Rural and Urban Settlements in Spain: Types, Transformations and Urban Hierarchy

Summary

This document outlines the main types of rural settlement in Spain, including dispersed and concentrated patterns and traditional house构造 such as stone, mud and mixed-wood buildings. It then describes how rural areas have been transformed by the rural exodus and coastal development, and how Spanish cities have changed through urban planning and infrastructure. Finally, it presents the structure of the modern city and the Spanish urban hierarchy, from national cities to small towns, and the characteristics of the urban network.

Key points

The dispersed settlement is typical of the northern peninsula, while concentrated settlement predominates in peninsular rural areas.
Traditional rural houses vary by region: stone houses in the mountainous periphery, mud houses in the interior and Valencian and Murcian orchards, and mixed-wood buildings in the Basque Country, Central System and Iberian System.
Rural exodus affected mountainous interiors, while coastal rural communities underwent radical transformation.
The city is structured into an urban center (old quarter, residential development, former working-class neighborhoods) and an urban fringe (residential, industrial and service areas).
Spain's urban hierarchy ranges from national cities (Madrid and Barcelona, over 4.5 million inhabitants) to small towns under 50,000 inhabitants.
The Spanish urban network is peripheral and bicephalous, with Madrid and Barcelona as the main metropolitan areas.

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Spain: Rural and Urban Settlements

Rural Settlement Types

The dispersed settlement is typical of the northern peninsula.
The predominant type of settlement in rural areas of the peninsula is concentrated.

Spanish Rural Houses

Stone houses (predominantly in the mountainous periphery).
Mud houses (interior peninsular, Valencia, and Murcia orchards).
Buildings of mixed wood (wood, stone, or clay) are in rural areas of the Basque Country, the Central System, and the Iberian System.

Transformations in the Rural World

Rural mountainous interiors of the peninsula were affected by the rural exodus.
Rural communities located in coastal areas experienced a radical transformation.
Rural populations close to large urban cities have taken office.

Urban Settlement in Spain

The urban population has undergone transformations in our country:

Cities are centers of tertiary activities.
Large metropolitan areas.
The major cities of some large metropolitan areas have lost population, and nearby population centers have grown.
The growth of cities is organized through urban plans.
The historic districts, the extensions, and the most dilapidated urban areas have been rehabilitated.
Some towns have done many projects that have modernized the image of the city.
Communication and transportation systems have been expanded and improved.

The Structure of the Current City

Urban Center

Old Quarter
Residential and urban development
Former working-class neighborhoods

Urban Fringe

Residential areas
Industrial areas
Areas of equipment and services

Spanish Urban Hierarchy and Network

National Cities

The metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona, exceeding 4.5 million inhabitants, belong to this rank.

Regional Metropolises

These are the metropolitan areas of Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Bilbao, Malaga, and Zaragoza (500,000 to 1,500,000 inhabitants).

Sub-Metropolises

Settlements located between 250,000 and 500,000 inhabitants, such as Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Murcia, Mallorca, Valladolid, Cordoba, and Vigo.

Medium Cities

Between 50,000 and 250,000 inhabitants, such as Burgos, Albacete, Badajoz, Almeria, Leon, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Small Towns

Does not reach 50,000 inhabitants, such as Plasencia, Mieres, Calatayud, and Medina del Campo.

Spanish Urban Network

It is peripheral: Most large and medium cities are located on the periphery.
It is bicephalous: It is highlighted by Madrid and Barcelona as metropolitan areas.
It is divided into geographical areas: northern third, Mediterranean axis, interior peninsular, Andalusia, and island regions.

FAQ

What is the difference between dispersed and concentrated rural settlement in Spain?

Dispersed settlement, typical of the northern peninsula, consists of scattered houses and farms. Concentrated settlement, the predominant type in peninsular rural areas, groups houses together in villages.

Which cities are considered national cities in Spain?

The metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona, which exceed 4.5 million inhabitants, belong to the national cities rank.

What is a regional metropolis according to the document?

A regional metropolis is a metropolitan area with between 500,000 and 1,500,000 inhabitants, such as Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Bilbao, Malaga and Zaragoza.