Significance of functional organization of settlements for development of primary rural settlements in the City of Zaječar

Abstract

The aim of this paper is determination of the City of Zaječar settlements' functional organization characteristics significant for development of primary rural settlements on this territory. The paper examines truthfulness of a hypothesis that in conditions of extreme monocentrism, i.e. dominance of urban centre, development of primary rural settlements is in direct negative correlation with isochronous distance from the urban center. Secondary hypothesis is an assertion that primary rural settlements functionally connected to centers of communities of settlements as dispersly located micro-development centers are characterized by significantly more favorable development compared to settlements functionally connected to local rural centers or directly to the urban center. Methodologically, the paper is based on the comparison of development characteristic of primary rural settlements relative to their isochronous distance from the urban center and functional connections to higher rank settlements in the functional hierarchy. Selection of indicators was made in order of comprehensive representation of the most significant demographical and economical processes in these settlements caused by their geographical and functional positions. Perception of the significance of the isochronous distance from the urban center was made using Pearson correlation coefficient, and the method of comparison was used for the functional connections. The significance of this paper is in contribution to the insight of applicability of decentralized concentration concept on local territorial level in conditions of extreme monocentrism, i.e. dichotomy on relation rural-urban.