Urban human settlements are a captivating mosaic of human ingenuity, diversity, and complexity. It represents the culmination of our quest for connection, opportunity, and community as people come together to form cities across the globe. These urban landscapes range from towering metropolises that never sleep to quaint, tightly-knit neighbourhoods where generations intertwine. Within their confines, we find not only the promise of progress and innovation but also the challenges of congestion, inequality, and sustainability. As we embark on this exploration, we’ll journey through the intricate patterns and dynamic forces that shape urban human settlement, understanding the pivotal role cities play in our global society and the imperative of crafting a harmonious and resilient urban future.
Urban Settlements
Fast urban growth is a modern phenomenon. Until modern times, few settlements entered the population size of more than a few thousand residents. The first urban settlement to arrive at a population of one million was London city by about. A.D. 1810 By 1982 nearly 175 cities in the world had crossed the one million population mark. In the present time, 54 per cent of the world’s population resides in urban settlements in comparison to only 3 per cent in the year 1800.
Classification of Urban Settlements
The interpretation of urban areas differs from one country to another. Some of the general basis of classification is the size of the population, administrative setup and occupational composition.
Population Size
It is an important criterion adopted by most countries to describe urban areas. The lower limit of the population size assigned as urban is 1,500 (Colombia), 2,000 (Argentina and Portugal) 2,500 (the U.S.A. and Thailand), 5,000 (India) and 30,000 ( Japan). Besides the size of the population, the density and part of non-agricultural workers are taken into consideration in India. Countries with a low-density of population may prefer a lower number as the cut-off value compared to densely populated countries. In Denmark, Finland, and Sweden all areas with a population size of 250 persons are called urban. The minimum population for a town is 300 in Iceland, whereas, in Venezuela and Canada, it is 1,000 persons.
Occupational Structure
In some countries, such as India, the important commercial activities in addition to the size of the population in assigning a settlement as urban are also taken as a criterion. Likewise, in Italy, a settlement of more than 50% of its economically productive population involved in non-agricultural pursuits is called urban. India has set this criterion at 75%.
Administration
The administrative structure is a criterion for assigning a settlement as urban in some countries. For example, in India, a settlement of any size is categorised as urban, if it has a municipality, Notified Area Council or Cantonment Board. Similarly, in Latin American nations, such as Brazil and Bolivia, any administrative capital is recognised as urban irrespective of its population size.
Location
The location of urban centres is analysed with reference to their function. For example, the sitting demands of a holiday resort are quite distinct from those of an industrial town, a seaport or a military centre. Strategic towns require places extending natural defence; mining towns demand the proximity of economically valuable minerals; industrial towns usually require local energy supplies or raw materials; tourist centres need attractive landscapes, or marine seashore, a spring with medicinal water or old monuments, ports need a harbour etc. Sections of the initial urban settlements were based on the availability of water, fertile land and materials for buildings. Today, while these factors remain valid, modern technology performs a vital role in discovering urban settlements distant from the source of these materials. Piped water can be provided to a faraway settlement, the building material can be carried from long distances. Apart from the site, the circumstances play an important role in the development of towns. The urban centres which are positioned close to an important trade route have undergone rapid development.
Functions of Urban Centres
The initial towns were centres of administration, industry, trade religious importance and defence. The importance of defence and religion as distinguishing functions has diminished in general, but other functions have entered the list. Today, several new functions, such as residential, recreational, transport, mining, manufacturing and most recent activities associated with information technology are conducted in specialised towns. Some of these functions do not necessarily need the urban centre to have any significant relationship with their neighbouring rural areas. In spite of towns playing multiple functions, we refer to their principal function. For example, Sheffield is an industrial city, Chandigarh is an administrative city, London is a port city and so on. Large cities have a rather greater variety of functions.
Furthermore, all cities are dynamic and over a period may evolve new functions. Most of the early 19th-century fishing ports in England have now also grown as tourism. Many of the old market cities are now known for production activities. Towns and cities are categorised into the following classes. Administrative Towns National capitals, in which the administrative offices of central governments, such as New Delhi, Canberra, Washington D.C., London, Beijing, Addis Ababa etc. are called administrative cities. Provincial (sub-national) cities can also have administrative functions, for example, Albany (New York), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and Victoria (British Columbia).
Commercial Towns and Trading
Agricultural market towns, such as Kansas City and Winnipeg; financial and banking centres like Amsterdam and Frankfurt; large inland centres like St Louis and Manchester; and transportation links such as Baghdad, Agra and Lahore have been significant trading centres.
Cultural Towns
Places of pilgrimage, such as Mecca, Jagannath Puri, Varanasi Jerusalem etc. are considered cultural cities. These urban hubs are of great religious importance.
Additional functions which the cities offer are health and sport (Miami and Panaji), manufacturing (Pittsburgh and Jamshedpur), mining and quarrying (Broken Hill and Dhanbad) and transportation (Singapore and Mughal Sarai).
CLASSIFICATION OF TOWNS BASED ON FORMS
An urban settlement may be linear, star or crescent-shaped and square. In fact, the form of the settlement, style of buildings and architecture and other constructions are a result of its historical and cultural traditions. The roads expand from the govt headquarters such as Piazza, Arat and Amist Kilo roundabouts. Mercato has markets which grew with time and is supposed to be the largest market between Johannesburg and Cairo. A multi-faculty university, several good schools and medical colleges make Addis Ababa a good educational centre. It is a terminal station for the rail route of the Djibouti-Addis Ababa. Bole Airport is a comparatively new airport. The city has seen rapid growth because of its multifunctional character and being a large nodal centre established in the centre of Ethiopia.
Frequently Asked Questions About Urban Human Settlements
What defines an urban settlement, and how does it differ from rural areas?
Urban settlements are characterized by higher population density, infrastructure development, and non-agricultural economic activities, distinguishing them from rural areas.
How have urbanization trends evolved over time, and what factors drive urban growth?
Urbanization has increased globally due to industrialization, job opportunities, and improvements in living conditions. Factors like rural-to-urban migration also contribute.
What are some common challenges faced by urban areas, and how can they be addressed?
Challenges include congestion, pollution, housing affordability, and social inequality. Solutions may involve sustainable urban planning, public transportation, and affordable housing initiatives.
What role do cities play in economic development, culture, and innovation?
Cities often serve as economic hubs, centres of culture, and hotspots for innovation and creativity, attracting diverse populations and fostering economic growth.
How can sustainable urban development practices promote environmentally friendly, inclusive, and resilient cities?
Sustainable urban development focuses on efficient land use, green infrastructure, public spaces, and social equity, contributing to environmentally conscious and livable urban environments.