Contribution to the Discussion on Typology of the Settlements of Serbia

Abstract

The paper aims to devise a possible way of forming a methodological framework for the typology of the settlementa in Serbia. Namely, since the current division of settlements into the urban and the „rest” has suffered criticism in the scientific and professional public for a long time, due to the fact that many settlements that have urban status do not meet the minimum conditions in terms of the number of inhabitants, the diversification of the economic structure, functional capacity, etc., and due to the fact that official statistics do not recognize the category of villages, or village settlements in the network of Serbia. Based on the analysis of basic indicators related to settlements: number of inhabitants, employees in non-agricultural activities, agricultural households and daily migrants, a model of differentiation of the settlements of Serbia into urban settlements, suburban settlements, rural centres and rural settlements is proposed. The obtained results indicate a set of 190 urban settlements, 338 suburban settlements, 51 rural centres and 4.130 rural settlements in the territory of Serbia (excluding Kosovo and Metohija). The contribution of work is recognized in facilitating the planning and management process, ie defining the optimal organization of the residential network in order to raise the overall level of development.

Keywords

• settlements network
• urban settlement
• suburban settlement
• rural center
• rural settlement