ABSTRACT
This chapter defines the unique characteristics of small towns. Demographic trends can be looked upon and interpreted through various lenses. They include the age of the population, gender composition, and ethnic makeup. Amending policies have significant consequences on urban planning and the economies of small towns. Residents of small towns commonly rely on distant urban centers for their upper level services which people reach using private vehicles. In 2005, the transportation sector in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries consumed 26 percent of the total energy demand and produced 25 percent of the direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions. The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics distinguishes small towns from rural places and defines them as any urban area that has a minimum population of 1,000 persons and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometer. The European Union defines smaller cities as those with population between 10,000 and 50,000 people.
