Urban Geography: City Structures and Development

Urban Concepts: Situation, Site, and Areas

The difference between situation and site is fundamental in urban geography. Situation refers to the geographical environment, the position of a city relative to other locations or regions. Site, however, refers to the topography, the physical framework upon which the city is built.

Key Urban Area Definitions

• Metropolitan Area

  A metropolitan area is formed by the growth of a major city that merges with nearby towns.

• Conurbation

  A conurbation is a continuous urban area formed by the parallel growth of two or more cities of similar importance, whose urban areas grow together.

• Urban Region

  An urban region is a regional agglomeration formed by the growth of several cities that do not fully merge but are very close.

• Megalopolis

  A megalopolis is a supra-regional urban area formed by the succession of different types of urban areas extending for hundreds of kilometers.

Examples of City Types

• Political Cities: Washington, Rome, Berlin, Brussels
• Tourist Cities: Somosierra, Oxford, Marbella
• Religious Cities: Mecca, Rome, Jerusalem

Understanding Urban Structure

Urban structure refers to the division of a city into areas with specific morphology and functions.

• City Center

  The city center is a more or less extensive area where the main commercial, recreational, and financial facilities are located. It typically has highly accessible streets and a relatively small resident population.

• Suburban Area

  The suburban area is a predominantly residential area surrounding the central core. Neighborhoods within this area are differentiated by their form and the population they house.

• Urban Periphery or Outskirts

  The periphery or outskirts is a very heterogeneous sector that hosts big-box stores, industrial estates, and dormitory towns.

Sustainable Urban Development

Sustainable development aims to maintain the current level of development through the rational use of natural resources. It seeks to achieve a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation.

Settlement Patterns and Urban Growth

Settlement patterns are broadly categorized as rural and urban.

Rural Settlement Patterns

• Linear Settlement: Houses are arranged linearly along a pathway.
• Concentrated Settlement: Houses are grouped around a central core.

Urban Growth Dynamics

In Developed Countries:

• The primary cause of urban growth was the development of industry and services.
• Urban population growth is often stagnant or slow.
• Significant urban population growth began in the late eighteenth century.

In Developing Countries:

• Urban expansion is often due to a massive influx of immigrants.
• The current growth of the urban population is very high.
• Urban growth is driven by rural poverty and high natural population growth.