The Geographic Features of Urban System in Jordan

Abstract

This study focuses on the characteristics of the urban system in Jordan during the years 1979-2004 in the light of the applicability of the rank –size rule. It examines the possibility of a dominant primate city within it through the law of primate city of Jefferson and an Index of primacy. As has been identified on the size of the imbalance equilibrium in the system urban cities through Urban Isostastic Index. The study aims at detecting of spatial distribution patterns of urban centers in Jordan through the application of nearest neighbor analysis. It also applied the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient in measuring the extent of inequality in the distribution of urban cities in the Kingdom. The results of the study showed the existence of significant changes in the urban system in Jordan during the years (1979-2004) included increased in the sizes of cities. As well as, in arranging of these cities in the urban system have rose some of them in urban hierarchy as others decline. As it turns out from the analysis of the results of the study the rank –size rule not applicable to urban system in Jordan. and the appearance of the phenomenon of the dominant city. It was found through the application index of primacy to greater Amman city dominated the rest of the urban centers. The results of the study also showed -by applying Nearest neighbor analysis – that the distribution of urban centers in 1979 is closer to the random spatial pattern. while Nearest neighbor analysis indicated for the years 1994 and 2004 respectively, indicated that the distribution of urban centers is closer to the clustered spatial pattern. In addition, the results of the study showed through the application of Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve the unequal distribution of urban population to the cities during the period of study. Finally, the study provided some of the recommendations and suggestions which will hopefully be used in the development of urban system in Jordan.