بررسي و تحليل تغييرات در سلسله مراتب شهري استان آذربايجان غربي در يك دوره 50 ساله (85 - 1335)

An Analysis of Changes in Urban Hierarchy in the West Azerbaijan Province (1335-1385

Using descriptive-analytical method, this paper reviews the urban hierarchy and changes in the urban network of the West Azerbaijan Province. The paper attempts to review the pattern of urban settlement distribution, city orders and patterns of distribution of population among the cities. To do this, by employing models such as "analysis of nearest neighborhood", "rank-size rule" and "the entropy index", data from ]335 up to 1385 censuses have been analyzed. According to the findings of the research distribution pattern of urban settlements of the Province has been accidental, tending to normal. Due to the existence of primate city of Urrnia, the urban hierarchy of the Province has not followed the size-rank rule and unevenness is evident. Furthermore, uneven distribution of population and move towards more uneven population settlement in urban areas has been occurred in recent years. In order to reach an optimum urban and spatial hierarchy, taking into account justice in distribution offacilities and services, and creating equal opportunities for all cities of the Province is a necessity.