City

A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The meaning of the word "city" changes depending on where you are in the world. Some places use the term for very small communities, while others reserve it for much larger ones. In general, a city is a permanent place where many people live closely together, and most of them work at jobs that are not related to farming.

Cities usually have many systems to support their residents, like housing, transportation, sanitation, and utilities. Because people live close together, it is easier for them to share ideas, goods, and services. This closeness helps government organizations and businesses work better.

In the past, only a small number of people lived in cities. But in the last two hundred years, more and more people have moved to cities in a process called urbanization. Today, more than half of the world population lives in cities. This change has big effects on the whole planet, such as shaping climate change and global health. Because of this, many people are working to make cities more sustainable development and sustainable cities. Even though cities can face problems like pollution, living closely together can help reduce the amount of space and resources each person uses.

Meaning

Urban settlements

Different places have different ideas about how many people a city or town should have. In the U.S., most states say a city needs between 1,500 and 5,000 people, but some places don’t have any special number they use. Countries count their people in different ways too. They look at things like how many people live close together, how many homes there are, what jobs people have, and what kinds of buildings are there to decide if a place is a city.

City

A city is usually bigger than other places where people live. It also has special jobs and important meanings that leaders give to it. Sometimes “city” means the buildings and streets, and sometimes it means the people who live there. Cities are often important centers for jobs, money, religion, and culture for the areas around them. Big cities usually have leaders, rules, and ways to collect money to help pay for things like schools and roads.

Population size, density

Today, people use a special way to decide if a place is a city: if it has at least 50,000 people living close together. This idea was created by groups like the European Commission, OECD, World Bank, and others, and approved by the United Nations in March 2021 to help compare countries.

In specific countries

In Australia, each state has its own idea of what makes a city.

In the United Kingdom, a city gets its special status from the Crown, and it keeps it forever, except for a few changes in rules. Because there are no strict rules, some cities are very small, like St Davids, which had only 1,751 people in 2021.

Etymology

The word city comes from the Old French: cité, which itself comes from the Latin: civitas, meaning "citizenship" or "state." The idea of civilization may also come from the same Latin root civitas, which originally meant 'citizenship' or 'community member.' Over time, this idea became linked with urbs, a word that means 'city' in a physical sense.

In the study of place names, the names of individual cities and towns are called astionyms. This word comes from the Ancient Greek words ἄστυ (meaning 'city or town') and ὄνομα (meaning 'name').

Geography

Urban geography looks at cities both from a big picture view and inside their own layouts. Experts think cities take up about 3% of Earth’s land.

Cities often grew where there was water. Even with trains, most people still live near coasts or rivers. Cities usually cannot grow their own food, so they need to trade with areas outside the city. Sometimes, special towns like mining towns don’t need this trade.

Most cities have a central area with important buildings. These areas show how important the city is. Today, we call this area the city center or downtown, and it might also be a central business district.

Cities have public spaces anyone can visit. These include parks, open land, and shared areas. Public art and green spaces give people places to relax and help keep the city cooler.

Cities can grow in many ways. Some follow the shape of the land, like hills or rivers. Others have streets that lead to a center, like spokes on a wheel. Some cities have streets that cross each other at right angles, making a grid. These patterns help organize how people live and move around.

Urban areas often spread out far beyond the city limits. This spread includes suburbs and areas where people live and work far from the city center. Some big cities merge together to form large groups of urban areas.

History

Main article: History of cities

Further information: Urban history, Historical urban community sizes, and List of largest cities throughout history

Cities began as smaller settlements and grew in many different ways. Some of the oldest cities include Jericho, Aleppo, Byblos, Faiyum, Yerevan, Athens, Matera, Damascus, and Argos, which have been lived in for a very long time.

Cities are places where many people live close together. They have been important for thousands of years. In the past, cities often grew because of farming, which allowed people to have more food and live together. Cities also became important for trade, protection, and government.

Ancient times

"Ancient city" redirects here. For other uses, see Ancient city (disambiguation).

Some of the earliest known settlements are Jericho and Çatalhöyük, dating back to the eighth millennium BC. The city of Uruk in ancient Iraq, from the mid-fourth millennium BC, is often considered the first true city.

In the fourth and third millennium BC, big cities grew in places like Mesopotamia, India, China, and Egypt. These cities were centers for trade, politics, and religion. Some had many people, while others focused on special jobs.

China built cities based on special designs. In Egypt, cities like Amarna were planned with different homes for different levels of people.

In Mesopotamia, many cities were ruled by kings and used a writing system called cuneiform. The Phoenician traders built cities from Tyre to Carthage.

In Greece, cities called polis were groups of people who ruled themselves. Rome grew to be the biggest city, with over one million people, and helped shape many other cities.

In the Americas, early cities developed in places like the Andes and Mesoamerica. Later, big cities like Mexico City grew from older settlements.

Middle Ages

After the Roman Empire ended, many cities in Europe changed. Some got smaller, but they stayed important. In the East, cities like Constantinople grew very big.

New powerful cities appeared, like those in the Holy Roman Empire and Italy. In West Africa, cities like Timbuktu became rich from trade.

Early modern

In Europe, big nations formed, and capitals like London and Paris grew. Cities in the Americas were built using old Roman ideas.

Industrial age

From the late 18th century, factories caused many people to move to cities. London became very big, and new cities grew around factories. But life in these cities could be hard because of crowding and health problems.

Post-industrial age

In the late 20th century, many factories closed, and some cities faced hard times. But new technology helped some cities become centers for jobs and ideas. Some new cities are being built from scratch.

Urbanization

Main article: Urbanization

Urbanization is when people move from the countryside to live in cities. This happens because of changes in politics, jobs, and culture. Long ago, most people lived in the country and worked on farms, while towns had markets and small workshops. But with big changes in farming and factories, more people started moving to cities.

Today, more than half of all people in the world live in cities. This started in Europe and the Americas and later spread to Asia and Africa. Some places, like Latin America, have many people in cities, but some of these people live in simple houses without good services. Cities keep growing fast, especially in parts of Asia and Africa. Big cities with millions of people, called megacities, are becoming more common. These cities often have big differences between very rich and very poor people. As cities grow, they need more water and better ways to handle waste.

Government

Further information: Local government

The way cities are run can vary a lot. In many places, the main leader of a city is called the "mayor". Mayors often represent the city, even if they don’t make all the big decisions.

Because cities have many people living close together, there are often more rules and services than in smaller places. City leaders make rules about things like health, transport, and how land is used. They also make sure that important services like education, policing, and firefighting are provided to everyone.

Cities usually take care of their own schools, police, and fire departments. These services are meant to help everyone equally. Sometimes, help comes from a bigger government or private groups.

How cities are managed has changed over time. Big companies now play a big role in deciding how cities develop. This means that sometimes private businesses help make important decisions.

Main articles: Urban planning and Urban design

Urban planning is about thinking ahead to design cities. Planners try to make sure land is used well, and that transportation and other systems work better. They use data to help make good choices for the future. Planning can be tricky because sometimes one choice helps some people but might not help others.

The idea of planning cities goes back thousands of years. Some of the earliest cities were built in organized ways, with streets and areas set aside for different uses. Today, many neighborhoods are carefully planned before anyone moves in.

Society

Cities often have different groups of people living close together but in separate areas. These groups might share similar backgrounds, jobs, or interests, creating small communities within the city. In some places, like the United States, poorer areas are often found closer to the center of the city, while in other countries, such as France, these areas might be on the outskirts.

Historically, cities have traded with rural areas, receiving food in exchange for goods and services. This trade helped cities grow and develop. Today, cities are centers for many jobs, including shopping, entertainment, and services like law and finance. The size of a city can affect incomes, with larger cities often having higher average salaries.

Cities are also important for culture and learning, hosting schools, museums, and theaters. They are known for their architecture, from tall skyscrapers to historic buildings. Being dense, cities help spread news and ideas quickly through various media.

Because of their importance, cities often play key roles in conflicts. They may be targets due to their economic and political significance. Throughout history, many cities have been built with defenses and have seen battles. In modern times, cities can be centers of long-term conflicts, with strategies used to control and protect urban areas.

Climate change

Main article: Climate change and cities

Infrastructure

Urban infrastructure includes important networks and spaces for moving people, using water, providing energy, and supporting public activities. These systems cost a lot to build at first but become cheaper to use over time. Because they are expensive to start, cities often have one main organization managing each type of infrastructure.

Infrastructure is very important for cities because it helps people live, work, and stay healthy. It includes many connected parts that keep working even if some pieces break. The way a city's infrastructure looks today depends on past decisions and what was built before.

Public utilities are basic services that everyone in a city needs, like clean water, electricity, and ways to talk to each other. Good health in crowded cities also needs clean water and proper waste management. Cities use networks to bring water to homes and take away sewage and stormwater.

Modern cities depend on electricity for many things, from home appliances to traffic lights and street lights. Some cities also use fuels like gasoline and natural gas for transportation, heating, and cooking. Telecommunications networks, such as telephone lines and cables, help people connect with each other.

Cities need good transportation so people can travel for work, shopping, and fun. People walk, ride bikes, or use special travel systems like subways and buses. In the past, cities had horses and sidewalks for pedestrians. Bikes were popular for a time, especially in some parts of the world.

Since the middle of the last century, many cities have relied on cars, which changed how cities are built and look. This led to more traffic and the need for highways and wider streets. Bus systems are still very common, and some cities have special bus lanes to help them move faster. Big cities often have popular subway systems too.

Walking and cycling are becoming more popular in many cities as people try to make urban areas healthier and more friendly to the environment. Some cities are finding new ways to reduce car traffic to make life better for everyone.

Housing

The housing where people live is a big challenge for every city. It needs not just places to stay but also systems to keep people safe and help cities grow.

Owning a home can feel important and safe, while renting might cost a lot for people with lower wages. Many people around the world, both in rich and poor countries, do not have a place to live. Because cities have more people packed together, people there often live in apartments instead of houses.

Ecology

Main article: Urban ecology

Cities have different plants and animals than areas far away from towns. Buildings, trash, and gardens change the land and create new homes for many living things. These changes can help some plants and animals grow, but they can also make it hard for others to survive.

Cities often have many insects, small animals like mice and rats, and birds. Some cities even have animals like coyotes and deer. However, big wild animals are rare in cities. Cities can also hurt the air and soil, making it harder for plants and animals to live there.

Adding parks, gardens, and trees to cities helps everyone — people, plants, and animals — stay healthier and happier. Spending time in nature, even just two hours a week, can make people feel better and live healthier lives.

World city system

As the world becomes more connected through business, politics, technology, and culture (called globalization), cities have taken on an important role in international affairs, going beyond what countries alone can do. This connection between cities goes back to ancient trade routes like the Silk Road and groups like the Phoenicians and Greek city-states, and continues today with fast internet and global communication.

A global city, also called a world city, is a major center for trade, money, new ideas, and markets. These cities are important not just because they are big, but because they have power and influence in the world. Cities like New York City have many important buildings and areas where business and money activities happen. However, some people think the idea of a "global city" focuses too much on money and not enough on other important things.

Cities also work together across borders, sometimes acting independently of their countries. For example, some cities have partnerships with others around the world. Cities are also part of groups that help with world issues like the environment and climate change. The United Nations has helped cities grow and develop through conferences and programs aimed at making cities better places to live. These efforts include setting goals for sustainable development and helping cities work together to solve problems.

Representation in culture

Further information: Urban fiction

Cities play an important role in stories and art. In the Bible, cities can stand for both good and bad ideas, like Babylon and Jerusalem. Early tales tell of Cain and Nimrod building the first cities, and in old stories from Sumer, Gilgamesh made the walls of Uruk.

People often see cities as having very different sides — they can feel free but also crowded, rich but also poor, organized but sometimes messy. Some people even prefer life far from cities, a view called anti-urbanism. These ideas shape how stories and movies talk about cities.

Writers and artists have created many works about city life. Famous books by Charles Dickens and James Joyce paint vivid pictures of their hometowns. Movies, too, have shown cities in many ways — first as busy, modern places and later as spots where traffic and crowds cause problems, like in films from the 1960s.

Stories and films also imagine what cities might look like in the future, sometimes as perfect places and other times as troubled ones. Ideas like linking far-off cities together have inspired names such as Nylonkong and dreams of a world city called ecumenopolis.