urbanization
Rural-to-city shift
Urbanization is the process by which populations shift from rural areas to cities, or by which areas become more city-like in character.
The term describes both demographic movement and physical transformation—farmland giving way to housing developments, villages growing into towns.
Rapid urbanization has strained the city's infrastructure.
The adjective urbanized describes places that have undergone this change.
Urban profile against atmosphere
- skyscrapersExtremely tall urban buildings
- downtownCentral business district
- highriseMultistory urban building
- towersTall vertical structures
buildings · streetscape · boulevard · avenue · plaza · district · landmarks · facade
Transition to factory-based economy
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
- transformationThorough change in form
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- prosperityGood fortune, success
opportunity · employment · innovation · economies · globalization · expansion · boomtown · infrastructure
Sectioning areas by use
- redevelopmentRebuilding an existing area
- gentrificationWealthy influx displacing locals
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- constructionProcess of building something
realty · infrastructure · masterplan · ordinance · permits · setback · rezoning · greenbelt
Capacity exceeded dangerously
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
- crowdednessState of overcapacity
- compactnessState of being compressed
- agglomerationCollected mass of parts
concentration · clustering · saturation · throng · multitude · highrise · tenement · apartment
Environmental harm from waste
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- greenspaceVegetated public land
smog · runoff · impervious · emissions · wasteland · brownfield · greening · stormwater
Permanent change of residence
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- immigrationRelocating abroad permanently
- emigrationLeaving homeland permanently
- resettlementReestablishing in new place
influx · settlers · assimilation · mobility · uprooting · transmigration · cityward · depopulation
Local governing district
- mayorElected head of municipality
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
- civicPertaining to community affairs
- metropolitanOf a major city
borough · jurisdiction · taxation · ordinance · utilities · administration · charter · alderman
Outer parts of town
- exurbiaResidential zone past suburbs
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- annexationAbsorbing territory into jurisdiction
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
periurban · subdivision · tract · cul-de-sac · greenfield · leapfrog · dormitory · ranchette
skyline
Urban profile against atmosphere
- skyscrapersExtremely tall urban buildings
- downtownCentral business district
- highriseMultistory urban building
towers · buildings · streetscape · boulevard · avenue · plaza · district · landmarks · facade · sidewalk
industrialization
Transition to factory-based economy
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
- transformationThorough change in form
- developmentProgress toward maturity
prosperity · opportunity · employment · innovation · economies · globalization · expansion · boomtown · infrastructure · capitalism
zoning
Sectioning areas by use
- redevelopmentRebuilding an existing area
- gentrificationWealthy influx displacing locals
- developmentProgress toward maturity
construction · realty · infrastructure · masterplan · ordinance · permits · setback · rezoning · greenbelt · comprehensive
overcrowding
Capacity exceeded dangerously
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
- crowdednessState of overcapacity
- compactnessState of being compressed
agglomeration · concentration · clustering · saturation · throng · multitude · highrise · tenement · apartment · inhabitants
pollution
Environmental harm from waste
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
greenspace · smog · runoff · impervious · emissions · wasteland · brownfield · greening · stormwater · microclimate
relocation
Permanent change of residence
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- immigrationRelocating abroad permanently
- emigrationLeaving homeland permanently
resettlement · influx · settlers · assimilation · mobility · uprooting · transmigration · cityward · depopulation
municipality
Local governing district
- mayorElected head of municipality
- councilAdvisory deliberative group
- civicPertaining to community affairs
metropolitan · borough · jurisdiction · taxation · ordinance · utilities · administration · charter · alderman · commissioner
outskirts
Outer parts of town
- exurbiaResidential zone past suburbs
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- annexationAbsorbing territory into jurisdiction
satellite · periurban · subdivision · tract · cul-de-sac · greenfield · leapfrog · dormitory · ranchette
- civilization elementsart, music, literature, language, religion
- history termsempire, dynasty, colonialism, Renaissance, Enlightenment
- human-environment interactionfarming, fishing, hunting, mining, logging
- Victorian eraparlour, Victorian etiquette, etiquette, parlor games, courtship
- Industrial Revolutionsteam engine, railroad, factory, coal, iron
- comparative historycolonialism, imperialism, revolutions, modernization, industrialization
urbanizationruralization
Shift toward country living
urban flight · suburban sprawl · white flight · rural exodus · counterurbanization
urbanizationrewilding
Restoring natural ecosystems
deindustrialization · urban decay · land restoration · reforestation · greening
urbanizationpastoralism
Mobile livestock husbandry
agrarianism · return to nature · wilderness preservation · rural life · simple living
- rapid urbanizationQuick expansion of cities