Robert Szmytkie

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to identify the process of territorial expansion and spatial development in large cities of Poland exemplified by Wrocław, Warsaw and Cracow. This denoted the gathering of information on changes in administrative boundaries as well as population in the cities referred to – from the 13th century all the way through to modern times. The research hypothesis adopted was that cities expand their territories gradually, with each extension of administrative boundaries following a specific pattern and reflecting social and economic growth. The territorial development of a city (territorial change) thus relates to growth (change) in the administrative area, often in the form of expansion in relation to a widening of administrative boundaries, but with narrowing also possible. The spatial development of the city in turn follows the development of urbanised (especially built-up) areas both within the boundaries – and in the immediate vicinity – of the given city (with the development of suburban areas taking place). The latter does not usually result in a change of administrative boundaries. The study was inspired by observations on the specific nature of territorial growth in Wrocław and other large cities in Poland, for which analysis revealed some regularities to the settlement processes during different historical periods. Firstly, changes in the administrative boundaries of large cities followed a pulsatile pattern, with consecutive modifications alternating with periods of stability of variable length. Secondly, the territorial expansion of a city usually came after a period of dynamic social and economic growth both within existing boundaries and in the surrounding zone connected closely with the city and transformed under its influence. In turn, most longer periods in which boundaries were stable corresponded to periods of social and economic stagnation in the given city. Thirdly, the boundaries of cities changed when a certain climax point of population density was exceeded, and the city could no longer grow within its existing boundaries. Each extension contributed to an increase in the administered area and to population growth, albeit with population density decreasing considerably – in statistical terms – given the incorporation of new, less-urbanised areas offering free (potential) land for further urban growth. Fourthly, the sequence of development processes and their specific repeatability are cyclical in nature, and consecutive cycles are seen to end successive stages involving the extension of cities’ administrative boundaries. A single cycle of changes in the administrative boundaries of the city consists of five basic phases. Phase I is the initial phase, which takes place at the moment of foundation of a city, or in the case of subsequent cycles – when there is extension of the city limits. During phase II the number of residents and population density within the city borders increase as a result of socio-economic growth. During phase III population density within the city boundaries continues to increase, and after reaching the limit of its growth potential the city sprawls to the nearest neighbourhood. During phase IV the impact of the city on its neighbourhood stimulates further development of the suburbs. This process may also often encompass suburban villages or smaller towns strongly connected with the city. During phase V the functional link between the city and its neighbourhood (suburbs) is so strong that the administrative boundaries are extended to include suburban areas that represent a natural extension of the city. This contributes to an increase in area and population growth, as well as to a major decrease in population density within the new boundaries. This phase is at the same time the initial phase for the next cycle of a city’s spatial and territorial development. The above described cyclical pattern of territorial growth concerns a specific group of cities – monocentric regional centres developing as a result of the influence of centripetal forces in the physicalism and functional approach. The presented research also reveals that the territorial development of a city is not always consistent with the actual directions of its spatial development. Significant extension of administrative boundaries was typical in the 20th c. in large cities of Poland and other CEECs, and particularly common in the era of their centrally-planned economies, with a focus on planned urbanisation and industrialisation. Currently, cities in this region have entered a phase of dynamic suburbanisation that contributes to the significant development of urban areas, especially around large cities.

Keywords: erritorial expansion, spatial development, development cycle, large cities

Robert Szmytkie [robert.szmytkie@uwr.edu.pl], Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Geografii i Rozwoju Regionalnego

Citation

APA: Szmytkie, R. (2020). Rozrost terytorialny dużych miast w Polsce. Przegląd Geograficzny, 92(4), 499-520. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2020.4.3
MLA: Szmytkie, Robert. "Rozrost terytorialny dużych miast w Polsce". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 92, no. 4, 2020, pp. 499-520. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2020.4.3
Chicago: Szmytkie, Robert. "Rozrost terytorialny dużych miast w Polsce". Przegląd Geograficzny 92, no. 4 (2020): 499-520. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2020.4.3
Harvard: Szmytkie, R. 2020. "Rozrost terytorialny dużych miast w Polsce". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 92, no. 4, pp. 499-520. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2020.4.3

Abstract The aim of the paper is to analyze the population changes in industrial cities on the background of population changes in cities of a different functional type. It was assumed that in the period of dynamic development of the highly specialized industrial function of the city, its population is growing rapidly above average. During the recession of industrial function in this group of cities, their population is also decreasing rapidly above average. In both cases, nonlinear development is fundamental to the phenomenon of so-called bifurcation. Transformation of Polish cities after 1989 has caused quite significant changes in their demographic development. Significantly, these changes were conditioned by the transformation of the economy, including the phenomenon of deindustrialization. Nevertheless, demographic factors were also important. These directly and indirectly affected by economic determinants. Hence, after 1990, urban centers experienced a peculiar ‘game of the inhabitants’, whose essence was the widespread negative population growth and the positive balance of migration to a few dozen cities. In this particular place, there were strong industrial centers before 1989. The analysis of population changes in Polish cities of different size categories showed that industrial cities are now much more dynamic depopulating than other types of functional cities. As a result of the loss of the "pull" attribute, and in many times the situation of gaining the attributes of "push" or "disappearing" interest of potential migrants, their demographic profile had to be reduced. This trend was further strengthened by the consequences of the second demographic transition.

Keywords: procesy depopulacji, kurczące się miasta, baza ekonomiczna miast, ośrodki przemysłowe, Polska

Robert Krzysztofik, Departament of Economic Geography University of Silesia Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec: Poland
Robert Szmytkie [robert.szmytkie@uwr.edu.pl], Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Geografii i Rozwoju Regionalnego

Citation

APA: Krzysztofik, R., & Szmytkie, R. (2018). Procesy depopulacji w Polsce w świetle zmian bazy ekonomicznej miast. Przegląd Geograficzny, 90(2), 309-329. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2018.2.6
MLA: Krzysztofik, Robert, and Szmytkie, Robert. "Procesy depopulacji w Polsce w świetle zmian bazy ekonomicznej miast". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 90, no. 2, 2018, pp. 309-329. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2018.2.6
Chicago: Krzysztofik, Robert, and Szmytkie, Robert. "Procesy depopulacji w Polsce w świetle zmian bazy ekonomicznej miast". Przegląd Geograficzny 90, no. 2 (2018): 309-329. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2018.2.6
Harvard: Krzysztofik, R., & Szmytkie, R. 2018. "Procesy depopulacji w Polsce w świetle zmian bazy ekonomicznej miast". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 90, no. 2, pp. 309-329. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2018.2.6

Abstract The main aim of this article is to attempt to define the term “double town” as a form of settlement, and to order the terminology used in reference to this group of towns. Double towns are settlements created as a result of an administrative connection of two towns. In the literal meaning, they would be towns consisting of two elements with a town character (double towns sensu stricto). In a broader context, double towns may consist of more elements, among which two should be settlement units with a town character (double towns sensu largo). Double towns emerge via two stages, of which the first entails the creation of a concentration of towns (a bicentric agglomeration form), and the second a formal connection between the said of towns into one urban organism. The regress of double towns may in turn result from integration (a unification of spatial structure), disintegration (the gaining of administrative independence by elements of a double town), incorporation (a double town becomes part of another town/city), degradation (a loss of town privileges) or partial or total disappearance (total or partial abandonment of a town). In reference to the character of form of settlement, double towns can be divided into four groups : a) double towns in the narrow sense (sensu stricto): – with a twin layout, consisting of two towns of similar size and rank, e.g. Nowogród and Krzystkowice, Nowa Ruda and Słupiec, Kraśnik and Kraśnik Fabryczny; – with a satellite layout, where one town is considerably bigger than the other, e.g. Bełchatów and Grocholice, Sochaczew and Chodaków, Rawicz and Sarnowa. b) double towns in the broad sense (sensu largo): – with a twin layout, e.g. Czerwionka-Leszczyny, Lędziny and Hołdunów; – with a satellite layout, e.g. Zawiercie and Kromołów, Mielec and Rzochów. In the case of double towns’ functional layouts, five types can be distinguished when the towns are joined, i.e.: – double towns whose components have similar functions and constitute competing centres (usually focal centers of similar rank), e.g. Kórnik and Bnin; – double towns, whose components are specialised centres, as a result of their affiliation with a particular functional area (usually an industrial region), e.g. Nowa Ruda and Słupiec; – double towns whose components have diverse functions independent of each other as regards the functional aspect, e.g. Władysławowo and Jastrzębia Góra; – double towns with two components of disparate rank, despite their functional types (the larger town usually serving as a district centre, the smaller as the administrative centre of the local-authority area or gmina), e.g. Rawicz and Sarnowa; – double towns with an interurbation character – a settlement group whose elements have different and mutually supplemental functions (with one town being a focal centre while the other is a specialised centre), e.g. Kraśnik and Kraśnik Fabryczny.

Keywords: miasta podwójne, miasta-zlepieńce, zmiany administracyjne miast, Polska

Robert Szmytkie [robert.szmytkie@uwr.edu.pl], Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Geografii i Rozwoju Regionalnego

Citation

APA: Szmytkie, R. (2016). Miasto podwójne jako forma osadnicza. Przegląd Geograficzny, 88(4), 511-531. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.4.5
MLA: Szmytkie, Robert. "Miasto podwójne jako forma osadnicza". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 88, no. 4, 2016, pp. 511-531. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.4.5
Chicago: Szmytkie, Robert. "Miasto podwójne jako forma osadnicza". Przegląd Geograficzny 88, no. 4 (2016): 511-531. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.4.5
Harvard: Szmytkie, R. 2016. "Miasto podwójne jako forma osadnicza". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 88, no. 4, pp. 511-531. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.4.5