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Urbanization

The process by which an increasing proportion of population of any area concentrated in the cities (Berry,

2005). The process of urban growth, urban sprawl and urban expansion (Angel, et al. 2005). The population growth of urban areas (Burton, 1982). A "city" refers to a place of relatively dense settlement, so that the city residents cannot grow their own food. Historically, a city population, is always depend upon its "hinterlands" to provide food.

Aspects of Urbanization
Positive Aspect
Average income is high in cities Few people live in poverty It provides employment opportunity Access to amenities etc.

Negative Aspect
Slum development Haphazard growth Congestion and high densities Loss of agricultural land Pollution etc.

Large cities experience high urban growth, because it offers attractions in terms of supply of labour, capital, infrastructure etc. In addition to this, natural increase is also an important contributor.

Stages of urbanization
Three stages (Gibbs, 2000) : The urban population increases at a rate lower than the rural population (Initial stage <36%). Urban population increases at a rate faster than the rural areas (Accelerated stage 60-70%). When a rural population registers a decrease (Terminal stage >70%). It is not necessary that Population concentration leads to huge urban centre but new towns also emerges at the periphery.

Concept of Counter Urbanization

Causes of urbanization Natural Increase: Birth-Deaths


Rural-urban Migration: Push & Pull factors
Reclassification: Rural to Urban category Area annexation: Expansion of city limit by the urban

administrations

Notice that at mid-century only 17.8% of the population of Third World societies lived in cities, but in the fifty years since 1950 that percent has increased to over 40%.

Excessive size
Excessive size both in population and geographical area Where the economic base of the cities is inadequate to

cope with problems created by excessive size

Over Crowding
Too many people occupying too little space and competing for too few services and jobs

Urban Expansion and Loss of Agriculture land


Tremendous amount of land being gobbled up by

sprawl of cites, Specially giant conurbation. The loss of agriculture land to urban/industrial sprawl is of grave concern. Once loss this prime land can not be replaced.

Shortage of urban Services are With too many people in the cities, Government

hard pressed to provide All the human services that are the residence would like or expect Housing shortage occur worldwide. Typically it is the poorest people who suffer the most Other basic services Such as piped sewage system hot and cold running water, decent telephone services , reliable city supply, adequate garbage disposal systems. Educational, Health care and recreational system and facilities.

Slum and Squatter Settlements


Slum are the area of authorized, usually older housing.
While squatter settlements are that unauthorized

on land which the squatter do not owns. The area of tends to lack the essential services of an urban environment such as sewage, water and lighting . As a result Squatter settlements commonly are areas of health problems.

Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a service dilemma that is choking

many cities to a standstill in term of movement of people and goods within the cities, with extremely seriously consequences of wastage of resources (Time and energy of people).

Un-employment and under employment


Employment probably top most people lists of serious

urban problem. Hundreds, even thousands of young people may apply for handful of job in a particular company. The lucky ones may infect, end up with a job that is below their capability, in effect under-employment.

Racial and Social Issues


Unemployment and underemployment along with

other factors, breed a variety of subsidiary problems related to racial and social issues. These vary from region to region.

Environmental Degradation
Pollution of air and water, excessive noise levels, the uglification of the landscape through lack of planning and urban poverty is another serious worldwide problem.
In MDCs people and government are doing something about it. Thus in general the degree of urban degradation is most severe today in cities of LDC.The cities with greatest air pollution

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