Urbanization: Global City
NOTES PACKAGE WEEKS 2-6 JGI216H1 Urbanization
Lecture 1 Notes: Global Context of Urbanization What is urban : “The reorganization of human society from being predominantly rural and agricultural to being predominantly urban and non-agricultural” (Weeks, J. 2008).
Where do we draw the lines? political boundaries economical boundaries daily urban system regions and mega-regions
Conceptual definition of Urban: “A spatial concentration of people whose lives are organized around non-agricultural activities” 1. Population size 2. Space (land area) 3. The ratio of population to space (density or concentration) 4. Economic and social organization Practical definition of Urban: With lack of available data and for expediency, urban is usually defined only by population size. (e.g. 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, or more) In reality, many different countries define “Urban” differently. And, it is hard to clearly discern between rural and urban. Examples of Different Urban Definitions The US:
-UA (urban area): a densely settled population of at least 50,000 people -UC (urban cluster): a densely settled population of 2,500-50,000 people Canada: - Urban place/area: a population of at least 1,000 concentrated within a continuously built-up area, at a density of at least 400/km2 - City: a place with at least 100,000 inhabitants Others: Singapore: a City state (100% urbanites)
Urbanization: Kingsley Davis Definition: „Proportion of the total population concentrated in urban settlements‟
Urbanization Process: “The switch from a spread out pattern of human settlement to one of concentration in urban centers” (Davis, 1965 Level of urbanization Vs rate of urbanization Level of Urbanization - Percent of total population living in urban areas (relative concept) - Different from simple urban growth as a result of population growth in absolute number Rate of Urbanization - Percent increase in total urban population over course of a year - Tells us speed at which urban
Lecture 1 Notes: Global Context of Urbanization What is urban : “The reorganization of human society from being predominantly rural and agricultural to being predominantly urban and non-agricultural” (Weeks, J. 2008).
Where do we draw the lines? political boundaries economical boundaries daily urban system regions and mega-regions
Conceptual definition of Urban: “A spatial concentration of people whose lives are organized around non-agricultural activities” 1. Population size 2. Space (land area) 3. The ratio of population to space (density or concentration) 4. Economic and social organization Practical definition of Urban: With lack of available data and for expediency, urban is usually defined only by population size. (e.g. 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, or more) In reality, many different countries define “Urban” differently. And, it is hard to clearly discern between rural and urban. Examples of Different Urban Definitions The US:
-UA (urban area): a densely settled population of at least 50,000 people -UC (urban cluster): a densely settled population of 2,500-50,000 people Canada: - Urban place/area: a population of at least 1,000 concentrated within a continuously built-up area, at a density of at least 400/km2 - City: a place with at least 100,000 inhabitants Others: Singapore: a City state (100% urbanites)
Urbanization: Kingsley Davis Definition: „Proportion of the total population concentrated in urban settlements‟
Urbanization Process: “The switch from a spread out pattern of human settlement to one of concentration in urban centers” (Davis, 1965 Level of urbanization Vs rate of urbanization Level of Urbanization - Percent of total population living in urban areas (relative concept) - Different from simple urban growth as a result of population growth in absolute number Rate of Urbanization - Percent increase in total urban population over course of a year - Tells us speed at which urban