美国城市地区划定方法及其演变对我国的启示

Methods and Evolution of US Urban Area Delineation With Its Enlightenment to China

科学合理的城乡地域划分能够更真实地反映城乡人口特征和城镇化水平,进而支持城乡和社会经济政策的科学制定。然而,我国的城乡划分和城市地区划定一直以行政地域为界线,难以适应城乡空间发展的复杂特征和真实地反映城乡人口情况,也会影响到社会经济政策的客观性和合理性。美国的城市地区划定经过百余年的发展,不仅在演变过程中不断适应城市在不同发展阶段出现的新特征,而且如今已充分体现"实体地域"的概念,通过精细化的划定方法适应现代城市的复杂特征,对我国而言具有很多可借鉴之处。本文详细介绍了美国的城市地区划定标准、方法和演变历程,并从划定方法的动态演变、核心指标和精细化三方面探讨对我国的启示。

Scientific and rational urban-rural classification can realistically reflect the urban and rural population characteristics and urbanization level, while supporting the scientific formulation of urban and rural and social economic policies. However, China’s urban-rural classification and urban area delineation have always been defined by administrative regions, which hardly can adapt to the complex characteristics of urban and rural spatial development or reflect the urban and rural population situation. It will also affect the objectivity and rationality of social and economic policies. The urban area delineation of the US, over the last 100 years, has not only constantly adapted to the characteristics of cities at different development stages, but also fully embodied the concept of "physical territory". This can offer many lessons to China, by virtue of fine delineation methods, to adapt with the complex features of the modern cities. This paper carefully introduces the standards, the methods, and the evolution of urban area delineation in the US and concluds with some inspirations for China from three aspects, namely the dynamic evolution, the core indicators, and the refinement of the delineation methods.