
The main characteristics of urban settlements are:
- The main occupation of the people is related to secondary and tertiary sectors.
- There is a density of human structures such as houses, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and railways.
- Urban settlements are large in size with a high density of population.
What determines the size of an urban settlement?
An urban settlement's size depends largely on its population, with the area growing as more people settle there. Most countries have very specific population minimums before a settlement is considered urban; but a town, a city and a metropolitan area are a few types of urban settlements.
What are the characteristics of urbanization?
There is a density of human structures such as houses, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and railways. Urban settlements are large in size with a high density of population. What are the problems of urbanization?
What are the characteristics of urban community?
Some of the most important characteristics of urban community are as follows: 1. Large size and high density of population 2. Heterogeneity 3. Anonymity 4. Mobility and transiency 5. Formality of relations 6. Social distance 7. Regimentation 8. Segmentation of personality.
What are the salient features of a sociological analysis of urban community?
A sociological analysis of urban community contains several salient features. They are as follows: 1. Size: As a rule, in the same country and at the same period, the size of an urban community is much larger than that of a rural community. In other words, urbanity and size of a community are positively correlated.

What are the 5 characteristics of an urban region?
Top 8 Characteristics of Urban Community – Explained!Large size and high density of population: ADVERTISEMENTS: ... Heterogeneity: Urban population is heterogeneous. ... Anonymity: ... Mobility and transiency: ... Formality of relations: ... Social distance: ... Regimentation: ... Segmentation of personality:
What are the characteristics of rural and urban settlement?
What are the differences between rural and urban settlements?Rural settlementsUrban settlementsRural people are less mobile and therefore, social relations among them are intimate.In urban areas, on the other hand, the way of life is complex and fast, and social relations are formal.4 more rows
What are the characteristics of urban structure?
Characteristics of the urban form range from, at a very localized scale, features such as building materials, facades, and fenestration to, at a broader scale, housing type, street type, and their spatial arrangement or layout. The concept of urban form encompasses also nonphysical aspects such as density.
What is urban society and its characteristics?
: a society that is typical of modern industrial civilization and heterogeneous in cultural tradition, that emphasizes secular values, and that is individualized rather than integrated —contrasted with folk society.
What is the characteristics of rural settlement?
A rural area is an open swath of land that has few homes or other buildings, and not very many people. A rural areas population density is very low. Many people live in a city, or urban area. Their homes and businesses are located very close to one another.
What are characteristics of settlement?
A settlement is a place where people live. Settlements can be as small as a single house in a remote area or as a large as a mega city (a city with over 10 million residents). A settlement may be permanent or temporary. An example of a temporary settlement is a refugee camp.
What are urban settlements?
An urban settlement is where displaced populations settle within an urban agglomeration such as a town or city. A master plan usually divides towns or cities into zones regulated by norms based on specific sectors such as housing, hygiene, habitat, and environment.
What are the four characteristics of urbanization?
The characteristics of urbanization include, structured facilities, residential, employment centre, communication network, infrastructural facilities, size, density of population, family, marriage, occupation, class extremes, social heterogeneity, social distance, system of interaction and mobility.
What are the main features and advantages of urban settlements?
There are often roads of a better quality and well-built houses in urban areas. Transport facilities are highly developed and often receive regular funding for updates. It can be faster to get from place to place in a city or town.
What is the difference between rural and urban settlement?
An urban settlement is an area with a high population density and large size, where the people are occupied in non-agricultural industries. On the other hand, a rural settlement has a lower population density and size, and the inhabitants are engaged in agricultural production.
Which is not the characteristics of urban communities?
1 Answer. Predominance of Primary relations is not a Characteristics of Urban Community.
What are the characteristics of rural settlement class 7?
Answer:Rural SettlementUrban SettlementMajority of the population in rural settlement is engaged in primary activities like agriculture and fishing.Majority of the population in urban settlement is engaged in secondary activities like industries, trade and commerce.It has small population.It has large population.1 more row
What are the 5 characteristics of rural community?
The important features of a rural community are:Communities are smaller in size and sparsely populated (i.e the density of population is less).The population shows homogeneity of language, culture, customs etc.The main occupation is agriculture.People live in close contact with nature.Slower means of communication.More items...
What are the 3 characteristics of rural communities?
They have many general characteristics, such as:A small population size.A generally low population density.A smaller choice when it comes to shopping, medical services, and so on.A lower cost of living.Lower wages and more poverty.Lots of nature and natural resources, farming, and ranch land; and.An aging population.
What are the main features of rural and urban settlement in India?
A rural settlement tends to have small population. Urban settlement often has a large population size and density. Physical environment determine the site of a settlement depend on: Water supply – Water is essential for human survival and agricultural activities.
What are the characteristics of an urban area?
Aside from the population, urban places also have common characteristics. Think of ‘urban’ and many people think of roads, buildings and infrastructure like electricity cables and sewage systems. Others will think of shops, offices and busy transport hubs.
What does it mean when a settlement faces south?
facing south – in the northern hemisphere, it means the settlement will be warmed by the sun during the day (also good for growing crops locally)
How have cities developed?
Historically cities have developed spontaneously – meaning their growth has not been planned. A combination of natural increase and in-migration from rural areas led to the increase in population in cities. This is still the case for cities in the poorest countries. Cities in the lowest income countries frequently have rapid and spontaneous urban development. Migration and a high rate of population growth result in a shortage of adequate housing, so people are forced to build their own dwellings. These areas are sometimes known as slums, shanty towns, favelas, champas and bustees but are properly known as informal settlements. Informal settlements where the residents do not own the land and do not pay rent to a landlord are known as squatter settlements.
What is a millionaire city?
Millionaire city – a city of at least one million people. Megacity – a city of at least 10 million people. Metacity / hypercity / megalopolis – a city of at least 20 million people (UN Habitat, 2006). These terms are also used to describe large conurbations such as the Pearl River Delta area in southern China.
How many people are in a town?
Town – varying in size from a few thousand people to several tens of thousands , depending on the characteristics of the town
Why are cities in the poorest countries forced to build their own homes?
Cities in the lowest income countries frequently have rapid and spontaneous urban development. Migration and a high rate of population growth result in a shortage of adequate housing, so people are forced to build their own dwellings.
How many people are in an urban area?
United States: the US considers urban to refer to two types of area – Urbanized Areas (UAs) of 50,000 or more people, and Urban Clusters (UCs) of at least 2,500 and less than 50,000 people (US Census Bureau, 2016)
What is an urban settlement?
An urban settlement is a densely populated area comprising mostly man-made structures that contain all of a society's administrative, cultural, residential and religious functions. In some countries, like the Soviet Union and India, official urban municipalities may be considered an urban settlement if they meet population ...
What is the economic basis of an urban settlement?
Since the majority of people living in an urban settlement work outside agriculture, professional occupations and industrial manufacturing provide the economy's basis. A centralized government and banking system exist with residents relying on a cash or credit system as opposed to barter.
How many people are in an urban settlement?
In more developed countries, an area is not considered urban until it has at least 20,000 people.
Is a city considered an urban settlement?
Most countries have very specific population minimums before a settlement is considered urban; but a town, a city and a metropolitan area are a few types of urban settlements. Some countries define town and city differently based on size and population, and others use the terms interchangeably.
Characteristic of Rural settlements
Population density is very low. It is 31 to 40 villages per 100 sq. km in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and less than 20 villages per 100 sq. km in Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and some of the North-East part of India.
4. Megalopolis
It is a Greek word, that means “ great city “. It was coined by Jean Gottman in 1987. North to South of Washington of United States is the best example of these type.
5. Conurbation
This term is coined by Patrik Geddes in 1915. The word conurbation is made up of two words, one is ‘ con’ and another is ‘ urban’. That means continuous urbanization.
Characteristics of Urban settlements
Here, the size of population density is very high. In fact, it is larger than the rural community.
What are the characteristics of an urban community?
Some of the most important characteristics of urban community are as follows: 1. Large size and high density of population 2. Heterogeneity 3. Anonymity 4. Mobility and transiency 5. Formality of relations 6. Social distance 7. Regimentation 8. Segmentation of personality.
How does urban life affect personality?
Urban life and personality are affected by the physical and social conditions of urban living—anonymity, social distance, speed and tension, regimentation, impersonal social interaction, mobility and transiency etc. These conditions produce impersonality, insecurity and segmentation of personality, which appear to be universal characteristics ...
What is the impersonality of urban life?
The impersonality of urban life is a necessary and convenient way of urban living. 6. Social distance: City people are physically crowded but socially distant. Social distance is a product of anonymity, impersonality and heterogeneity. Occupational differences may be even more important sources of social distance.
What is routine urban contact?
Most routine urban contacts are of secondary group rather than primary group nature. Most contacts are instrumental, that is, we use another person as a necessary functionary to fulfill our purposes. We do not necessarily interact with entire persons but with people in terms of their formal roles as postman, bus driver, office assistant, policeman and other functionaries. We thus interact with only a segment of the person, not with the whole person.
What is the urban mode of life?
Urban mode of life is quite contrary to traditional rural life, though it has affected rural life which is also in the process of change. Its characteristics are represented by the terms ‘urbanism’ and the process of its expansion is called ‘urbanisation’.
Is the size of an urban community larger than the size of a rural community?
The size of the urban community is much larger than the rural community. Not only this, in urban areas, there is high density of population. Density increases the number of short-term, impersonal and utilitarian social relationships a person is likely to have.
Is urban population heterogeneous?
Urban population is heterogeneous. It consists of various shades of people—different castes, classes, ethnic groups, religions, etc. They are not all alike. Urban community is noteworthy for its diversity. 3. Anonymity: The sheer pressure of number marks for anonymity.
What are the characteristics of an urban community?
They are as follows: 1. Size : As a rule, in the same country and at the same period, the size of an urban community is much larger than that of a rural community.
What is the social existence of an urbanite?
In the urban community the social existence of man revolves round wealth and material possessions. The worth of an urbanite today is being judged not by what he is but by what he has. Status symbols in the form of financial assets, salaries, costly home appliances count a lot for the urbanites.
What is the reputation of urban groups?
As Bogardus observes, the “Urban groups have a reputation for namelessness.” By virtue of its size and population, the urban community cannot be a primary group. Here nobody knows anybody and nobody cares for anybody. The urbanites do not care for their neighbours and have nothing to do with their miseries or pleasures.
What are the factors that contribute to urban communities?
Factors such as the size, density and heterogeneity of the population, extreme occupational specialisation and the class structure prevalent in the urban context lead to such a state of affairs.
What is the most important feature of an urban community?
The most important feature of urban community is its social mobility. In urban areas the social status of an individual is determined not by heredity or birth but by his merit, intelligence and perseverance. Urbanity and mobility are positively correlated.
Why are urbanites important?
The urbanites attach supreme importance to their own welfare and happiness. They hesitate to think or act for the good of others.
What is the social structure of urban communities?
Georg Simmel held that the social structure of urban communities is based on interest groups. The circles of social contact are wider in the city than in the country. There is a wider area of interaction system per man and per aggregate. This makes city life more complex and varied. The city life is characterized by the predominance of secondary contacts, impersonal, casual and short-lived relations. Man, at any rate, the man in the street, virtually loses his identity being treated as a “number” having a certain “address”.
How does urban growth affect the economy?
It can be considered as an indicator of the state of a country’s economic condition as the effect of urban growth directly impacts the country’s economic development. The more the metropolitan area grows, the more employment it generates, and in this way economic growth also takes place. Other challenges are the small growth ...
What is the level of urbanization?
The level of urbanization is considered as an index of economic development. Economic growth results in the shift in demand and therefore to a reallocation of resources –land, labor, and capital- out of agriculture into manufacturing and services.
What is urban growth?
Urban growth is defined as the rate at which the population of an urban area increases. This result from urbanization which is the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas. Urban growth may lead to a rise in the economic development of a country. Urban growth is also referred to as the expansion of a metropolitan or suburban area into ...
Why is urbanization important?
As an economy develops, there is an increase in per capita income and also demand for non-farm goods in the economy. These goods are not heavily land dependent. These are cheaper if produced in the urban sector because all provisions for production these goods are available here.
How does tertiary activity contribute to city growth?
The growth of tertiary activities in a city contributes in a direct way to city growth. In every city, a part of the city tertiary activities are meant for its own population, but a second and perhaps more significant part exists for the benefits of the people in the city’s hinterland.
What are the factors that increase the density of population in cities?
All these factors increase the density of population in the cities. Primary production and urban growth: Primary production has to do with agriculture, fishing, forestry, and mining. It is well-known that, particularly since AD 1850, a large number of mining towns have emerged in India.
Why are non-farm goods cheaper in the urban sector?
These goods are not heavily land dependent. These are cheaper if produced in the urban sector because all provisions for providing these goods are available here.

What Is An ‘Urban’ place?
Characteristics of Urban Places
- Aside from the population, urban places also have common characteristics. Think of ‘urban’ and many people think of roads, buildings and infrastructure like electricity cables and sewage systems. Others will think of shops, offices and busy transport hubs.
Sources
- Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics, 2018. Permanent Population (1978-2016). http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/English/MR/Population/201802/t20180201_392013.html Accessed 17 April 2018. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2012. Kenya Population and Housing Census. Analytical Report on Urbanization, Volume VIII, March 2012. https://www.knbs.or.ke/download/a…
Characteristics of Urban Places: Learning Activities
- Questions
1. Define ‘urban’. 2. Suggest why different countries have their own definitions for ‘urban’. 3. Create a large spider diagram showing characteristics of urban settlements. Ensure you have included the following terms: 3.1. Site 3.2. Situation 3.3. Function 3.4. Hamlet 3.5. Conurbation 3.6. Mega… - Other tasks
For a city you know well, or a city you are interested in, identify its main characteristics according to the main points on this page.