Populated place
Encyclopedia
A populated place is a place
or area with clustered or scattered building
s and a permanent human population
( city
, settlement, town
, village
or hamlet
) referenced with geographic coordinates
. The term is used internationally in the field of geospatial modeling
, and in that context is defined as "a city, town, village, or other agglomeration of buildings where people live and work".
(USGS): "A populated place is usually not incorporated
and by definition has no legal boundaries. However, a populated place may have a corresponding 'civil' record, the legal boundaries of which may or may not coincide with the perceived populated place. Distinct from Census and Civil classes."
, county
, incorporated place
, municipio
, parish, town
, township
). Distinct from Census and Populated Place."
es and be different from general-purpose administrative entities. These places may include "place" as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau
, census-designated place
s, and census town
s.
defines a populated place as "a named settlement with a population of 200 or more persons." The Bulgarian Government publishes a National Register of Populated Places (NRPP). The Canadian government uses the term "populated place" in the Atlas of Canada
, but does not define it.
s, and these may become tourist attractions. Some places that have the appearance of ghost towns, however, may still be defined as populated places by government entities.
A town may become a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, because of a government action, such as the building of a dam that floods the town, or because of natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, uncontrolled lawlessness, or war. The term is sometimes used to refer to cities, towns, and neighborhoods that are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past.
Location (geography)
The terms location and place in geography are used to identify a point or an area on the Earth's surface or elsewhere. The term 'location' generally implies a higher degree of can certainty than "place" which often has an ambiguous boundary relying more on human/social attributes of place identity...
or area with clustered or scattered building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
s and a permanent human population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
( city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
, settlement, town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
or hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
) referenced with geographic coordinates
Geographic coordinate system
A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on the Earth to be specified by a set of numbers. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represent vertical position, and two or three of the numbers represent horizontal position...
. The term is used internationally in the field of geospatial modeling
Geospatial predictive modeling
Geospatial predictive modeling is conceptually rooted in the principle that the occurrences ofevents being modeled are limited in distribution...
, and in that context is defined as "a city, town, village, or other agglomeration of buildings where people live and work".
Legal status
According to the United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS): "A populated place is usually not incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
and by definition has no legal boundaries. However, a populated place may have a corresponding 'civil' record, the legal boundaries of which may or may not coincide with the perceived populated place. Distinct from Census and Civil classes."
Administration
The USGS also has a definition for a feature type "Civil": "A political division formed for administrative purposes (boroughBorough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
, county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
, incorporated place
Place (United States Census Bureau)
The United States Census Bureau defines the term place as a concentration of population. The types of places defined by the Census Bureau are incorporated place, such as a city, town or village, and census designated place , which resembles a city, town or village but lacks its own government...
, municipio
Municipio
Municipio and Município are terms used for country subdivisions. They are often translated as municipality.-Overview:...
, parish, town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
). Distinct from Census and Populated Place."
Census
Populated places may be specifically defined in the context of censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
es and be different from general-purpose administrative entities. These places may include "place" as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau
Place (United States Census Bureau)
The United States Census Bureau defines the term place as a concentration of population. The types of places defined by the Census Bureau are incorporated place, such as a city, town or village, and census designated place , which resembles a city, town or village but lacks its own government...
, census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
s, and census town
Census town
In India, a census town is one which has:# A minimum population of 5,000# At least 75% of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits# A density of population of at least 400 persons per km2.In Ireland, a census town is;...
s.
Other
Geoscience AustraliaGeoscience Australia
Geoscience Australia is an agency of the Australian federal government. It carries out geoscientific research.On a user pays basis it produces geospatial products such as topographic maps and satellite imagery.-History:...
defines a populated place as "a named settlement with a population of 200 or more persons." The Bulgarian Government publishes a National Register of Populated Places (NRPP). The Canadian government uses the term "populated place" in the Atlas of Canada
Atlas of Canada
The Atlas of Canada is an Internet atlas published by Natural Resources Canada that has information on every city, town, village, and hamlet in Canada...
, but does not define it.
Former populated places
Populated places can be abandoned. Sometimes the structures are still easily accessible, such as in a ghost townGhost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
s, and these may become tourist attractions. Some places that have the appearance of ghost towns, however, may still be defined as populated places by government entities.
A town may become a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, because of a government action, such as the building of a dam that floods the town, or because of natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, uncontrolled lawlessness, or war. The term is sometimes used to refer to cities, towns, and neighborhoods that are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past.