Urbanization and City Hierarchy in Spain: Trends & Analysis
Urbanization in Spain: A Population Perspective
The urbanization of the population, closely linked to migration, has two primary consequences:
- Rural exodus, leading to the depopulation of the countryside and the abandonment of small villages.
- Population growth in urban centers.
This process has been particularly pronounced in Spain over the last 50 years, resulting in a significant increase in the urbanization rate. We can identify four distinct stages:
1900-1930: Early Urban Growth
Immigration fueled demographic growth in cities like Barcelona and Madrid.
1930-1960: Stagnation and Slowdown
The economic crisis of 1929 and the Spanish Civil War halted industrial development and urbanization, slowing migration. This period was characterized by economic stagnation, the need to rebuild war-torn cities and regions, and an autarkic economic policy.
1960-1981: Industrialization and Rapid Urbanization
Changes in economic policy and a drive towards industrialization concentrated growth in specific areas and cities. The urban population experienced its most significant growth of the century, primarily in the metropolitan areas of major cities and medium-sized towns. The economic crisis of the 1970s slowed migration, leading to a slower rate of urbanization.
1981-Present: Metropolitan Expansion and Decentralization
Urbanization continued, but at a slower pace and with a more metropolitan character. The most significant increases occurred in small and medium-sized agglomerations. Madrid, Barcelona, and other central cities experienced population loss as people moved to surrounding municipalities. Urbanization has transformed vast territories.
The concentration of population in cities and their subsequent construction has not resulted in uniform development across all urban areas. This process can be divided into four phases:
- Urbanization: Growth is concentrated in the central city, attracting population from the immediate surrounding areas.
- Suburbanization: Growth in the outer ring exceeds that of the metropolitan central city.
- De-urbanization: Both schools and metropolitan areas experience population loss, accompanied by the decentralization of production and residential areas.
- Re-urbanization: A renewed attraction to city centers, supported by urban regeneration projects.
Urban Hierarchy and City Types in Spain
Spain’s urban system is structured hierarchically, with different types of cities playing distinct roles:
- National Metropolis: Madrid and Barcelona are the major urban centers, integrated into both the European and global systems. Madrid serves as the political capital, while Barcelona leads the Spanish Mediterranean arc.
- First-Order Regional Metropolis: Valencia, Seville, Malaga, and Zaragoza possess significant economic and industrial potential, specialized services, and serve as regional political, financial, and business centers. They maintain strong relationships with national metropolises and medium-sized towns. Post-industrial urban and economic processes offer significant economic development opportunities.
- Second-Order Regional Metropolis: Palma, Granada, and Murcia function as autonomous community, regional, and sub-regional centers. They depend on national centers and exhibit diversification of tertiary functions and industrial or tourism development.
- Medium-Sized Cities: These provincial service centers have regained potential in recent years and have increased their level of service by expanding their activities, including tourism.
- Small Cities: Cities like Cuenca and Teruel have experienced a similar process to medium-sized towns and are surrounded by sparsely populated areas.
- Centers and County Seats: These serve as service centers and commercial hubs for rural areas. They represent the lowest level of the urban system and provide essential services across large territories, making their role crucial. Advances in technology may offer new possibilities for economic development.
Recent changes in the production system, coupled with population growth, have altered the roles within the urban hierarchy and increased the importance of networks between cities. The significance of hierarchy and the network itself, connecting centers and leveraging technology to integrate information and communication, is becoming smaller and more efficient.