ABSTRACT
Research in urban geography has contributed to man's understanding of the complex of interrelated urban phenomena. In addition, the application of geographic concepts and viewpoints has produced substantial practical application in city and metropolitan planning. A metropolitan area, then, is a geographic, functional city, and for many purposes may be regarded as the basic areal urban unit. Recently, with the increased federal participation in the financing of many programs in urban areas, including highways, mass transit, open space land acquisition, urban renewal, and sewer and water facilities among others, the pressures to provide comprehensive metropolitan planning have increased. British 'town planning' has the same meaning as the American term "city planning", while some British geographers and planners refer to the urban landscape as a "townscape". In most American states, a city is a municipality, a governmental unit embracing a proscribed area with definitely-located boundaries, and with a minimum population which, if reached, entitles the area to apply for city status.
