personal experience bigger houses and bigger parties have all three. There will be a room to play some games, a DJ, dancing, and lots of mingling. Some parties just have games and mingling. There are many different variations at these parties.
These different trends relate to human geography because it shows how people want to be with people similar to them, or where lots of people are. The activities that go on can show differences between the size of the party and it shows what the people there like.

Models

There are many many models in Human Geography that are very crucial to human geography. 1. Demographic Transition Model 2. Gravity Model 3. N.AM. Urban Models -Sector Model -Multiple Nuclei Model -Urban Realms Model 4. Models of Industrial Location 5. Von Thunen's Model 6. Epidemiologic Transition Model 7. Core Periphery Model 8. Modernization Model 9. Global Urban Model All of these models represent a certain part of geography. For example, the gravity model is ((population 1 * population 2)/ (Distance^2)). This model helps show how since larger places attract people, ideas, and commodities more than smaller places, the larger place will help the smaller place grow. Another example of a different part of geography is the von Thunen Model.

As shown in the image the von Thunen model shows what surrounds the cities and why. Keep in mind, the model was created before industrialization, so it is not completely true now. The farming and dairy is right near the main city because those are perishable items that need to be transported quickly. The next layer is forest, this is here because it is hard to transport such heavy items that are always needed so they need to be close to the city for transportation reasons. Third layer is extensive field crops. These are located at this level because grain lasts much longer than dairy and is light and easy to transport. The last layer, is ranching and animal products. This is the last level because their transportation is very easy because animals can transport themselves to be sold in the city, or butchered.
The two explained are just a couple examples of how all of the models are very important to every part of human geography!



http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa031601a.htm
http://geography.about.com/od/urbaneconomicgeography/a/vonthunen.htm
http://0.tqn.com/d/geography/1/G/b/9/vt.gif

The Importance of Human Geography

Human geography is very important to many fields. Of thirty seven groups defined by the Association of American Geographers, six focus on world religions, five on population issues, five focus on economics, five focus on technique oriented interests, and five on physical geography. The other focus' include historical, political, and medicinal geography. There is also a bible group. With all of these different focus groups, it shows that geography is important in every day life.
With world religions as a focus, the studies done can show us how religions spread, how different religions interact with others, and how those religions have changed over time. This is important because it will help predict future trends, it could help prevent religions wars, and help historians shape history through religion.
With a group on population, the studies can help show the future. They will help because we can see the recent trends that have happened, and will help predict how the population in the future will be. This is important because it will help show if over-population will be a problem and if there is anything that needs to be done now.
The group on economics is very important. The group that studies economics will help show the economic state of many countries and how each activity has an effect on a places economy.
The group focusing on technique oriented interests, including remote sensing, and cartography helps with showing changes in the world. Cartography is map making, so with this the differences in the physical world are apparent. Remote sensing helps study places on earth, or the atmosphere that you cannot maybe necessarily get to. This is all important to see the physical changes of the world.
Physical geography is important to see how the physical world effects everything. The physical earth can effect how people travel, and why they live there. By studying this we can see why people flock to a specific area or why they do not live in a specific area.
All parts of geography are very important in day to day life.



Dear, Michael. "Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers , New Series, Vol. 13, No. 3 (1988), pp. 262-274." The Postmodern Challenge: Reconstructing Human Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.

Place names

Toponym: A place name. This simple definition is very complex. Place names can come from a variety of different places and help show how that area was colonized, or who was there in the beginning. For example the border of Mexico and The United States cities have many Mexican names. Some of the city names in the United States are: San Antonio, Texas; Santa Fe, New Mexico; San Francisco, California; Tuscon, Arizona; and many more. These areas near this border have names that relate to the Catholic religion, or other Mexican culture pieces. This shows us that when this area was named, it was under governance, or ownership of the same group that governed, or owned, present day Mexico. Also, place names can relate to religion. For example, San Francisco is named for Saint Francis of Assis. Saint Francis of Assis was an Italian Catholic priest. The Catholic religion is big in Mexico because of the Catholic Spaniards that colonized the area.
http://www.pbs.org/kpbs/theborder/history/morphingmap.html
On this map it shows that as time went on, the USA gained more land. The final pieces of land they gained were more south. Before the USA gained this land, it belonged to Mexico, or the Spaniards that colonized in that area. Although the USA gained this land from them, the names of the cities did not change and that is why today we see these names in the USA.
There are other examples of this in many areas of the USA, and the rest of the world.


Toponym. The Free Dictionary by Farlex, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. .
Francis of Assisi. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. .

Go Tigers!

I waited a little longer to do this post until game one of the 2012 baseball World Series game between the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers. I wanted to see how social networking was played into the game, and how people reacted to the game.
As a person basically raised in Michigan, born in Massachusetts, I have never been a big Tigers fan, until now. As they start there run in the world series, I seem to watch more and more Tigers baseball. Also, I see more and more people on social networking sites posting status' and tweets' saying "First Tigers post! GO TIGERS!" I was one of those who posted a tweet like this.
This relates to human geography because this shows why people act the way they do because of where they live. Many people in Michigan, who may not be truly from Michigan will post this sort of status because they are now part of that culture and support the team that is involved in the culture of those around us.

Demography of Grand Haven, MI vs. East Lansing, MI

Let's start with the basics- what is demography?
Demography is the study of the human population especially density, size, and distribution.
Located on the West Coast of Michigan, Grand Haven sits directly on the beautiful Lake Michigan. Grand Haven's population is 10,412 according to the 2010 census. Out of these 10,412 people, 4,931 are males and 5,481 are females (Grand Haven). The median age for the whole town is about 42.9 (Grand Haven). These are the basic stats of Grand Haven Michigan but as a tourist town, these demographics seem to change during the summer months. Being located directly on the lake Grand Haven accumulates many tourists that are visiting the lake. In the summer months there are many more people in Grand Haven. The majority of those people are younger and more able to enjoy all of the water activities. During one week of August, Grand Haven has their annual Coast Guard festival which brings in lots of people. During this week as tourists come in, many locals leave. The unofficial demography of Grand Haven changes with the seasons.
East Lansing Michigan, the home of Michigan State University has a bit different demography than Grand Haven. According to the 2010 census, East Lansing has a population of 48,579 people with about 23,574 males and 25,005 females (East Lansing). The median age is 21.6(East Lansing). These statistics differ so much from Grand Haven because of the college in the area. With East Lansing as a college town there is a much younger demographic. During the months of August to May there are many young adults roaming around the Michigan State University campus of East Lansing. On the off months (May-September), there are still many students or recent alumni that live in East Lansing, or are taking summer classes at MSU.
There are many factors that play into the demographics of any area. Another example is a military base which would consist mostly young males. The demographics are an easy way to figure out what may be going on in that area. Grand Haven MI. City-data.com, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. East Lansing MI. City-data.com, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.