University of Isfahan Spatial Planning 2228-7485 2 3 2013 02 19 An Investigation of urban hierarchy and primacy in Iran (A case study of Kermanshah province) An Investigation of urban hierarchy and primacy in Iran (A case study of Kermanshah province) 51 74 15938 FA Sedigheh Lotfi Associate Professor of Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Mazandaran University Edris Babakhanzadeh Master of Geography and Urban Planning, University of Isfahan Journal Article 2016 06 14 The rapid population increase has led to the formation of urban primacy in many developing countries. Iran as developing world has experienced an unbalanced growth which is resulted from the increasing level of rural-urban migration especially from 1966. This study tries to investigate the urban network of Kermanshah province from 1976 to 2006. The methodology of the research is based on descriptive and analytical models by using different techniques such rank-size and class difference limit. The results revealed that the city of Kermanshah as the primate city is almost 9.5 times larger than the second city Islamabad-Gharb. Such proportion however decreased to 8.8 in 2006 but still the province has a disordered urban network. The cities of Ghasr-shirin and Sarpolzahaab which placed in third and fourth rank lost their inhabitants in 1996 due to the war. In general the hierarchical level of the province urban places is quite unbalanced and Kermanshah city dominated the whole city system of the province. The research concluded that many of small and intermediate cities should strengthen to balance the urban network of Kermanshah province. The rapid population increase has led to the formation of urban primacy in many developing countries. Iran as developing world has experienced an unbalanced growth which is resulted from the increasing level of rural-urban migration especially from 1966. This study tries to investigate the urban network of Kermanshah province from 1976 to 2006. The methodology of the research is based on descriptive and analytical models by using different techniques such rank-size and class difference limit. The results revealed that the city of Kermanshah as the primate city is almost 9.5 times larger than the second city Islamabad-Gharb. Such proportion however decreased to 8.8 in 2006 but still the province has a disordered urban network. The cities of Ghasr-shirin and Sarpolzahaab which placed in third and fourth rank lost their inhabitants in 1996 due to the war. In general the hierarchical level of the province urban places is quite unbalanced and Kermanshah city dominated the whole city system of the province. The research concluded that many of small and intermediate cities should strengthen to balance the urban network of Kermanshah province. https://sppl.ui.ac.ir/article_15938_971df5f662e9696c306ed6d06845aa88.pdf