Rank-Size+Rule

Rank-Size Rule

The rank-size rule shows how cities in a particular region or country should be population-wise in a good urban area. The way it works is that the largest city is first, and then every city's population after the first should be 1 over whatever rank they are number of people. The //n//th city has 1///n// of the people in the largest city.

For example,let's say that the largest city in North Carolina is Raleigh, and the second biggest is Durham

RALEIGH = 276,000 people then.... DURHAM = 1/2 of 276,000 people (because they are the 2nd) Citations: [] []

Primate City

Primate cities exist in areas where the rank-size rule does not apply. Primate cities are cities that are disproportionately larger than all other cities in that region; these cities are normally the biggest contributor to the overall economy in that area or could possibly be one of few cities stimulating the economy.

One good example is Mexico City, Mexico.

We can see from the chart that Mexico City has a much greater number of people than the surrounding cities, making it a primate city; Mexico City is also Mexico's center of trade, economics, commerce, politics, culture and social areas. This makes sense because it houses the most people out of Mexico.

A primate city does not just trump surrounding cities in size, but also in influence.

Normally, primate cities are seen in less developed countries, with bad economies, and primate cities disappear as the economy grows and becomes sustainable. Primate cities can also be primate cities because of colonialism--if it was a major port city that many people from outside of the country immigrated to, then naturally that city would be disproportionately larger than others. Also, if the city was the capital of past empires it could be a primate city because of its importance in that empire, everything needed to be there. Citations: [] []

City Models Cities Home Page Main Home Page