Functional Classification of Cities

Let’s begin with a basic but powerful question:
Why do cities exist? What is their purpose?

In Settlement Geography, the answer lies in the functions they perform.

What are “Functions” in Geography?

In the geographical context, functions refer to the economic activities that most of the working population of a place is engaged in.

For instance:

• If a city has a majority of its people working in industries, it performs an industrial function.
• If another city hosts government offices and bureaucracies, it’s primarily an administrative center.

So, every city has certain roles or functions it plays in the broader urban and economic system.

What is Functional Classification of Cities?

Now that we understand what “functions” are, the next step is classifying cities based on those functions.
This is what we call the Functional Classification of Cities or towns.

Simply put:

It is a method to categorize urban areas based on the dominant economic functions they perform.

Key Characteristics of Urban Functions

• These functions are largely non-agricultural in nature.
• They include:
  • Administration
  • Manufacturing
  • Trade and Commerce
  • Defence
  • Provision of Goods and Services
  • Communication
  • Recreation

Hence, when geographers talk about urban functions, they deliberately exclude agriculture, as it’s a rural activity and not a defining function of urban settlements.

Cities are Multifunctional – No City is Mono-functional

In theory, one might try to label a city with a single function, but in practice, this is never accurate.

Let’s understand this with an analogy:
Imagine a person being defined only as a “teacher,” when in fact, they may also be a parent, a mentor, a writer, and so on. Similarly, no city is mono-functional.

Each urban centre typically performs multiple functions simultaneously.
Hence, modern geography embraces a multifunctional approach rather than a mono-functional one.

Evolution of Approaches: From Dominant to Multifunctional

Earlier, geographers followed what we call the Dominant Function Approach.
Under this, each city was classified based on one major activity it was known for.

Example:

• Kanpur = Industrial city
• Shimla = Administrative center

But this was later discarded because it ignored the diverse roles cities actually play.
This gave rise to the Multifunctional Approach, which recognizes that a city can specialize in more than one function.

How Do We Classify Cities Functionally?

Geographers use various techniques to functionally classify urban settlements. These can be:

• Statistical techniques: Rely on numerical data (like census occupational data).
• Non-statistical techniques: Based on qualitative assessments (like field observations).

But among these, the most commonly used method is based on occupational data—that is, the kind of work people do in a city. This provides an empirical basis for classification.

Important Note: Agriculture is Excluded

One final but very important point:
While classifying cities by function, agricultural activity is deliberately excluded.

Why?
Because agriculture is not considered an urban function. Urban areas are defined by their non-agricultural economic activities.