Umland

Concept

An Umland refers to the environs of a city, town, or village that is part of the main community through common economic and cultural activities. It is closely linked economically with a nearby town or city. Umland is an area linked socially and economically to an urban settlement. Literally it means ‘around area’. It is also called ‘sphere of influence’. This term is generally applied for inland towns that deals in all directions.

This term was used in geographical perspective for the first time by Ander Allix, French geographer in 1914 to express his concept of economic domain meaning thereby the areas immediately an interior city.

Definition

“Umland is that surrounding area of any towns which has cultural relation with that town.”

-Griffith Taylor

“This term is mainly applied for inland towns that deals in all directions but unfortunately this term has also been applied to the immediate environs of a town as well as to a larger area served by it.”

-Johnson, 1972

“The area in which the city is culturally, economically and politically interrelated.”

-R.L. Singh

It is the transition zone between a city or town and a rural area which comprises of the characteristics of both. Umland of an urban centre change their shape and area overtime and quite reasonably planners and geographers seek to redraw Umland boundaries from time to time. The extent of Umland is usually proportional to the intensity of functions in and around an urban centre.

The actual extent of Umland depends upon the order and freeway facilities available and development of an urban centre. Every urban centre has a region of influence which is not generally demarcated by a line. There is an influence zone for each and every commodity depending upon various factor taken into consideration. So as the extent of city increases, the multiplicity of functions increases.

Fig.1. Districts around Delhi

Umland is also called as with different names such as city-

• Region
• Urban field
• Hinter land
• Zone of influence
• Urban catchment area
• Sphere of influence
• Tributary area
• Nodal region
• Trade area

Factors affecting the extent and size of Umland are as following:

• Distance
• Transport facilities
• Socio-economic condition of the country side
• Area of Surplus and deficit
• Nature of Commodity
• Flow of Goods
• Flow of Money etc.

Some Classification of Umland

1. Dr. Ujagar Singh in 1961 

He had taken 5 indexes for delimitation of Umland of Allahabad city and along with this he also showed the administrative boundaries.

1. Vegetable
2. Milk and Paneer
3. Inter college
4. Food supply
5. Business area

He had divided Umland in 2 parts-

1. Primary Umland (comes daily)
2. Secondary Umland (2 parts)

• Secondary inner (comes weakly)
• Secondary outer (comes monthly)

 2. Dr. Manjur Adam in 1965

He describes the Umland of Hyderabad and Syeandarabad. According to him, hinterland is that area which is jointed with town from cultural, economic and social.

Base of his Theory-

• Those function direct contact with town (food, supply transport)
• Central functions (Wholesale business, newspaper & universe).

He said that along with the increase in distance the influence area decreases.

• The area of dominance
• The area of prominence
• The area of association.