Wilbur Zelinsky
- Chicago, Illinois
- December 21st, 1921- May 4th, 2013
- Was a American geographer with almost 60 years of experience and a doctorate in American culture geography.
- He taught at Penn State until his death.
- Receiving many awards and even holding the position of President for the Association for American Geographers, Zelinsky has contributed much to the world of geography.
- Some of his contributions include the Mobility Transition Model, also known as the Zelinsky Model, and the concept of Perceptual Regions, also known as vernacular regions (15 major perceptual regions).
Perceptual (Vernacular) Regions
Perceptual Regions, also known as vernacular regions, are areas defined by people's attitude and feelings towards it. These regions are grouped by similarities that make them unique from other regions.
For example areas in the South Region are known for their country music, hillbillies, and conderates.
15 Major Perceptual Regions (of the U.S)
- North
- East Canada
- Atlantic
- Middle Atlantic
- East
- North East
- New England
- South
- Arcadia
- Gulf
- Southwest
- West
- Pacific
- Northwest
- Midwest
- Knox, Paul L., and Sallie A. Marston. Human Geography: Places and Regions in Global Context. 6th ed. Glenview: Pearson Education, 2013. Print.
- Rmal. "Regions." Regions: A Look inside These Regions (n.d.): n. pag. Killeen ISD. Killeen High School. Web.
- "Wilbur Zelinsky." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2014. Web.
- "Zelinsky, Wilbur | AAG." Zelinsky, Wilbur | AAG. Association of American Geographers, 06 May 2013. Web.
- Zelinsky, Wilbur. The Hypothesis of the Mobility Transition. 2nd ed. Vol. 61. N.p.: American Geographical Society, 1971. The Hypothesis of the Mobility Transition. JSTOR, 2000. Web
Mobility Transition Model (Zelinsky Model)
Comparing DTM with MTM
This model closely correlates to the Demographic Transition Model and shows the relationship between how much migration is present in different stages. "The type of migration that occurs within a country depends on how developed it is or what types of society it is".
- Stage 1: Unlikely to migrate permanently; Mobility characterized by circulation including high daily or seasonal mobility in search for food; usually travels village to village in order to sell farm products.
- Stage 2: International migration prominent; Destination centers of economic opportunities in more developed countries (stage 3 & 4); Interregional migration-rural to urban; Migration in response to reduced need for agricultural workers and increased factory jobs near cities.
- Stage 3: Internal migration; City to suburbs (city to city).
- Stage 4: Internal migration; City to suburbs; International guest - worker migration.
The pattern is that, the higher the stage, the less migration takes place. Stage 1 does not apply because there is little to no migration within in.
AP Human Geo. Curriculum Connection
Unit 1: Chapter 1: Geography Matters: Regional Analysis
- The concept of Perceptual regions, or vernacular, depends on the sense of place and symbolic landscapes that lets us identify who we are and who others are. (pgs. 24-27)
Unit 2: Chapter 3: Population Geography: Demographic Transition Theory; Population Movement and Migration
- Zelinsky's model of Mobility Transition very much correlates to the Demographic Transition Models. This us allows us to see the migration patterns of different areas in different stages. (pgs. 82-94)
Wilbur Zelinsky
Creator of the Mobility Transition Model and Concept of Perceptual Regions