![]() Some states within the United States are more rural than others, so each state tends to define what qualifies as a town or city very differently. Still, the word “urban” did not enter common usage until the mid-19th century, as numerous major cities emerged in the West during the Industrial Revolution. Lexicographers date the first use of the word “urban” in Early Modern English to 1634, and by the mid-1670s, London had a population of 500,000 ( source). By AD 1200, London had a population of 25,000. The first use of the words “city” and “cities” in English appeared in the 13th century AD as London, England, was rapidly expanding. We find one of the earliest examples of the term used by the ancient 3rd-century BC Roman comedian Plautus in the form “ urbani fiunt rustici” ( source). The Latin word for a walled town or city is urbs, and the English word “urban” derives from the Latin adjective form urbanus. Much of our terminology in the West regarding cities derives from the ancient Mediterranean cultures of Greece and Rome. ![]() UNESCO claims that the earliest known town in the world is Jericho, while Eridu and Uruk were the earliest cities ( source). We usually contrast densely populated urban areas, where individuals carry on various economic activities, with the more sparsely populated rural areas that focus more on agriculture. The word “urban” is an adjective that describes something in or relating to a town or city. While an absolute definition can be elusive, the general concepts themselves are not hard to grasp, so let’s look at each in turn. However, new data-driven definitions are currently under development. The actual cutoff point between each of these - urban, suburban, and rural - can appear somewhat arbitrary, though ( source).Ĭommon measurements used to distinguish them include population size and density, economic activity, linear distance from the central city, and housing type. Urban and suburban areas are both part of metropolitan areas, which we regard as distinct from rural areas. SuburbanĪccording to Bloomberg, about 52 percent of Americans describe their neighborhood as suburban, while 27 percent describe their community as urban and 21 percent rural ( source). This article will cover the fundamental differences between urban and suburban environments and the processes of urbanization and suburbanization. A suburban area by contrast includes the single-family residential and mixed-land use areas that are either located within an urban area or just outside of one. The United States government has clear definitions of what constitutes a rural area and an urban one, but what about the suburbs?Īn urban area is the area within the city limits and is characterized by denser community structures like apartment buildings and high-rises. Since most Americans describe their living area as suburban, you would think we’d have a firmer definition of what distinguishes an urban environment from a suburban one. ![]()
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