what is an urban center

An urban center is a term used to describe a human settlement with a high population density and an infrastructure of built environment. It is a large and densely populated urban area that may include several independent administrative districts. Urban centers originate through urbanization, and researchers categorize them as cities, towns, conurbations, or suburbs. In urbanism, the term "urban area" contrasts with rural areas such as villages and hamlets; in urban sociology or urban anthropology, it contrasts with the natural environment. An urban center can also refer to any institution whose core mission is to inform and engage citizens in urban planning and public policy. The definition of an urban center may vary depending on the country or region. For example, in France, an urban area is a zone encompassing an area of built-up growth and its commuter belt. In the United States, an urban area is the core of a metropolitan statistical area if it contains a population of more than 50,000.