Urbanization of county in China: Spatial patterns and influencing factors

Abstract

This paper uses the fifth and sixth census data and 2018 demographic statistics to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of the urbanization of county in China and the factors that influence the evolution. The paper reveals that the urbanization level of counties is a weak area in China’s overall urbanization. During the period from 2000 to 2010, the spatial patterns of the urbanization level of counties remained stable. Counties with high-level urbanization were concentrated in the coastal areas of the eastern region, while counties that experienced rapid urbanization were mainly located in the central and western regions. Regression analyses indicate that harsh natural endowments that constrain economic development are the most important factors that hinder the urbanization of county; these factors include marginalized locations far away from center cities, high altitudes, and a population with a low education level. This paper also compares two theoretical modes of new-type urbanization, nearby urbanization and remote urbanization, and argues that the new-type urbanization of county is the main form of nearby urbanization and provides an example of urbanization for developing countries worldwide.