Chapter 7: The Urban World
(336 - 375)
Urban Geography-
Approaches to Studying Settlements:
Two main approaches:
Systems of settlements: Focus on how cities are distributed and linked functionally.
Analysis of single settlements as complex systems: Examining internal structures of cities in terms of residential, commercial, and public uses of urban land.
Origins of Permanent Settlements:
Emergence linked to agricultural development, replacing nomadic practices.
Shifted from subsistence to surplus distribution and later evolved into trade and industrial hubs.
Rural vs. Urban Settlements:
Rural settlements: Primarily engaged in agricultural activities.
Urban settlements: Primarily non-agricultural in nature.
Approaches in Urban Geography:
Focus on spatial distribution and complex interactions in city systems.
Analysis of human geographic patterns, interactions, and structures within cities.
Evolution in Urban Geography:
Transition from studying national urban systems to a broader focus on global cities and world systems.
Influence of globalization (economic, cultural, political) reshaping urban systems worldwide.
Impact of Communication Technologies:
New communication technologies have reshaped urban dynamics, enabling remote collaboration for people and businesses.
Urbanization and Growth:
Urbanization: Increasing proportion of the population residing in cities.
Urban growth: Actual increase in urban population, often facilitated by new housing construction on urban peripheries.
Example: Delhi, India - Demonstrates urban growth through the construction of high-rise residential towers to accommodate a rising population.
An Urbanizing World-
Early Settlements and Rural Dominance:
Early permanent settlements were linked with dense agricultural populations.
For most of history, the majority of the global population resided in rural areas.
Villages emerged around 12,000 years ago with the advent of farming, anchoring people to agricultural activities.
Development of Urban Centers:
Larger permanent settlements emerged around 3,500 years ago due to farming advancements and expanded trade networks.
These developments allowed for engagement in non-agricultural activities, fostering the growth of early urban centers.
Historical Urban Population Growth:
Urban population growth was slow until the Industrial Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution prompted rural-to-urban migration, accelerating urbanization.
Recent Urbanization Trends:
Urban population growth has been rapid and varied between more and less developed regions.
In 1800, urban dwellers made up only 3% of the global population, growing to 14% by the late 19th century.
Presently, over half of the global population resides in urban areas, with nearly 500 cities having populations exceeding a million.
UN projections estimate that by 2050, nearly two-thirds of the global population will live in urban areas.
Defining Urban Areas-
Varied Definitions Across Countries:
Different countries employ varying criteria such as size, population density, and economic structure to define urban areas.
Portugal defines urban areas as agglomerations of 10,000 or more, while Norway considers localities of 200 or more.
Chinese Definition Complexity:
China's definition of urban areas revolves around complex administrative guidelines, with cities surrounded by rural areas.
Cities like Chongqing have a highly built-up urban core amidst vast rural territories, complicating their classification as cities.
Urban Definition Challenges:
The lack of a universally accepted definition based solely on population size poses challenges in comparing urban data globally.
Urban Definitions in Canada:
Canada previously defined urban areas as places with over 1,000 people and a population density of 400 persons per km².
Statistics Canada revised the approach, categorizing areas as population centres based on size:
Small population centre: Population between 1,000 and 29,999
Medium population centre: Population between 30,000 and 99,999
Large population centre: Population greater than 100,000
Impact on Data Comparisons:
Differing and evolving definitions of urban areas across countries impact data consistency, making cross-country comparisons challenging.
Conceptualizing Cities-
City vs. Urban Area:
City: A self-governing political entity with defined boundaries, having its own government for tax collection and service provision.
Urban Area: Built-up regions of varying population sizes, including cities, towns, suburbs, and villages, often extending beyond city limits.
City Definition:
The city refers to a municipality with fixed boundaries and a locally elected government.
Suburbs may or may not be part of the city's legal entity, leading to duplicated services and unplanned growth.
Urban Area Definition:
Encompasses built-up areas of different sizes, comprising cities, towns, suburbs, and villages, extending beyond city boundaries.
Visible during a night flight, representing illuminated areas, often larger than the city's municipal limits.
Metropolitan Area Definition:
Extends beyond the urban area, encompassing zones functionally connected to a city and surrounding rural areas.
Includes multiple interconnected urban areas and rural zones linked to these urban centers.
Example: Commuters residing outside New York City but working or shopping within its functional sphere contribute to the New York metropolitan area.
Functional Connection in Metropolitan Areas:
Metropolitan areas involve interconnected urban zones and adjacent rural areas, highlighting the functional connection between various urban centers.
Usage of City in Everyday Language:
In everyday language, "city" is often used to refer to multiple municipalities sharing a collective identity, despite having distinct legal boundaries.
Urbanization in the More and Less Developed Worlds-
Urbanization with Industrialization (More Developed World):
Started after the 1750s, coinciding with industrialization.
Expansion of urban areas, and emergence of suburbs, but often marked by poorly planned growth (urban sprawl).
Significant urban population growth due to rural-urban migration.
Presently, around 80% of more developed regions are urban (Canada 81%, US 82%) and expected to exceed 85% by 2050.
Urbanization in Less Developed World:
Began later, mainly in the mid-20th century, independent of industrialization.
Rapid and substantial growth due to both rural-urban migration and high birth rates.
By 2018, 51% of less developed regions were urban, and 49% were rural.
Projected urban population surge to 65% by 2050, with informal settlements emerging at urban margins due to rapid urban expansion.
Global Urban-Rural Dynamics (1950-2050):
Initial convergence of rural and urban populations until 2007, followed by a notable divergence.
Predicts the urban population to reach 68.5% by 2050.
Anticipates urban populations in less developed areas exceeding rural populations soon.
Declining annual growth rates, especially in rural populations of developed regions, and faster urban growth in less developed areas.
Projections and Growth Rates:
Higher growth rates are expected for urban populations in less developed regions.
Negative growth in rural populations in more developed regions, and a sharp decline in rural populations in less developed regions.
The urban growth rate is approximately double the total population growth rate for 2015-2030.
The estimated annual world urban growth rate of 1.35% implies a doubling of the urban population in about 52 years.
Urban Population growth rates: 1950-2000, 2000-2015, and 2015-2030
urban population in LDW and MDW-
Less Developed World:
Latin America & Caribbean: 80% urban population (2018), is expected to reach 88% by 2050.
Africa: 41% urban population (2018), anticipated increase to 59% by 2050.
Asia: 49% urban population (2018), is projected to rise to 66% by 2050.
Notably, China had a 59% urban population, while India had a 34% urban population in 2018.
More Developed World:
Europe: Urban population set to rise from 74.5% (2018) to 84% by 2050.
North America: Urban population is expected to increase from 82% (2018) to 89% by 2050.
Urbanization Trends:
Diverse urbanization levels exist within less developed regions (Latin America, Africa, Asia).
Significant urban growth in Asia is mainly influenced by China and India, relatively less urbanized countries.
Future Urbanization Challenges:
Highly urbanized areas in more developed regions face limitations in further urbanization.
Continued urban growth is possible through immigration and natural population increase.
Eventually, urbanization may reach saturation, leading to potential de-urbanization scenarios.
Considerations:
The future trajectory of urbanization in highly urbanized regions poses a significant question for the 21st century.
Megacity-
Urban Population Growth:
Most urban growth occurs in cities with populations under 500,000, showcasing widespread but smaller-scale urbanization.
Megacities, with populations over 10 million, depict considerable and unequal growth patterns globally.
Megacity Growth Facts (1950-2030):
In 1950, only two megacities existed: New York (12.3 million) and Tokyo (11.3 million).
By 1975, Tokyo (26.6 million), New York (15.9 million), Shanghai (11.4 million), and Mexico City (10.7 million) became megacities.
2018 marked 33 megacities, projected to increase to 43 by 2030, mainly in less developed countries.
Distribution of Megacities:
A majority of megacities in 2018 were in less developed countries (28 out of 33).
By 2030, 10 more cities are expected to join the megacity list, predominantly in less developed regions.
Projected Megacity Growth (2018-2030):
Anticipated significant growth in African (Lagos, Kinshasa, Cairo) and South Asian cities (Delhi, Dhaka, Karachi, Lahore).
Delhi is foreseen as the world's largest city by 2030, expected to add over 10 million people.
Emergence of Mega-Urban Regions:
The potential emergence of mega-urban regions like the Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Guangzhou region in China and West African urban corridors.
Significance of Megacities:
Three critical megacities (Tokyo, London, and New York) hold essential roles in the global economy.
Challenges such as infrastructure, congestion, pollution, crime, and poverty confront megacities in less developed countries, reflecting future urban issues.
The Origins and Growth of Cities-
Cities and Social Transformation:
Cities are both a result of and catalyst for social changes throughout history.
Development and forms of cities have varied across agricultural, industrial, colonial, and post-colonial eras.
Urban Revolutions:
The Agricultural Revolution marked the initial urban revolution, giving rise to settlement forms evolving into cities.
The second urban revolution, from around 1750 with the Industrial Revolution, spurred rapid urban growth, technological advancements, and state expansion.
Connection with Civilizations:
The term "cities" shares roots with "civilizations" (Latin: civitas), indicating a close relationship between urbanization and cultural advancements.
Urban emergence coincided with significant cultural advancements related to agricultural development.
Urban Hearth Areas and Early Civilizations:
Four urban hearth areas contributed to early civilizations: Mesopotamia, northern Egypt, the Indus River Valley, and the Huang (Yellow) River Valley.
Initial settlements in these regions evolved from agricultural villages into small urban centers.
Theories on Urbanization Origins:
Multiple theories exist regarding city origins, including agricultural surplus, trade centers, defensive or administrative hubs, and ceremonial or religious significance.
Early cities often had ceremonial elements like temples, pyramids, or ziggurats, highlighting religious importance.
Role of Ceremonial Centers:
Early cities often integrated ceremonial aspects, reflecting their importance as religious and spiritual centers.
Some ancient cities were chosen and designed based on spiritual beliefs and ceremonial considerations, such as Chinese cities planned according to geomancy.
Pre-Industrial Cities-
Pre-Industrial Urbanization:
Varied cultural forms characterized cities before the eighteenth century CE.
Key elements like markets, commerce, craft industries, religious centers, and administration were common.
Urbanization diffused from six major heart areas worldwide over thousands of years.
Urban Hearth Areas and Development:
Urban development occurred at different times across the original six urban hearth areas: Mesopotamia, Nile Valley, Indus Valley, Huang River Valley, Pacific-Andes, and Mesoamerica.
These cities evolved from agricultural settlements due to surpluses, technological advancements, and shifts toward non-agricultural activities.
Specific Urban Developments:
Ancient Greece saw the emergence of over 500 cities and towns like Athens and Sparta with acropolises and agoras.
The Roman Empire built a hierarchical network of towns with Rome as a pinnacle city, exhibiting significant urban features.
China's urbanization continued, with cities like Chang'an facilitating Silk Road interactions.
Urban Growth in Different Regions:
While Europe's urbanization declined after the Roman Empire's fall, the Islamic world saw urban flourishing in cities like Baghdad and Constantinople during the Islamic Golden Age.
Pre-industrial Europe witnessed a resurgence in urbanization around the eleventh century due to commercial activities, population growth, and technological advancements.
Common Traits of Pre-Industrial Cities:
Pre-industrial cities were initially small and compact, serving local trade and agricultural populations.
They fulfilled various roles, including economic centers, ceremonial hubs, administrative centers, and catalysts for social change.
The Urban Revolution and Industrial Cities-
Industrial Revolution's Impact:
Technological advancements in agriculture and manufacturing led to increased food production and rural labor surplus.
Triggered rapid rural-to-urban migration, marking the urban revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Determinants of Industrial City Locations:
Industrial cities were situated near key resources, particularly coal fields, crucial for powering industries.
The steam engine revolutionized production, especially in textile and metal manufacturing, after 1760.
Development and Impact of Industrial Cities:
Industrial cities concentrated activity, capital, machinery, and labor around coal resources and transportation networks.
Unregulated urban growth led to disorganized layouts, urban slums, and environmental pollution.
Monuments and Innovations in Industrial Cities:
Industrial age monuments like railway stations, bridges, skyscrapers, and government buildings were constructed, facilitated by advancements in steelmaking and energy harnessing.
Transportation innovations, such as electric streetcars and automobiles, altered urban forms from centralized to decentralized cities.
Rapid Urban Growth in Industrialized Areas:
Urban population surged in industrialized regions; for instance, the US witnessed growth from 5% in 1800 to over 80% today.
Most developed nations experienced urban transformations over the past two centuries, while rapid urbanization is currently occurring in less developed countries.
The Location of Cities-
Factors Influencing Urban Center Locations:
The city's location is influenced by physical geography (topography) and initial settlement periods.
Geographical factors like accessibility (coastlines, river crossings) are crucial, avoiding rugged, desert, or isolated terrains.
Role of Initial Development Period:
Historical periods determined specific needs for cities; medieval cities focused on defensibility, located on hilltops or harbors, and fortified with walls.
Growth is influenced by trade routes or proximity to other cities for regional trade.
Changing Factors for Urban Success:
The industrial era emphasized access to raw materials, labor force, and markets.
In the globalization era, cities shifted focus from resource extraction and manufacturing to emphasizing urban amenities due to global transportation accessibility.
Illustration from American Cities:
Contrasting growth rates between the Rust Belt (Northeast, Midwest) and Sun Belt (Southeast, Southwest) cities in the last 50 years.
Sun Belt cities experienced higher population growth due to lifestyle opportunities related to climate.
Dynamic Nature of Urban Centers:
The past importance of cities might not hold due to changing situational characteristics affected by global economic and political circumstances.
Formerly thriving cities might decline, while previously lesser-known cities can transform into megacities (e.g., American Rust Belt and Sun Belt examples).
Urban Systems and Hierarchies-
Cities in an Urban System:
Cities function as interconnected systems through economic, political, cultural, and environmental components, operating at various scales from regional to global.
City Functions within the Urban System:
Cities contribute to the urban system by providing specific goods and services, catering to the diverse needs of the population.
Approaches to Examining City Relationships:
Function-based Approach:
Analyzes how each city offers a unique set of goods and services within the urban system, contributing to its overall functionality.
Distribution-based Approach:
Rank-Size Distribution:
Studies the relationship between city sizes in a region, typically following a pattern where the largest city is disproportionately larger than the second largest and so forth.
Urban Primacy:
Focuses on the dominance of a single city within a region, overshadowing others in terms of population, economic activity, or political influence.
Central Place Theory-
Central Place Theory Concepts:
Central Place: Urban centers that perform functions for surrounding hinterlands.
Range of a Good or Service: The maximum distance people are willing to travel to obtain a specific service or good.
Threshold of a Good or Service: The minimum number of people required to support the provision of a particular service or good.
Spatial Competition: Central places compete with one another for customers.
Simplifying Assumptions of the Theory:
Flat, endless plain as the landform.
Uniform distribution of population with identical behavior and purchasing power.
Equal ease of movement for people in all locations.
These conditions represent a preliminary stage in landscape evolution upon which subsequent development is based.
Origin and Concept:
Developed by Walter Christaller to explain the spatial distribution of urban centers based on size and economic functions within an urban system.
Derived from observations of various-sized urban centers in southern Germany providing different goods and services.
Theoretical Model:
Utilizes an idealized, isolated state similar to von Thünen's agricultural land-use model to observe the spatial distribution of central places based on distance and economic function.
Central place refers to any urban center providing goods and services to its surrounding population, regardless of its population size.
Hinterlands and Geometric Patterns:
Hinterland: The market area around a central place where people travel to acquire goods and services.
Ideal hinterland shape: Circular; however, a hexagonal pattern is used for efficiency without overlap.
Size of Hinterlands:
Dependent on the goods and services offered by a central place.
Goods and services have defined ranges and thresholds influencing the hinterland's size.
Hierarchy of Centers:
Establishes a hierarchy of urban centers based on the goods and services they offer.
Small centers provide low-order goods and services locally, while larger ones offer a mix of low and high-order services. Megacities provide exclusive high-order services.
Hierarchical Spatial Distribution:
Identifies seven levels in the hierarchy, showcasing fewer higher-order settlements and numerous lower-order ones.
Settlements of the same order are equidistant, forming a nested hierarchy of hinterlands.
Application of Central Places to Hockey Associations and Teams in Canada
Hockey Associations in Canada:
Canada boasts numerous youth house league hockey associations, often centered around local arenas in communities.
These associations serve as community hubs where neighbors interact while their children participate in hockey practices and games.
In many regions, small communities or urban neighborhoods form umbrella associations to create representative (rep) hockey teams composed of the most skilled players.
Representative teams travel to play against similar teams from neighboring towns and cities, forming a significant network of teams across the country.
Some small cities in Canada have junior hockey teams affiliated with the Canadian Hockey League, offering a quasi-professional platform for talented young players.
Canada's largest cities, such as Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, have professional hockey teams in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Other cities like Quebec City and Hamilton aspire to have professional hockey teams, and NHL teams employ some of the world's best hockey players.
The example demonstrates the principles of central place theory, highlighting varying ranges and thresholds for different levels of hockey participation and attendance. For instance:
House league hockey has a smaller range (few kilometers) and threshold (few thousand families).
Representative teams have a larger range (up to tens of kilometers) and threshold (tens of thousands of families).
NHL games have the largest range (up to 100 kilometers) and threshold (up to a million people) for attendance.
Urban Hierarchies
Urban Systems and Power Distribution:
Urban systems are linked to varying degrees of political and economic power.
Typically, they exhibit a pattern with a small number of large centers holding more social, economic functions, and political influence, alongside numerous small centers with fewer functions and less power.
Urban Center Distribution in Canada:
Canada comprises 212 urban centers with populations over 10,000 and around 800 population centers with 1,000 to 10,000 people.
The Canadian urban system resembles a pyramid-shaped hierarchy, with Toronto as the apex and approximately 793 smaller population centers forming the base.
Population Concentration and Growth:
More than one-third of Canada's 35 million people reside in the five largest cities, each exceeding a million in population.
Larger cities experienced higher growth rates, averaging almost 6.5% between 2011 and 2016, double the national rate. Calgary and Edmonton notably had growth rates surpassing 13%.
Regional Population Characteristics:
Rapid population growth primarily occurs in the western regions of Canada, especially led by Alberta.
Conversely, population declines are prominent in the eastern provinces, particularly the Atlantic provinces.
Characteristics of Major Urban Centers:
Toronto: Acts as Canada's economic hub, housing the most corporate headquarters, and serving as the financial, insurance, telecommunications, and media center. It attracts a high number of immigrants, fostering a diverse population.
Montreal and Vancouver: Hold significant regional economic and cultural importance in Canada.
Urban Centers' Hierarchical Function:
Urban centers higher in the hierarchy provide a wider range of goods and services to larger geographic areas compared to smaller towns and cities at the bottom.
The Rank-Size Distribution Theory-
Rank-Size Distribution Overview:
The concept was developed to facilitate numeric comparisons within and between urban systems.
Ideal scenario: The population of a center is inversely proportional to its rank
the second-ranked city is 1/2 the size of the largest
the third-ranked city is 1/3 the size, and so on
Definition and Application:
Defines a numerical relationship between city size and rank within an urban system.
Generally observed in various urban systems worldwide, notably in economically developed countries like the United States, Germany, Japan, and Canada.
Observations in Canada:
Canada exhibits adherence to the rank-size distribution, especially for the largest cities.
Deviations exist; the largest cities tend to be slightly larger than predicted, while smaller cities are slightly less populous than expected.
Predictive Nature and Characteristics:
Provides a descriptive understanding of population distribution within urban systems.
Commonly found in large, urbanized areas with a history of urbanization, economic stability, and complex socio-political structures.
Generally: Px = P1 / R
Px = population of city x
P1 = population of the largest city (the first-ranked city)
R = population rank of city x
Urban Primacy-
Primate City Overview:
The largest city within an urban system, often the capital, exerts substantial influence economically, politically, and culturally.
Typically more than twice the size of the next-largest city in the system.
Characteristics of Primate Cities:
Dominance in population, economic output, political power, and cultural significance.
Act as magnets for rural and urban migrants due to increased opportunities.
Global Distribution and Occurrence:
Prevalent in smaller urban systems or regions with a limited number of cities and shorter urbanization history.
Common in less developed countries, particularly former colonies, where colonial powers established dominant centers.
Examples and Variants:
Binary Urban Systems: Feature two dominant cities, often the national capital and a modern economic hub (e.g., Barcelona and Madrid in Spain, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in Brazil).
Global Perspective of Urban Systems:
Illustrates how certain cities hold dominant positions in global hierarchies, affecting the overall worldwide urban landscape.
Global Cities-
Global Cities Overview:
Pivotal nodes in the global economy, hold dominant positions in the global urban hierarchy.
Specialize in offering essential global business services like finance, administration, and professional activities.
Evolution and Historical Significance:
Identification of influential cities spans history from ancient centers like Babylon, Rome, and Constantinople to the modern era of globalization.
The emergence of global cities gained prominence with economic globalization in the late 20th century.
Key Researchers and Studies:
Hall, Friedmann, Sassen, Beaverstock, Taylor, Abrahamson, and Huang conducted significant analyses related to global cities and the global urban hierarchy.
Importance of Global Cities:
Recognized as critical command and control centers within the globalizing world economy, influencing economic, political, and cultural spheres.
Top Global Cities:
Cities like London (Western Europe), New York (North America), and Tokyo (Pacific Asia) are frequently cited as leading global cities due to their substantial populations and economic control.
Regional Concentration:
Global cities are predominantly concentrated in more developed countries, representing the core areas of the world economy.
Complexity of Global Influence:
The oversimplified idea that only a few cities dominate the global economy disregards the substantial roles played by several other significant cities in the global economic landscape.
Defining Global Cities
Economic Characteristics:
Host corporate headquarters, particularly of transnational companies, significantly impacting global trade.
Key financial centers with institutions managing global economic power and capital control.
Concentration of business services like accounting, advertising, and law, influencing global commerce.
Political Characteristics:
Often house national, subnational, or supranational government organizations (e.g., United Nations).
Receive government support for global competitiveness, host international events, and play distinct political roles beyond being official capitals.
Cultural Characteristics:
Serve as cultural hubs, absorbing diverse ethnic identities, languages, and traditions.
Gateway cities with heterogeneous cultures, hosting major cultural events, film, sports, and art institutions.
Transportation and Communication:
Vital transportation hubs with efficient intra-urban movement and strong interregional and international links.
Concentration of e-commerce and e-business activities, fostering further growth and services concentration.
Environmental Characteristics:
Consider both physical and social environments, focusing on pollution levels, cleanliness, traffic congestion, safety, and well-being.
Prioritize livability, leading efforts in creating more livable urban environments.
The Hierarchy of Global Cities-
GaWC Classification:
Alpha Cities: Full-service world cities with the highest global importance.
Beta Cities: Major world cities with significant influence but lower than alpha cities.
Gamma Cities: Minor world cities with less global significance.
Hierarchy in World City Networks:
Interaction between hierarchical levels influences world city networks.
Flows of capital, knowledge, information, commodities, economic activities, and people drive these interactions.
Global City Ranking Systems:
GaWC, International Cities ranking, Global Power City Index, and Global Cities Index assess cities based on economic, political, and cultural indicators.
Disagreement exists due to varying indicators and weighting methodologies among these ranking systems.
GaWC Rankings:
GaWC categorizes 214 world cities into 49 alpha, 81 beta, and 84 gamma cities.
Top alpha cities include London, New York, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Uneven distribution across Western Europe, Pacific Asia, and North America.
Comprehensive Analysis Indicators:
Evaluation criteria span business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement.
Top cities are mostly from the more developed world, with Pacific Asian cities and Buenos Aires also ranked highly.
Global Cities Connectivity and System:
Global cities form a hierarchical network connected through capital, knowledge, information, commodities, and economic activities.
Connectivity occurs through transnational companies, government arrangements, and cultural institutions.
Regional Dominance and Spheres of Influence:
Some cities, like Miami and London, extend influence beyond their physical location, serving regions (e.g., Miami serving Latin America and London serving Africa and the Middle East).
Analysis of business headquarters, offices, and capital flows identifies 55 global cities, challenging assumptions about global city hierarchies.
A Transit Map of Canada
Canada's Transit Map by Matthew Blackett:
Matthew Blackett created a transit map of Canada, not of transit systems but as interconnected urban locations resembling a transit line.
The map comprises almost 40 distinct lines served by various transit modes: express rail, subways, light rail (LRT), bus rapid transit (BRT), and ferry service.
It features hundreds of stations, including well-known ones like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, alongside unexpected ones like Inukjuak, Davis Inlet, Swift Current, and Argentia.
Canada's predominantly urban population (over 80%) living in approximately 1,000 communities with 1,000 or more residents was a key inspiration for this map.
Blackett deliberately included many small communities in the Canadian North that are typically overlooked on maps, aiming to recognize and include Indigenous communities in the spirit of truth and reconciliation.
As a topological map, it doesn't adhere to scale but emphasizes linkages between locations, reflecting the country's interconnectedness.
While it doesn't accurately represent the true shape of the urban landscape, the map's intentional choices of places and routes aim to preserve the country's overall shape.
This transit map creatively represents Canada's urban nation status
Urbanization Trends in Canada
Urbanization Trends in Canada:
Canada's urbanization rate has been increasing gradually. In 1950, it stood at 60.9%, and by 2018, it reached 81.4%. Projections indicate a rise to 87.3% by 2050.
Urban centers experiencing significant population growth are those near the US border, attracting migrants from other parts of Canada and overseas, particularly those based on manufacturing or service-based economies.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the sole region in Canada witnessing a decline in its urban population.
The urban population in Canada is concentrated in four major areas: the Golden Horseshoe region in southern Ontario, Montreal, and its adjacent region, the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, and the Calgary-Edmonton corridor.
Rural Population in Canada:
Canada's rural population remains relatively stable but represents a declining proportion of the total population, accounting for 18.6% in 2018.
Decades of rural-to-urban migration and ongoing urban sprawl have contributed to this trend.