THE INTERMEDIATE CITYY CONCEPT REVIEWED AND APPLIED TO MAJOR CITIES IN SUMATRA, INDONESIA

William A Withington

Indonesian Journal of Geography
Vol 16, No 51 (1986): Indonesian Journal of Geogrphy

A concept of "the intermediate city" has had various definitions as an analytically valuable tool in studying urban systems, particularly those in Less Developed Countries. The Intermediate City concept is reviewed and a flexible usage recommended through application of the concept to major cities in Sumatra, Indonesia. The nine major cities identified are examined for the 1961 – 1980 years in terms of their qualities as intermediate or major cities; distinctive changes during the period; and the extent to which these Sumatran intermediate cities may be representative of major cities in the broader urban system of Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and Monsoon Asia