cities essay

City Life Essay

500+ words essay on city life.

City life is very busy, fast-moving and restless. All the necessary things are easily available in the city. Life is full of luxuries, and everything is within reach. The city has many things to offer, such as better job opportunities, higher living standards, medical facilities, clubs, shopping malls, stores, restaurants, etc. It has theatres, amusement parks, cricket stadiums etc., for entertainment. People from rural areas are shifting to the cities for a better quality of life. This essay on city life will throw light on the positive and negative aspects of city life. Students must go through it and try to write their own essays. For more practice, they can go through the list of different essay topics, which will help in improving their writing section.

Positive Aspects of City Life

Life in a big city is a whirl of activities. Very often, people from the countryside move to the cities in order to find decent jobs. It offers good educational facilities for children by providing the best schools, colleges and institutions. Cities have always been the hub of innovation, the home of creative thought, art forms, political ideas and many more things. People of the city do not waste their time as they keep doing something to gain growth and success in their life. Cities are well connected with road, railway and flight networks. So, it becomes easy for individuals to connect with other people and grow their businesses as compared to rural areas. Cities have become a potent force for addressing economic growth, development and prosperity.

Negative Aspects of City Life

Cities are very crowded places. The cost of living in the city is high. The houses are small and inadequate due to space limitations. Bad housing conditions can cause various health issues. The environment of the city is very polluted due to the air, water, land and noise pollution. This causes bad health and can infect people with various diseases.

Some of the cities are very dirty due to the lack of a proper disposal system. Also, drainage problems are often found in the city. People do not get fresh air to breathe and natural places where they can rejuvenate themselves. People in the city are often busy, so they do not socially interact with others. They limit themselves to their houses and families. Sometimes, they don’t even know about their neighbours and surroundings.

The impact of the city on a person’s life is both negative and positive. From the bad quality of air to noise pollution and restless life, it has affected peace of mind. But cities are also stimulating as centres of industry, art, science and political power. They are the focus of progress. By reducing the aggressive impact of the city on people, the essential positive aspects of city life can be greatly intensified.

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Essay on Life in a Big City for Students and Children

500+ words essay on life in a big city.

Essay on Life in a Big City – The city life of a big city is always growing and moving. Also, there are hundreds and thousands of opportunities for people in big cities to learn and grow. In addition, they provide a chance to grow professionally and personally. Due to the exposure in cities, people tend to be smarter, and intelligent in comparison to the people who live in small towns and villages. Besides, the life of the city is very fast and only people with smart minds can survive there.

Self-growth in Big Cities

The scope of personal growth and development is more in comparison to towns and villages. Furthermore, the children of big cities have access to better school and colleges which give them an opportunity for all-round development.

Also, these institutions give chances to each individual to participate in various activities and events that help them to explore their area of interest. In addition, there is a number of activities that one can perform outside school and colleges in cities.

Moreover, due to interaction with others, the children are more self-confident in their selves in comparison to a village or small city kids.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Professional Growth in Cities

In big cities, there are a more profitable business and career opportunity for everyone. Which is unlike in villages and towns where the scope is limited. Many industries and companies operate in cities, which offer good job opportunity to people of different educational background.

Besides, the scenario of business set in the city is much profitable. The cities are also connected with other cities and other parts of the country which give it an advantage over the towns and villages.

In addition, due to better connectivity with other cities, it is easy to deal with clients of other cities to. Also, many institutes of cities offer a course that can help professionals to grow and achieve a new height in their professional carrier. There is immense scope for the expansion and growth of business in cities if the person is willing to work hard and dedicated.

Economic Growth in Big Cities

As there is a better opportunity for personal and professional growth so do for economic growth . Also, many new businesses set up in cities each year that creates many job opportunities.

Most noteworthy, as these businesses flourish and grow they directly or indirectly contribute to the economic development of the cities and country.

The development of these businesses also motivates others to do business and create an opportunity for others. This not only helps other people but also the business to grow.

To sum it up, big cities, on the one hand, offer many opportunities for personal, professional, and economic growth. On the other hand, take away the comfort and relaxation form life. Also, life in cities is very busy and people do not time for their own self and their families. Besides, they do not have time to sit and relax.

People of cities live a life of isolation and suffocation. Above all, they become successful in life. But, they do not have anyone in their life with which they can share their success with.

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25 great articles and essays about cities, what is a city, my endless new york by tony judt, start-up city by edward l. glaeser, sardine life by justin davidson, the metropolis, here is new york by e. b. white, venture kapital (berlin) by gary wolf, the megacity (lagos) by george packer, dubai on empty by a. a. gill, hutong karma (beijing) by peter hessler, city of fear (são paulo) by william langewiesche, mistakes were made, errors happened (tokyo) by karl taro greenfeld, california or bust (l.a.) by amy wallace, an urban experiment (bogotá) by maría cristina caballero, anything goes (hong kong) by p. j. o'rourke, lost exile (moscow) by james verini, a tale of two londons by nicholas shaxson, an american in paris by rosecrans baldwin, see also…, 20 great articles about new york.

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Essays About City Life: Top 5 Examples And Prompts

Urban life has its advantages and drawbacks; if you want to read and write essays about city life, continue below for a list of essays to read and ideas to tackle.

Many people stand divided about the city life and whether it’s a good or bad experience. For some, it’s all they’ve known and are most comfortable with. For others, it’s something they want to escape. Depending on your experiences with the city, you may see it as something that provides many opportunities or hazards.

When writing essays about city life, gathering research from both positive and negative viewpoints is essential. See our top essay examples, and intriguing writing prompts below for your next essay.

1. City Life by Sheri Page

2. essay on city life for students and children in 1500+ words by readingjunction, 3. long essay on life in a big city by prasanna, 4. essay on life in a big city for students and children by toppr, 5. what living in new york teaches you about love by lucie zhang, 9 essays about city life writing prompts, 1. comparing city life and country life, 2. health hazards caused by city life, 3. benefits of city life, 4. the best things to know about the city life in massachusetts, 5. how city life changes a person coming in from the country, 6. things to keep in mind when you’re adapting to a big-city life, 7. dealing with city life and controlling how it affects you, 8. the fashion dos and don’ts of city life, 9. what unusual things are normal to people who live the city life.

“There are many reasons I love the city life, but there are three main reasons, and they are entertainment, transportation and cost, and being able to experience ethnic diversity.”

Page’s essay discusses her experience in the city and why she loves urban life. In addition, she writes about the top three things that make city life exciting for her. You might also find these essays about cities helpful.

“The charm of city life is the major reason for the top level of migration from rural areas. However, contrary to what people believe, living in the city has its pros and cons.”

This essay on city life inspects the advantages and drawbacks of living in a city. Because it takes an objective look at urban life, it has a neutral stance on the topic.

“A good life in a big city is almost impossible unless you are well settled. Also, you will hardly get any free and peaceful time in such cities as you have to hustle consistently.”

This essay writer talks about urban life in a good and bad light. Her essay incorporates the fun things about living in the city and the realities of having an urban life, like needing money to be happy in the city.

“Big cities, on the one hand, offer many opportunities for personal, professional, and economic growth. On the other hand, take away the comfort and relaxation from life.”

This short essay from Toppr discusses how big cities promote self-growth, economic evolution, and professional development. It also highlights some pros and cons of living in a big city compared to living in a village or small town.

“I fundamentally believe that moving to a new city is much like entering into a new relationship, and truly the only person who knows what is best for you, in that case, is yourself.”

New York is one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world. Zhang compares the idea of living in a big city like New York to being in a relationship. She uses her experience as a New Yorker to talk about what one can expect when moving to New York and becoming a citizen.

Are you ready to write an essay about city life? Consider using the essay topics we listed below to figure out the direction your essay will go.

Do you need help to make sure your essay is of excellent quality? Here are 7 essay writing apps you can use.

Essays About City Life: Comparing city life and country life

Urban life and country life are two very different things. If you’ve experienced living in both the country and city, this is the topic for your essay. Discuss similarities and differences between the typical lifestyles in the city and country. Consider also the emotions or mindsets of people who live in each environment.

While cities provide great educational and financial resources, they can also be risky. The smog, fast food, and unhealthy lifestyle practices are the main causes of declining physical health. Some people in the city are also ruthless, rude, and indifferent to others, causing unnecessary stress to those they encounter. Thus, city life can cause issues with a person’s mental and physical health.

The city is full of opportunities, conveniences, and activities for everyone. Entertainment events like sports events and shows are always available. You can find more schools and universities in some cities where your kids can get a better education. Even though the cost of living is more expensive in the city, you can also earn a higher salary. Those are the best benefits of living an urban lifestyle. Consider reading about other benefits or discuss your observations from your experience.

Massachusetts is the home of many great cities, including Boston, Cambridge, and Pittsfield. Depending on where you live, the lifestyle in each MA-based city is unique. It is the essay topic for you if you’ve moved around or have tried living in different areas in Massachusetts. You can also change Massachusetts to a state you’re more familiar with to fit your essay better.

Did you come from the country and move into the city to study or work? Express your emotions and thoughts about how adapting to the city changed you in this essay. You can also compare your typical lifestyle in the country and city here.

This is the perfect essay topic for you if you’re moving from a small town or the country to a big city. Include the survival tips and tricks you learned or realized when you moved to the big city. You can also describe what you expected before moving to the big city and the reality that faced you after the move.

City life can lack the meditative silence that village life provides. It’s full of people who want to take advantage of you, whether at work, on the street, or in your relationships. These experiences, while not universal to urbanites, can affect a person’s mental and physical health. Use this essay writing opportunity to describe how you dealt with bad experiences in the city and the lessons you learned.

For art or fashion-focused students, the city life provides a myriad of colorful opportunities for self-expression. Almost every kind of fashion is acceptable in the city for many people. You’d see people in work attire, loungewear, and even out-of-this-world costumes on the street. If you want to share your idea or opinion about the fashion you’ve seen in cities, this is the essay topic.

Cities are melting pots for different people, cultures, practices, and attitudes. Thus, people who have lived their lives within a city are more open-minded and have universal practices. This topic is a great choice, whether you’re from the country who visited the city or an urbanite who visited the countryside. Discuss the practices strange to you or the people around you when you visit other places and compare them to the normal thing to do in the city.

Are you wondering what other essay subjects to write about? Check out these 46 essay writing topics.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Cities in Imagination

David maddox, new york. 21 october 2015.

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So this imagining needs a fourth leg. These are the cities of our dreams: resilient, sustainable, livable, just .

Let’s imagine.

We can imagine sustainable cities—ones that can persist in energy, food and ecological balance—that are nevertheless brittle, socially or infrastructurally, to shocks and major perturbations. That is, they are not resilient. Such cities are not truly sustainable, of course—because they will be crushed by major perturbations they’re not in it for the long term—but their lack of sustainability is for reasons beyond the usually definitions of energy and food systems. We can imagine resilient cities—especially cities that are made so through extraordinary and expensive works of grey infrastructure—that are not sustainable from the point of view of energy consumption, food security, economy, or other resources.

We can imagine livable cities that are neither resilient nor sustainable.

And, it is easy to imagine resilient and sustainable cities that are not livable — and so are not truly sustainable.

Easiest of all is to imagine cities of injustice, because they exist all around us. The nature of their injustice may be difficult to solve or even comprehend within our systems of economy and government, but it’s easy to see .

The point is that we must conceive and build our urban areas based on a vision of the future that creates cities that are resilient + sustainable + livable + just. No one of these is sufficient for our dream cities of the future. Yet we often pursue these four elements on independent tracks, with separate government agencies pursuing one or another and NGOs and community organizations devoted to a single track. Of course, many cities around the world don’t really have the resources to make progress in any of the four.

A key problem for us, in all of these concepts, is that they exist so beautifully in the realm of metaphor. They work in metaphor. Everyone can agree that “resilience” is a good thing. Who wouldn’t want that? Raise your hand.

I thought so.

But an operational definition is really about difficult choices. Bringing a word like resilience—or sustainability, or livability, or justice—down from the realm of metaphor is hard because it quickly becomes clear that it is about nothing else but difficult choices. Choices that often produce winners and losers. We have to be specific about the choices involved in resilience or sustainability or livability or justice, and the trade-offs they imply. As societies we have to be explicit about these trade-offs—about their consequences. I think often we don’t have open and fair conversations about these issues because we don’t want to know about these trade offs, maybe not so much because we care about the losers, but because the winners of the world have so much to lose. Think developers who consume green space—often with the government’s blessing—without concern for sustainability issues or accommodations for the less wealthy. Or the growth- and consumption-obsessed nations driving the climate change that may destroy communities around the world, communities that have little responsibility that climate change.

Most people in my circles make strong claims about the critical value of nature and ecosystems. Nature is thought to provide key benefits for resilience, such as technical aid to storm water management. Nature—and we way we use it—is the key foundation to sustainability. Nature cleans the air and water. It provides food. Nature provides beauty and serenity for people. This is all to say that nature and “green” provide immense and diverse benefits to societies, cities, and their people.

Do we believe these benefits are real? Are true? I do. If we believe in these benefits, then who should have access to them? Everyone. Does everyone have access to these benefits? No. That’s as true in Cape Town as it is in Los Angeles or Manchester.

If the benefits of green are true—in the broad sense of nature and in our approach to the built environment—then it is clear that issues of green and nature are also questions of justice, and that there is a key and essential role for nature to play in the notion of just cities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has long had a definition of environmental justice. It intends to specifically address the fact that environmental “bads”—dumps, incinerators, legacies of industrial pollution, and so on—are disproportionally placed in poorer neighborhoods. That’s a fact that results from a host of reasons: inadvertent, economic, political and sometimes more cynical. Here is the EPA’s definition. Environmental justice will achieved:

…when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn and work.

Many have written about the limits of this definition, although to me it is pretty strong and progressive, especially the part about decision-making. But it lacks the idea that everyone also deserves equal and fair access to environmental “goods” and the services they provide: healthy food, resilience to storms, clean air and water, parks, beauty. So an improvement to the definition, a more complete manifesto of belief, would be that environmental justice is achieved:

…when everyone enjoys the same degree of strong protection from environmental and health hazards, the same high level access to all the various services and benefits that nature can provide, and equal access to the decision-making processes for both to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, work, and prosper.

Although some of the world’s cities are better than others in fulfilling this dream, probably none fully achieve it, although more embrace the idea of it. Most don’t even come close.

For example, there is a crisis of open space in many of the world’s cities. My city, New York, offers about 4m 2 of open space per capita in the form of parks and plazas. Although the distribution of this open space is not entirely equitable (and some of the parks in poorer neighborhoods are of less quality) New York is to be commended for an explicit PlaNYC (New York’s long term sustainability plan) goal that says every New Yorker should live within a ten-minute walk of a park. We’re about 85 percent of the way to achieving this goal. This is the kind of specificity that can take green’s contribution to livability down from the level of metaphor and into on-the-ground evaluation and action.

Many of the world’s cities don’t fare so well. Although New York is a fairly dense city, Mumbai has 1 percent of the open space per person that New York has, its public commons gobbled up by cozy and opaque relationships between government and developers.

Not that the United States has so much to brag about. The Washington Post reported that in Washington DC there is a strong correlation between tree canopy and average income—the richer people get the benefit of trees. In Los Angeles, areas dominated by Latinos or African Americans have dramatically lower access to parks (as measured by park acres per 1,000 children) than areas dominated by whites. Countywide only 36 percent of Los Angelenos have close access to a park.

These are patterns the world over: when there are open spaces and ecosystem services at all, they tend to be for the benefit of richer or more connected people. This has to change in any city we would call just.

“It is difficult to take in all the glory of the Dandelion, as it is to take in a mountain, or a thunderstorm.”

Charles Burchfield (1893–1967) is legendary for his watercolor landscapes, painted near his Buffalo, NY, home. He was also a great journalist and over his lifetime wrote over 10,000 pages in various handmade volumes. It was there, on 5 May 1963, that he wrote the quote above.

We need to communicate what we value and build our cities accordingly.

Words like improvisation and imagination and intuition can sound awkward in the context of city-building and policy. Yet these are the very abilities that we require to be able to see past and beyond the details—this object is here, that process is there—to create and understand how a vast and majestic thing works and how it might change.

Perspective is another important word—a sense of what you value in the vision you are creating. The Dandelion seeds are close up in Burchfield’s picture. He values them. The sky is there too. You need to see the patterns and perspective and not only the details—the beating of the heart and not just the heart’s location in the chest.

How do you “take in” a complicated multidimensional thing like a mountain? Or a park? Or a community garden? Or a city? Or justice? It starts with an act of imagination.

It is this act that requires of us that we imagine, in specific terms, what the just city would look like. I think it would look something like the modified EPA definition I presented above. We already know what this just city doesn’t look like. You probably just have to drive around your own city. (My apologies if your city has solved this. Shout your solution from all the rooftops and soapboxes. The world needs to know.)

We need the imagination to dream about what this just city looks like, the nature of it, if you will. And then we need the courage to make it happen on the ground, by creating actual urban plans that address justice explicitly, that put justice into literal practice, in law and regulation and real action, the imagining of, say, the EPA definition, in detail, in all cities around the world.

To say this requires a sense of hope. Given the distance we have to travel to achieve just cities, in greenness or most any other sense, we have to hope.

A closing idea from Buzz Holling

One key [to resilience] is maybe best captured by the word “hope.”

Although Buzz Holling was an original elucidator of the ecological resilience concept, here he used a word that is fundamentally a human concept. What does it mean to hope? At its most basic, it is a desire for and the belief in the possibility of a certain good outcome.

So, here’s my vision of the just city. It’s green. It’s full of nature’s benefits, accessible to all. It is resilient, and sustainable, and livable, and just. It is a city that has a clear and grounded vision of what these words mean. It acts on justice and the place of nature in the city. It has the hope to believe that these things can can be achieved, and the courage and faith to bring them to life.

David Maddox New York

About the Writer: David Maddox

David loves urban spaces and nature. He loves creativity and collaboration. He loves theatre and music. In his life and work he has practiced in all of these as, in various moments, a scientist, a climate change researcher, a land steward, an ecological practitioner, composer, a playwright, a musician, an actor, and a theatre director.

3 thoughts on “ Cities in Imagination ”

Very inspiring David Integrating nature into our urban planning, design holds the promise to make cities more resilient, more livable happier and finally prosperous places. Thanks !!!

Bringing metaphor down to earth and engaging it directly. Absolutely.

Thank you for this inspiring piece, David.

Wonderful essay. Thank you.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Human Population — The World’s Most Liveable Cities

The World’s Most Liveable Cities

Categories: Human Population Society

About this sample

Words: 706 |

Published: Nov 8, 2019

Words: 706 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Vienna, austria, zurich, switzerland, auckland, new zealand, munich, germany.

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Introductory essay

Written by the educators who created Ecofying Cities, a brief look at the key facts, tough questions and big ideas in their field. Begin this TED Study with a fascinating read that gives context and clarity to the material.

Right now, our economy operates as Paul Hawken said, "by stealing the future, selling it in the present and calling it GDP." And if we have another eight billion or seven billion people, living on a planet where their cities also steal the future, we're going to run out of future really fast. But if we think differently, I think that, in fact, we can have cities that are not only zero emissions, but have unlimited possibilities as well. Alex Steffen

The urgency of urban planning today

Within a few decades' time, we can expect the planet to become more crowded, resources more precious, and innovative urban planners increasingly important. By midcentury, the global population will likely top nine billion, and more than half will live in cities. What will these cities look like? Will we have the resources to power them and comfortably provide for their residents? Will global urbanization harmonize with efforts to curb climate change and secure a sustainable future, or are these forces hurtling towards a head-on collision?

The TED speakers featured in Ecofying Cities underscore the urgency, but also suggest that some optimism's in order as they outline the issues and offer imaginative solutions.

There's no single reason for or response to the complex environmental, economic and social challenges that are part of our future in cities. They call for multiple approaches, originating from different sources — individuals, communities, governments, businesses — and deployed at different levels — in the home, the neighborhood, the city, region, nation and across the globe — to respond to the challenges at hand. As Alex Steffen reminds the urban planners, architects, designers, elected leaders and others involved in the effort, "All those cities are opportunities."

Urbanism and the environment: A brief history

For centuries, successful city-building has required careful attention to the environmental consequences of urban development. Without this, as Jared Diamond demonstrated in Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed , a city inevitably ended up fouling its nest, thus entering a spiral of epidemics, economic hardship, decline and, ultimately, oblivion. Civilizations evolved different ways of dealing with environmental considerations — some with more success than others. For example, thanks to elaborate aqueducts and sewer systems, the Romans were able to build and sustain for centuries large cities that featured a reliable public water supply and state-of-the-art public health conditions.

In other civilizations, however, residents simply abandoned cities when they could no longer rely on their environment to supply the resources they needed. Often this was a direct result of their own activities: for example, deforestation and the attendant erosion of fertile soil, epidemics due to contaminated water and, with the advent of coal-fired industrialization, air pollution.

Urban planning got its start as a profession largely dedicated to averting different types of crises arising from urban growth and providing conditions for public health. This was particularly true in the many 19th century European and North American cities transformed by industrialization and unprecedented rates of population growth. Rapidly deteriorating air and water quality made it necessary to introduce regulations to protect the health of the residents of these cities.

The planners' first-generation improvements included sewers, water treatment and distribution, and improved air quality through building codes and increased urban green space. It's especially remarkable today to think that these interventions were adopted in response to observable health consequences, but without knowledge of the contamination mechanisms at work: germ theory didn't arrive on the scene until Louis Pasteur published his work in the 1860s. From the late 19th century onward Pasteur's findings bolstered the case for even more urban sanitation improvements, particularly those designed to improve water quality.

Starting in the 1950s, however, planners no longer narrowly targeted immediate health effects on urban residents as their chief environmental concern. Their work also absorbed and reflected Western society's deeper understanding of, and respect for, natural processes and growing awareness of the long-term environmental impacts of cities from the local to the planetary scale.

Rachel Carson is often credited as the first to popularize environmentalism. Published in 1962, her landmark book Silent Spring sounded a warning call about how pesticides endanger birds and entire ecological systems. Soon after, air pollution became a rallying point for environmentalists, as did the loss of large tracks of rural and natural land to accelerated, sprawling development. Today, sustainable development and smart growth, which largely overlap and address multiple environmental considerations, enjoy wide currency; most urban planning is now based on these principles.

Today, as we reckon with population growth, advancing rates of urbanization, and widespread recognition of climate change, we know that the cities of the future share a common destiny. The choices we make about how we build, inhabit and maintain these cities will have global and long-term effects.

Sustainable development: Two schools of thought

In modern urban planning, there are two general categories of sustainable development. The first doesn't challenge the present dynamics of the city, allowing them to remain largely low-density and automobile-oriented, but still makes them the object of measures aimed to reduce their environmental load (for example, green construction practices). Ian McHarg spearheaded this approach as a way to develop urban areas in harmony with natural systems; the planning principles he formulated gave special care to the preservation of water and green space. His lasting influence is visible in many of the more enlightened suburban developments of recent decades which respect the integrity of natural systems. Today, the Landscape Urbanism movement promotes these same ideas.

A second school of urban development focuses on increasing urban density and reducing reliance on the automobile. This approach advocates transit-oriented and mixed-use development along pedestrian-friendly "complete streets." On a regional scale, it aims to reduce sprawl by creating a network of higher-density multifunctional centers interconnected by public transit. Today, it's common for plans with a metropolitan scope to follow this approach.

Studying the city: About these materials

Cities are arguably the most complex human creation (with the possible exception of language) so it's not surprising that we study them at multiple scales and from diverse perspectives. We can approach cities through a narrow focus on an individual building or a neighborhood, expand the investigation to consider a metropolitan region in its entirety, or study the global system of cities and its interconnections. What's more, we can think about cities as built environments, social networks, modified ecologies, economic systems and political entities. Aware of the multiple ways that we engage with cities, the Romans had two words to refer to them: urbs referred to the physical city with its wall and buildings, and civitas , the city as a collection of residents.

Ecofying Cities explores urban areas at different scales. In some cases, the TED speaker focuses on a neighborhood project, like The High Line in Manhattan; others describe city-wide transformation, as in Curitiba, Brazil, or a regional or national initiative like China's plan for a network of eco-cities to house its growing urban population. Likewise, the talks explore cities from different disciplinary perspectives including urban planning, urban design, transportation planning, architecture, community organization and environmental science. What unites them all? A commitment to sustainability and a belief that sustainability is more about creating positive effects rather than reducing negative impacts.

The message emanating from Ecofying Cities is one of complexity, optimism and uncertainty. We can't be sure that the changes these speakers suggest will be enough to help us balance supply and demand in the sustainability equation. But we can expect that their ideas and efforts will improve the built environment — as well as quality of life — in cities, thereby providing hopeful perspectives for a sustainable future.

Let´s begin with writer and futurist Alex Steffen´s TEDTalk "The Sharable Future of Cities" for a look at the interplay between increasing urban density and energy consumption.

Alex Steffen

The shareable future of cities, relevant talks.

Jaime Lerner

A song of the city.

Majora Carter

Greening the ghetto.

Robert Hammond

Building a park in the sky.

Michael Pawlyn

Using nature's genius in architecture.

William McDonough

Cradle to cradle design.

James Howard Kunstler

The ghastly tragedy of the suburbs.

Ellen Dunham-Jones

Retrofitting suburbia.

Book Reviews

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Western Modernity in Crisis: (De)Constructions of Plural and Alternative Forms of Social Organization

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Subaltern frontiers of agrarian urbanism.

Phenom Penh's Bassac District: Genealogy of Bassac Review

Liberation, Solidarity, Abundance: Envisioning Hawaiʻi Beyond the GMO Present

Black Disability Politics Book Review

Our Own Universals: Notes from a Reading Group in the Postcolony

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A curation of articles, essays, book reviews and interviews on critical geographical concerns.

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Past issues, information, privacy policy, terms & conditions, jennifer gabrys, published on, feb 11, 2014, urban and urbanization, smart cities as sustainable cities: a visual essay.

A frequently referenced forerunner of the smart city is this proposal by the British architectural collective, Archigram, for a “Plug-In City,” which supplanted fixed buildings with a moveable network of spaces and interchangeable “programs” for urban inhabitations.

February 11, 2014

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Figure 1. “Plug-in city,” Archigram, 1964

Multiple information and digital cities emerged throughout the dot-com era. This example of the Cité Multimédia in Montreal documents the enfolding of imaginings of urban space with the capacities of computational rendering, which further inform actual development schemes.

The diagrammatic quality of informational cities designs can be found in newer proposals for smart cities, including this sensor world by Libelium , an “internet of things provider” based in Spain. In this proposal, numerous urban services and operations, from lighting to shopping, become augmented and newly articulated through wireless sensor networks.

The technology that is promoted as reconfiguring urban landscapes is computational sensors, relatively miniature devices connected to computational infrastructures of multiple different scales and generating an expanded array of command-and-control programs for making urban space more efficient.

“The city of 2020,” Tomorrow’s Cities, BBC

As part of the imagining and promoting of smart cities, numerous schematic designs have emerged that capture an apparently symbiotic fusing of technology and nature. This special focus on “Tomorrow’s Cities,” gathered together by the BBC , envisions “farmscrapers” and efficient infrastructures combining into a bucolic scene with delivery drones and sensor networks.

“A blueprint for city transformation,” Connected Urban Development

The Connected Urban Development (CUD) initiative, formed through a partnership between Cisco and the Clinton Initiative, with MIT and the Connected Sustainable Cities project (CSC) joining the project as it progressed, is a clear example of smart cities developing into sustainable city initiatives, where sustainability–typically in the form of efficiency–becomes a guiding logic for reworking any number of urban services and operations.[vc_video title="#" link="http://vimeo.com/6145800"]

The perceived importance of reworking smart cities as sustainable cities is frequently narrated through the increasing numbers of people now living in cities, which have become dominant sites of resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This particular CUD video provides example scenarios for how smart city initiatives will realize more optimal urban functioning. Efficiency emerges here within a (gendered) logic of gamification, behavioral responsiveness and optimization.

Madrid scenario, Connected Sustainable Cities, Mitchell and Casalegno (2008)

As discussed in the “ Programming Environments ” article, the scenarios developed by William Mitchell and Federico Casalegno as part of their Connected Sustainable Cities visioning document illustrate in graphic-novel style the ways in which everyday actions such as commuting, cooking and heating one’s home may be synchronized through ubiquitous computing to enable more efficient use of resources.

Eco-love contest, Connected Sustainable Cities, Mitchell and Casalegno (2008)

Beyond the use of resources, smart cities might also provide new ways of understanding relationality. Here, an eco-love contest becomes the site where an increasingly competitive approach to environmental monitoring is meant to ensure optimal mating opportunities.

Curitiba scenario, Connected Sustainable Cities, Mitchell and Casalegno (2008)

Urban sensor landscapes are presented in this scenario as not just enabling more efficient transit options, but also as facilitating political participation here through making air pollution data more apparent. However, the steps from data to action remain an elusive proposition, and the more contested and conflicted practices of citizenship that might actually contribute to political change are absent in these data-to-action scenarios.

They Eat Our Sweat Review

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Planning for Humane Urbanism Through Solidarity and Radical Care

Miraftab invites planning scholars to rethink the field’s futures, rejecting the currently dominant bully urbanism centered on profit, for a humane urbanism centered on life.

Faranak Miraftab

Review, Citizen Designs, by Eli Elinoff

Citizen Designs is a careful depiction of what democracy feels like, with all its discomforts, disagreements, and unresolved tensions. Elinoff manages to present a picture of the struggle for equal citizenship that is at once optimistic and unromantic. In this, the book makes a timely and important contribution to understandings of the relationship between politics and design

Hayden Shelby

Lebanese Yawmiyat (diaries): Archiving unfinished stories of spatial violence

The essay captures some aspects of urban violence in Lebanon and constructs their spatialities. Stories of struggle and creative coping strategies amidst the multiple crises in Lebanon constitute ‘living archives’. They expand the meaning and imaginaries of everyday life, link between a shared past and present reality, and transform the urban space.

Hanadi Samhan, Dina Mneimneh, Hoda Mekkaoui and Camillo Boano

Planning context: Flexible plans and mayoral authority in French urban planning

In this article, I consider the relationship between urban planning and context by investigating the planning practices associated with a land-use plan in Bordeaux described as “adapted to context.”

Jenny Lindblad

Counterfactual future-thinking

Homing in on the protracted landscape of construction, I am concerned with how urban experts in Taksim 360, who do not entirely concur with the seemingly determined trajectory of urban transformation in Tarlabaşı, put inevitability to work. I ask: what makes urban experts stay with a project that might not materialize?

Alize Arıcan

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cholars and practitioners of urban planning need to rethink the field’s futures at this important historical juncture: some might call it a moment of truth when there is little left to hide. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed many cracks, contradictions, and inequalities that have always existed but are now more visible. This also includes the global vaccine apartheid that is ongoing as I write these words. Moreover, this is a time when the violence through which U.S. imperialism has exercised power worldwide is increasingly exposed. Protests in the summer of 2020, which spread all over the United States like fire through a long-dried haystack, showed Americans and the whole world that racialized violence and police brutality are real. They also revealed that such brutality is spatially facilitated in American apartheid—a condition that planning has been far from innocent in creating and maintaining. I think this reckoning is particularly important in the United States, the belly of the beast, where there might have been more of an illusion about planning innocence.

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Moreover, this is a time when the violence through which U.S. imperialism has exercised power worldwide is increasingly exposed. Protests in the summer of 2020, which spread all over the United States like fire through a long-dried haystack, showed Americans and the whole world that racialized violence and police brutality are real. They also revealed that such brutality is spatially facilitated in American apartheid—a condition that planning has been far from innocent in creating and maintaining. I think this reckoning is particularly important in the United States, the belly of the beast, where there might have been more of an illusion about planning innocence.

Moreover, this is a time when the violence through which U.S. imperialism has exercised power worldwide is increasingly exposed.
Protests in the summer of 2020, which spread all over the United States like fire through a long-dried haystack, showed Americans and the whole world that racialized violence and police brutality are real.
They also revealed that such brutality is spatially facilitated in American apartheid—a condition that planning has been far from innocent in creating and maintaining.
I think this reckoning is particularly important in the United States, the belly of the beast, where there might have been more of an illusion about planning innocence.
They also revealed that such brutality is spatially facilitated in American apartheid—a condition that planning has been far from innocent in creating and maintaining. I think this reckoning is particularly important in the United States, the belly of the beast, where there might have been more of an illusion about planning innocence.

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Guide to Describing a City in Writing

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Describing a city in writing can be a daunting task, especially for those who don’t have much experience with it. However, with the right guidance and examples, anyone can master this skill.

That’s why this article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to describing a city in writing, with over 100 brilliant examples to inspire and guide writers.

Whether you’re a travel writer, a novelist, or simply someone who wants to capture the essence of a city in their writing, this guide has something for everyone. From the bustling streets of New York City to the winding canals of Venice, each example offers a unique perspective on how to describe a city in writing.

With this guide, writers will learn how to use sensory details, figurative language, and descriptive adjectives to bring a city to life on the page. They’ll also learn how to capture the mood and atmosphere of a city, whether it’s the energy of a vibrant metropolis or the tranquility of a sleepy town.

So whether you’re writing a novel set in a specific city or simply want to capture the essence of a place in your travel writing, this guide is the perfect resource to help you do just that.

Fundamentals of Urban Description

When it comes to describing a city in writing, there are certain fundamentals that must be understood in order to paint a vivid picture for the reader. In this section, we will cover the two key aspects of urban description: understanding cityscapes and using descriptive language and vocabulary.

Understanding Cityscapes

Before attempting to describe a city, it is important to understand the different elements that make up its landscape. This includes the architecture, infrastructure, landmarks, and natural features such as parks and rivers. By having a clear understanding of these elements, the writer can create a more accurate and detailed description.

When describing a cityscape, it is also important to consider the perspective of the writer. Are they viewing the city from above, from a distance, or up close? This will affect the level of detail and the language used in the description.

Descriptive Language and Vocabulary

One of the most important aspects of urban description is the use of descriptive language and vocabulary. This includes adjectives, adverbs, and verbs that are used to convey the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of the city.

When selecting adjectives to describe a city, it is important to choose words that accurately reflect its character. For example, a bustling city might be described as vibrant, while a more serene city might be described as peaceful.

Grammar and pronunciation are also important considerations when describing a city. By using proper grammar and enunciating words clearly, the writer can create a more polished and professional description.

Overall, understanding the fundamentals of urban description is essential for creating a compelling and accurate portrayal of a city in writing. By using descriptive language and vocabulary, and considering the different elements of the cityscape, the writer can transport the reader to the heart of the city and bring it to life on the page.

City Size and Structure

From Sprawling Metropolises to Compact Towns

Describing a city’s size and structure is an essential aspect of capturing its essence in writing . Cities come in all shapes and sizes, from sprawling metropolises to compact towns. The size of a city can significantly impact its character, culture, and lifestyle. Larger cities often have more diverse populations, a wider range of cultural activities, and more significant economic opportunities. Smaller cities, on the other hand, tend to have a more intimate feel, with a stronger sense of community and a slower pace of life.

When describing a city’s size, it is essential to consider not only its population but also its physical boundaries. A city’s limits can be defined by natural features such as rivers or mountains or by man-made borders such as highways or city limits signs. The physical boundaries of a city can significantly impact its structure and layout, with cities often developing in distinct neighborhoods or districts.

The Role of Streets and Public Transport

The streets and public transport systems of a city are also critical components of its structure and character. The layout of a city’s streets can impact its accessibility, walkability, and overall aesthetic. For example, a city with a grid-like street pattern may feel more organized and straightforward to navigate than one with winding, narrow streets.

Public transport is also a crucial aspect of a city’s structure, providing residents and visitors with a means of getting around. A well-developed public transport system can make a city more accessible and reduce traffic congestion. In contrast, a poorly designed system can make it challenging to get around and limit economic opportunities.

Overall, when describing a city’s size and structure, it is essential to consider its physical boundaries, street layout, and public transport systems. These factors can significantly impact a city’s character and lifestyle, making them essential components of any city description.

The Essence of Time and Age

Cities are dynamic entities that are constantly changing and evolving. One of the most significant aspects of a city’s character is its history and how it has developed over time. Understanding the essence of time and age is essential when describing a city in writing .

Historical vs. Modern Developments

Cities are often a blend of historical and modern developments. The historical parts of the city are often the most visually striking, with ancient architecture, narrow streets, and traditional markets. In contrast, modern developments are characterized by glass skyscrapers, wide boulevards, and modern amenities.

When describing a city, it is essential to highlight both the historical and modern aspects of the city. A balance between the two is vital in creating a vivid and accurate picture of the city’s character.

The Impact of Time on City Life

Time has a profound impact on city life. As cities grow and evolve, their character changes. Old neighborhoods are replaced by new developments, and the city’s infrastructure is updated to keep pace with modern needs.

The impact of time on city life can be seen in everything from the city’s architecture to its culture. Old buildings may be preserved as historical landmarks, while new buildings may be designed to reflect the latest architectural trends. Similarly, the city’s culture may be influenced by its history, or it may be shaped by modern trends.

In summary, the essence of time and age is a critical aspect of describing a city in writing. By highlighting the historical and modern developments of a city and the impact of time on city life, writers can create an accurate and vivid picture of the city’s character.

Socioeconomic Diversity

Wealth and Poverty in Urban Settings

One of the most striking aspects of any city is its socioeconomic diversity. Urban areas are often characterized by a stark contrast between the affluent and the poor. While some neighborhoods boast luxury apartments and high-end boutiques, others are home to run-down buildings and deprived communities.

Population density is a major factor in determining the level of wealth or poverty in a city. In densely populated areas, property prices can skyrocket, making it difficult for low-income families to afford housing. This often leads to residential segregation, with affluent neighborhoods located in the suburbs and poorer communities concentrated in the city center.

Residential Variations

Residential variations are another important aspect of socioeconomic diversity in cities. Suburban areas are often associated with larger, single-family homes, while urban areas are more likely to have high-rise apartments and condominiums. However, there are exceptions to these generalizations.

In some cities, there has been a recent trend towards mixed-use developments, which combine residential and commercial spaces in the same building. This can create a more diverse and vibrant community, as people from different socioeconomic backgrounds are brought together in the same space.

Overall, understanding the socioeconomic diversity of a city is crucial for anyone looking to describe it in writing. By paying attention to factors such as population density, property prices, and residential variations, writers can create a more accurate and nuanced portrayal of the urban landscape.

Cultural and Architectural Tapestry

Cultural Landmarks and Events

A city’s cultural landmarks and events are a reflection of its past and present. From traditional festivals to contemporary art exhibitions, a vibrant cultural scene can be a defining feature of a city. Visitors to a city can immerse themselves in its culture by attending events or visiting landmarks that showcase its heritage.

For instance, the colonial city of Cartagena in Colombia is known for its colorful festivals, such as the Cartagena International Music Festival and the Hay Festival. These events celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage and attract visitors from around the world.

In contrast, the cosmopolitan city of New York is home to iconic cultural landmarks such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. These institutions showcase a diverse range of art and performances that reflect the city’s contemporary and global outlook.

Architectural Styles and Significance

A city’s architecture is a visual representation of its history and identity. From colonial buildings to Bauhaus-inspired designs, a city’s architectural styles can convey its cultural and social values.

For example, the traditional architecture of Kyoto in Japan reflects the city’s deep connection to its past. The city’s temples and shrines, such as the Kiyomizu-dera and the Fushimi Inari-taisha, are renowned for their intricate designs and historical significance.

On the other hand, the contemporary architecture of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates showcases the city’s ambition and innovation. The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping center, are examples of the city’s modern architectural achievements.

In conclusion, a city’s cultural and architectural tapestry can reveal its unique character and identity. By exploring a city’s cultural landmarks and architectural styles, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of its history and values.

Environmental Aspects

Geographical Settings

When describing a city’s environmental aspects, it is important to consider its geographical location and settings. Some cities are situated on the coast, while others are nestled in the mountains or surrounded by vast plains. These geographical features can greatly impact the climate, weather patterns, and overall environmental conditions of the city.

For instance, a city located on the coast may experience more humid conditions due to the ocean’s proximity. On the other hand, a city situated in the mountains may have cooler temperatures and experience more precipitation. It is important to consider these geographical settings when describing a city’s environmental aspects.

Climate and Weather Patterns

The climate and weather patterns of a city are also important factors to consider when describing its environmental aspects. Some cities may have a tropical climate with high temperatures and heavy rainfall, while others may have a more temperate climate with mild temperatures and moderate rainfall.

It is also important to consider the seasonal weather patterns of a city. Some cities may have distinct seasons with significant temperature changes and varying amounts of precipitation. Others may have more consistent weather patterns throughout the year.

Overall, when describing a city’s environmental aspects, it is important to consider its geographical settings, climate, and weather patterns. By providing detailed information about these factors, readers can gain a better understanding of the city’s overall environmental conditions.

The Living City

Describing the living city involves capturing the essence of daily life, economy, nightlife, and entertainment in a way that is informative and engaging. Here are a few examples of how to describe a city in writing .

Daily Life and Economy

A city’s economy is a reflection of its people, and this is evident in the daily life of its residents. In a bustling city, people are constantly on the move, with a sense of purpose and urgency in their step. The economy is vibrant, with a diverse range of industries contributing to the city’s growth. From finance to technology, the city is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship.

The people of the city are diverse, with a mix of ages, cultures, and backgrounds. The city is home to young professionals, families, and retirees, all of whom contribute to the city’s unique character. The streets are alive with the sounds of different languages and accents, creating a sense of vibrancy and energy.

Nightlife and Entertainment

When the sun sets, the city comes alive with a different kind of energy. The nightlife is exciting and varied, with something for everyone. From trendy bars to underground clubs, the city’s nightlife scene is as diverse as its people. The city is also home to a thriving arts and culture scene, with museums, galleries, and theaters showcasing the best of local and international talent.

Despite the excitement of the city’s nightlife, there are also quieter corners to be found. The city’s parks and green spaces provide a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. Whether it’s a morning jog or an afternoon picnic, the city’s parks offer a welcome respite from the noise and chaos of the city.

In conclusion, describing a city in writing requires a keen eye for detail and an understanding of the city’s unique character. By capturing the essence of daily life, economy, nightlife, and entertainment, a writer can paint a vivid picture of what makes a city truly special.

Sensory Experiences and Atmosphere

Visual Descriptions

When describing a city, it is essential to paint a vivid picture of what the reader can expect to see. The visual descriptions should be clear and concise, highlighting the unique features of the city. A wide and bustling city will have a lot of movement and activity, while a clean and vast city will have more open spaces.

Skyscrapers are an iconic feature of many cities, and they can be described in great detail. The height, shape, and design of the buildings should be noted, as well as any unique features such as rooftop gardens or observation decks.

Soundscapes and Olfactory Details

The sounds and smells of a city are just as important as the visual descriptions. A crowded and polluted city may have a distinct smell of exhaust fumes and filth, while a clean and bustling city may have a pleasant aroma of street food and fresh flowers.

The soundscapes of a city can also be described in detail. The noise of traffic, people talking, and street performers can add to the atmosphere of a city. On the other hand, a quiet city with little noise can be just as appealing to some visitors.

Overall, when describing a city’s sensory experiences and atmosphere, it is important to be clear and concise while also conveying the unique features of the city. Using descriptive language and formatting such as tables and lists can help the reader visualize the city and understand its atmosphere.

Character and Mood

Personifying the Urban Environment

Cities have their own character, and one way to describe them is by personifying them. For example, a city may be described as having a “gritty” personality, with its rough edges and tough exterior. Alternatively, a city may be described as “sleek” or “polished,” with a modern and sophisticated vibe.

Personifying a city can also help to convey its mood. A city with a bustling, energetic vibe may be described as having a “feverish” personality, while a city that is more laid-back and relaxed may be described as “mellow” or “easy-going.”

Emotive Descriptions

Describing a city’s character and mood can also be done through emotive descriptions. Using vivid language to describe the sights, sounds, and smells of a city can help to convey its overall mood and atmosphere.

For example, a city with a bustling downtown area may be described as “vibrant” and “energetic,” with the sounds of honking horns and bustling crowds filling the air. On the other hand, a quieter, more residential area may be described as “peaceful” and “serene,” with the sound of rustling leaves and chirping birds.

Overall, describing a city’s character and mood is an important part of capturing its essence in writing. By personifying the urban environment and using emotive descriptions, writers can paint a vivid picture of the city for their readers.

Practical Examples and Exercises

Crafting descriptive paragraphs.

Crafting descriptive paragraphs is an essential skill for any writer seeking to describe a city in writing. To help writers develop this skill, the Guide to Describing a City in Writing: Over 100 Brilliant Examples offers practical examples and exercises.

One effective exercise involves selecting a setting within the city and describing it in detail. For example, a writer might choose a bustling city street and describe the sights, sounds, and smells that surround them. This exercise helps writers develop their ability to observe and describe the world around them.

Another exercise involves selecting an object commonly found in the city and describing it in detail. For example, a writer might choose a street vendor’s cart and describe the colors, textures, and smells associated with it. This exercise helps writers develop their ability to focus on specific details and create vivid imagery.

Analyzing Exemplary Texts

Analyzing exemplary texts is another effective way to develop descriptive writing skills. The Guide to Describing a City in Writing: Over 100 Brilliant Examples provides readers with a wide range of exemplary texts that showcase effective descriptive writing.

For example, one exemplary text featured in the guide is an article from a popular travel magazine that describes the city’s historic district. The article uses vivid language and sensory details to transport readers to the heart of the city’s rich history.

Another exemplary text featured in the guide is a memoir that describes the author’s experiences growing up in the city. The memoir uses personal anecdotes and vivid descriptions to bring the city to life and convey a sense of nostalgia for the author’s childhood home.

By analyzing these exemplary texts, writers can gain a better understanding of the techniques and strategies used to create effective descriptive writing. They can then apply these techniques to their own writing and develop their own unique voice and style.

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How to Describe a City in Writing (100+ Best Examples)

Crafting compelling descriptions of cities is a skill that can vividly immerse your readers in your narrative.

Here’s how to describe a city in writing:

Describe a city by considering its size, culture, age, geography, architecture, infrastructure, economy, climate, landscape, and nightlife. Each characteristic offers a unique perspective, allowing you to craft a vivid, engaging description. Tie your description to your theme.

This article will guide you through the process of describing a city, focusing on ten crucial elements that add life and color to your descriptions.

10 Elements for Describing a City in Writing

Digital image of a city with blue and yellow shading - How to describe a city in writing

Table of Contents

When describing a city in writing, you need to know these 10 elements:

Architecture

Infrastructure.

Next, let’s explore each of these elements in more detail and provide examples of how to apply them to your own stories.

Size refers to the scale of a city in terms of its physical extent and population.

By mentioning the size, you set a foundation for the readers, giving them a sense of the city’s vastness or compactness.

Words to Describe the Size of a City in Writing

Densely populated
Medium-sized

Examples of Describing a City by Size

Sprawling across the landscape like a behemoth, the metropolis swallowed the horizon whole.
With a population exceeding millions, the city buzzed with ceaseless activity.
The dense network of streets formed a compact, labyrinthine cityscape.
It was a small city, where everybody knew everybody.
The city was vast, its boundaries stretching as far as the eye could see.
Its towering skyscrapers were a testament to its grandeur and size.
Nestled in the valley, the city covered a small area, yet housed a myriad of cultures.
The size of the city was deceptive; it was more densely populated than it appeared.
The city was a sprawling canvas of urbanity, cutting across county lines.
The petite city was neatly crammed into a pocket of the mountainside.

Culture comprises the beliefs, traditions, arts, and history that influence a city’s way of life.

Highlighting the culture paints a vivid picture of the people, customs, and ethos that define the city.

Words to Describe the Culture of a City in Writing

Traditional
Cosmopolitan
Multicultural
Conservative
Progressive

Examples of Describing a City by Culture

The city was steeped in ancient traditions, echoing its ancestral roots.
Its lively arts scene painted the city with an irreplaceable cultural vibrancy.
The city was a melting pot of diverse cultures, blending seamlessly into one another.
The annual festival was a cultural extravaganza that transformed the city into a carnival.
The city was synonymous with classical music, its soul resonating in symphony.
The local cuisine, a testament to the city’s rich culture, left a tantalizing aroma in the air.
An artistic hub, the city was a cradle of avant-garde movements.
The city’s cultural tapestry was woven with threads of countless ethnicities.
The city wore its history like a proud badge, its culture speaking volumes of its glorious past.
The city was a cultural cocktail, stirred with vibrant arts, and timeless traditions.

The age of a city refers to how long it has existed, which is often reflected in its architectural style, infrastructure, and historical landmarks.

Describing the age can transport your reader back in time or into the future.

Words to Describe the Age of a City in Writing

Prehistoric
Contemporary

Examples of Describing a City by Age

The city’s ancient walls were steeped in history, whispering tales from centuries ago.
The futuristic skyline was a testament to its recent establishment.
Age-old monuments punctuated the city, standing tall as symbols of its venerable past.
The city was a blend of old and new, where modernity met antiquity.
Modern skyscrapers towered over the city, evidence of its recent urban development.
The city was an enduring relic of the Medieval Age, its cobblestone streets weaving tales of yore.
With buildings dating back to the Victorian era, the city was an open history book.
Despite its youthful age, the city wore an old soul.
The city was a testament to the future, a spectacle of cutting-edge technology and sleek architecture.
Age-old traditions thrived amidst the modern cityscape, telling tales of a city that respected its past.

Geography describes the city’s location, its physical features, and how these factors influence the city’s character and lifestyle.

Words to Describe the Geography of a City in Writing

Mountainous

Examples of Describing a City by Geography

The city was built on hills, its houses twinkling like stars on an undulating landscape.
Its coastal location made the city a paradise for beach lovers.
Tucked between mountains, the city was a serene oasis in a rugged setting.
The desert city was a mirage of golden sands and sparkling oases.
The city was a confluence of rivers, forming a scenic waterfront that buzzed with life.
Surrounded by dense forests, the city was an island of urbanity in a sea of wilderness.
The coastal city was a playground of surf and sand, where the sea kissed the cityscape.
The city was a picturesque valley carved into the heart of the mountains.
A city of islands, it was a constellation of vibrant urban life amidst the tranquil sea.
The city was an urban jewel nestled in the heart of the vast plains.

Architecture refers to the style and character of the city’s buildings and structures.

It speaks to the city’s history, culture, and technological progress.

Words to Describe the Architecture of a City in Writing

Examples of describing a city by architecture.

Gothic spires and Romanesque arches painted a canvas of architectural marvels.
The cityscape was a fusion of Brutalist concrete and sleek glass towers.
Traditional thatched cottages adorned the city, a spectacle of rustic charm.
The city was a palette of Art Deco buildings, their geometric patterns a testament to its rich architectural legacy.
Modern skyscrapers dotted the city skyline, interspersed with green terraces and solar panels.
The city was a sprawling labyrinth of narrow alleys, flanked by ancient terracotta houses.
The city was a spectrum of architectural styles, from Victorian houses to modern lofts.
The city’s architecture was a reflection of its sustainable ethos, with green roofs and walls covered in foliage.
The city’s colonial architecture narrated tales of a bygone era.
Futuristic architecture characterized the city, with self-sustaining buildings and smart infrastructures.

Infrastructure speaks to the functionality of a city – its roads, bridges, public facilities, and utilities.

It provides insights into the city’s level of development and organization.

Words to Describe the Infrastructure of a City in Writing

Well-developed
Sustainable
Disorganized

Examples of Describing a City by Infrastructure

The city boasted an intricate network of subways, making commuting a breeze.
Its wide boulevards were lined with trees, merging functionality with aesthetics.
The city had a robust public transportation system that kept its lifeblood flowing.
Advanced telecommunication infrastructures turned the city into a global hub of digital innovation.
Its well-planned bike lanes made the city a paradise for cyclists.
The city was illuminated by solar-powered streetlights, a testament to its green infrastructure.
The city’s skywalks connected buildings, forming a labyrinth above the hustle and bustle.
The city’s efficient waste management system kept its streets clean and green.
The city’s infrastructure was a seamless blend of urbanity and nature.
The city was a beacon of technological prowess, its infrastructure speaking volumes of its progress.

The economy of a city speaks about its wealth, main industries, and job opportunities.

It gives the reader a sense of the city’s prosperity or lack thereof.

Words to Describe the Economy of a City in Writing

Impoverished
Agricultural
Technological

Examples of Describing a City by Economy

The city was a bustling hub of commerce, its markets buzzing with activity.
It was an industrial city, its skyline punctuated with factories and smokestacks.
The city’s booming tech sector attracted talent from around the globe.
Its struggling economy painted a city in decay, with boarded-up storefronts and desolate streets.
The city was a hub of finance, home to towering banks and bustling stock exchanges.
A rich agricultural economy defined the city, its verdant farms a testament to its wealth.
The city thrived on tourism, its bustling streets a carnival of foreign faces.
The city was an emblem of prosperity, its thriving economy lifting people out of poverty.
Despite the economic downturn, the city held onto its vibrant spirit, a testament to its resilience.
The city’s economy was a vibrant tapestry of trade, services, and manufacturing.

Climate characterizes the city’s weather patterns throughout the year.

It can deeply influence a city’s culture, lifestyle, and even architecture.

Words to Describe the Climate of a City in Writing

Mediterranean
Continental
Subtropical

Examples of Describing a City by Climate

The city was blessed with a temperate climate, keeping it lush and vibrant all year round.
Its harsh winters painted the city in shades of white, with frost-etched buildings and snow-blanketed streets.
The tropical climate kept the city in a perpetual state of summer, with azure skies and sun-kissed streets.
The city was a desert, its climate oscillating between scorching days and frigid nights.
The city’s Mediterranean climate filled it with fragrant breezes and clear, sunny days.
The city was caught in an eternal spring, awash with blooming flowers and chirping birds.
The city experienced four distinct seasons, painting a vivid palette of changing landscapes.
The city was infamous for its torrential rains, transforming its streets into rivulets.
The city’s harsh climate made it a fortress of solitude, its cold winters keeping outsiders at bay.
The city’s mild climate was a relief to its residents, offering respite from extreme weather.

Landscape refers to the natural and artificial features that shape the city’s terrain and overall visual appearance.

Words to Describe the Landscape of a City in Writing

Examples of describing a city by landscape.

The city was a symphony of undulating hills and glass-and-steel towers.
Its landscape was punctuated with verdant parks, like emeralds set in concrete.
The city was a mosaic of picturesque canals and charming footbridges.
The city’s landscape was a spectacular blend of towering cliffs and sweeping beaches.
The city’s landscape was dominated by a majestic mountain that stood as a silent sentinel.
The city was a concrete jungle, a dense matrix of buildings interspersed with occasional pockets of green.
The city’s vast plains stretched to the horizon, a vast checkerboard of farmland and urban clusters.
The city was characterized by its dramatic coastline, where jagged cliffs met the roaring sea.
The city was nestled in a lush forest, its buildings camouflaged amongst the towering trees.
The city’s landscape was a harmonious blend of the old and new, where verdant vineyards met sprawling shopping malls.

Nightlife includes the after-dark activities that a city offers – from dining, music, and theater to clubs, bars, and other entertainment venues.

It reflects the city’s vibrancy and energy when the sun sets.

Words to Describe the Nightlife of a City in Writing

Nonexistent
Underground
Sophisticated

Examples of Describing a City by Nightlife

The city came alive at night, its streets pulsating with lights and music.
The city’s nightlife was a whirlwind of neon signs, lively bars, and pulsating dance floors.
The city was famous for its jazz clubs, their sultry tunes wafting into the night.
The city’s vibrant night markets were a treasure trove of culinary delights.
The city’s nightlife was a spectrum of opera houses, theaters, and art galleries, enriching the cultural fabric.
The city’s skyline glittered with rooftop bars, offering panoramic views of the starlit cityscape.
The city’s after-hours was a playground for night owls, teeming with nightclubs and music venues.
The city’s tranquil nights were a respite from the bustling days, its streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights.
The city was a nocturnal paradise, its nightlife teeming with gourmet restaurants and wine bars.
The city’s night scene was a melting pot of cultures, its streets resonating with music from around the world.

Here is a good video about how to describe a city in writing:

3 Full Examples of City Descriptions in Writing

Here are three full examples of how to describe a city in writing.

Nonfiction Essay

Los Angeles is a sprawling city, spreading across a vast, flat coastal plain nestled between mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Its multicultural nature is palpable, a melting pot where hundreds of cultures converge to create a rich tapestry of humanity. From Little Tokyo to Olvera Street, the city offers cultural enclaves that transport visitors to different corners of the world.

The architecture of Los Angeles tells a tale of its age and history.

From the contemporary designs of downtown skyscrapers to the Spanish Colonial Revival structures that pay homage to the city’s early days, LA offers a visual feast of architectural styles. Infrastructure-wise, Los Angeles is a car-centric city, known for its iconic freeways, yet, it is also actively expanding its public transportation system.

The climate in LA is Mediterranean, providing its residents with sunshine nearly all year round.

This, combined with the city’s picturesque landscape of rolling hills and sandy beaches, contributes to the quintessential Southern Californian lifestyle. The nightlife in Los Angeles, known for its glitz and glamor, mirrors the city’s reputation as the entertainment capital of the world.

Mystery Novel

The city of Edinburgh, ancient and mysterious, was shrouded in a veil of fog.

Narrow, winding streets wound their way up and down the city’s undulating terrain, past centuries-old Gothic buildings that seemed to hold whispered secrets in their cold stone. The towering Edinburgh Castle, perched atop an extinct volcano, cast long, eerie shadows across the Old Town, lending an air of mystique.

Despite the Scottish capital’s gloomy weather, the city was alive with culture. The annual Fringe Festival transformed the streets into a vibrant tapestry of theatre, music, and dance. Meanwhile, tucked away in the corners of the city were hole-in-the-wall pubs, where folk music hung heavy in the air.

Even in the dead of night, the city refused to sleep.

The pubs and clubs of the Royal Mile, teeming with locals and tourists alike, created an eclectic nightlife. The cobblestone streets echoed with faint laughter, ghostly footfalls, and the faint skirl of bagpipes, imbuing the city with an aura of enchanting mystery.

Romance Novel

Venice, with its endless maze of canals and charming footbridges, seemed to have been woven from dreams.

It was an intimate city, its compact geography fostering a unique, close-knit culture. The melodies of the gondoliers’ serenades drifted through the air, their words telling tales of age-old love stories.

The city’s Gothic architecture, ornate and elegant, reflected in the shimmering waters of the Grand Canal. The iconic Rialto Bridge, a testament to Venice’s architectural prowess, served as a lover’s meeting spot, its stone balustrades bearing witness to countless stolen kisses.

The Venetian economy thrived on tourism and the arts, its numerous mask shops, and glass-blowing factories testifying to the city’s artisanal heritage.

Venice was a city that never hurried. Its pace was defined by the gentle ebb and flow of its canals.

As twilight descended, the city transitioned from a bustling tourist hub to a serene sanctuary. The street lamps flickered to life, casting a romantic glow on the cobblestones. The serenade of the gondoliers intertwined with the soft whispers of the wind, composing a nocturnal symphony that was the heartbeat of this city of love.

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a City in Writing

Before you type “THE END” to your story, essay, or piece of writing, consider how your city weaves into the tapestry of your narrative.

Particularly, how your city embodies and exposes the theme.

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Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Essays

Art of the first cities in the third millennium b.c..

Striding figure with ibex horns, a raptor skin draped around the shoulders, and upturned boots

Shaft-hole axe head with bird-headed demon, boar, and dragon

Head of a ram

Kneeling bull holding a spouted vessel

Standing male worshiper

Proto-Cuneiform tablet with seal impressions: administrative account of barley distribution with cylinder seal impression of a male figure, hunting dogs, and boars

Vase with overlapping pattern and three bands of palm trees

Stamp seal and modern impression: unicorn and incense burner (?)

Head of a ruler

Standard with two long-horned bulls

Reclining mouflon

Foundation peg in the form of the forepart of a lion

Seated female

Openwork stamp seal: figure holding snakes

Cylinder seal and modern impression: hunting scene

Statue of Gudea, named “Gudea, the man who built the temple, may his life be long”

Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art , The Metropolitan Museum of Art

October 2004

The roots of our own urban civilization lie in the remarkable developments that took place in the third millennium B.C. This was a time of astonishing creativity as city-states and empires emerged in a vast area stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indus Valley. Although remote in time and place, this urban revolution, first represented by the formation of cities in southern Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq), must be looked upon as one of humanity’s defining moments. These complex centers of civilization, such as the city of Uruk , which arose toward the end of the fourth millennium B.C. in the fertile plains bordered by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, stimulated great inventions, such as writing , and witnessed a flowering of artistic expression. Much of this art demonstrated devotion to the gods and celebrated the power of kings. The growth of cities and powerful ruling families led to a demand for luxury items. These were fashioned from materials obtained largely from abroad and were destined for temples and tombs such as the famous Royal Graves at Ur (ca. 2500 B.C.). Partly as a result of these advances in Mesopotamia, other major civilizations developed along the great maritime and land routes that connected them to one another.

During the third millennium B.C., diverse populations inhabited the vast areas stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indus River and from Central Asia to the Gulf. Among the most intriguing of these peoples are those who dwelt in the cities and countryside of Sumer (southern Mesopotamia). In their own language, Sumerian, they call themselves sag giga , or “black-headed ones.” There were also Semitic-speaking peoples in Mesopotamia. With the foundation of the Akkadian dynasty by Sargon of Akkad (r. ca. 2340–2285 B.C.), they established a political center in southern Mesopotamia. The Akkadian kings created the world’s first empire, which at the height of its power united an area that included not only Mesopotamia but also parts of western Syria and Anatolia, and Iran. One undeciphered language is Harappan, named after the major Indus Valley city of Harappa. Unlike the cuneiform (wedgelike) script adopted for Sumerian and Akkadian, which was largely written on clay, the Harappan, or Indus, script is composed of signs familiar from short inscriptions above animal representations on numerous Harappan stone seals.

The basic characteristics of the artistic style that came to define the art of the Near East were already established by the third millennium B.C. in Mesopotamia. One of the primary aims of Mesopotamian art was to capture the relationship between the terrestrial and divine realms.

Styles and iconography were transmitted to sites such as Mari and Ebla in northern Syria as well as to Iran and as far as Arabia. In contrast to the arts of Mesopotamia, those of Egypt glorified the king as the embodiment of divine power, and it remains difficult to assess what, if any, contribution Egyptian art made to Mesopotamian artistic style. However, there were links with the cultures of the Mediterranean littoral: sites such as Troy, where the fabled “Treasure of Priam” was uncovered by Heinrich Schliemann, reflect artistic connections that extended through central Anatolia and northern Syria. In the east, the distant Indus Valley region also interacted with the Near East in the third millennium B.C., maintaining merchant enclaves in Central Asia and perhaps in Mesopotamia itself. Yet this civilization was also quite different from that of Mesopotamia. There is no evidence of monumental temples and palaces or large-scale sculpture in the Harappan world. Rather, the focus seems to have been on private housing, public works, and urban infrastructure, with an emphasis on a sanitary and abundant water supply. In the intervening regions of eastern Iran and western Central Asia, the arts reflect a vast and diversified tapestry of peoples and languages organized in independent polities but culturally unified through trade.

Thus the art of the third millennium B.C. reflects not only the extraordinary developments in the cities of the Near Eastern heartland but also their interaction with contemporary civilizations to the east and west. This was a seminal period in the history of humanity, and by exploring it we gain perspectives not only about the major artistic and cultural achievements of ancient Mesopotamia but also about the enduring legacy of the earliest of urban civilizations.

Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “Art of the First Cities in the Third Millennium B.C.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/trdm/hd_trdm.htm (October 2004)

Additional Essays by Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art

Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Hittites .” (October 2002)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Halaf Period (6500–5500 B.C.) .” (October 2003)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Ubaid Period (5500–4000 B.C.) .” (October 2003)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Ur: The Royal Graves .” (October 2003)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Ur: The Ziggurat .” (October 2002)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Uruk: The First City .” (October 2003)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Ebla in the Third Millennium B.C. .” (October 2002)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Ugarit .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Animals in Ancient Near Eastern Art .” (February 2014)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Urartu .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Trade between the Romans and the Empires of Asia .” (October 2000)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Parthian Empire (247 B.C.–224 A.D.) .” (originally published October 2000, last updated November 2016)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Nabataean Kingdom and Petra .” (October 2000)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Palmyra .” (October 2000)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Sasanian Empire (224–651 A.D.) .” (originally published October 2003, last updated April 2016)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Colossal Temples of the Roman Near East .” (October 2003)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Assyria, 1365–609 B.C. .” (originally published October 2004, last revised April 2010)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Lydia and Phrygia .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Achaemenid Persian Empire (550–330 B.C.) .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Akkadian Period (ca. 2350–2150 B.C.) .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Year One .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Early Dynastic Sculpture, 2900–2350 B.C. .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Early Excavations in Assyria .” (October 2004; updated August 2021)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Trade Routes between Europe and Asia during Antiquity .” (October 2000)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Phrygia, Gordion, and King Midas in the Late Eighth Century B.C. .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ Trade between Arabia and the Empires of Rome and Asia .” (October 2000)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Nahal Mishmar Treasure .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Phoenicians (1500–300 B.C.) .” (October 2004)
Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art. “ The Seleucid Empire (323–64 B.C.) .” (October 2004)

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Living In A Big City Essay: Lifestyle Essay

There was once a time when people preferred the small town living existence due to its inherent slow paced lifestyle and laid back, relaxing surroundings. Neighbors knew each other on a first name and last name basis and shared lazy Sunday afternoons at church or town sponsored fairs and socials. That kind of lifestyle probably still exists in some remote towns of the country. Or maybe it just exists in those Hollywood movies like Sweet Home Alabama. The reality of the situation is that the slow paced lifestyle that once described American living has given way to big city living. Being a person who exists in the 21st century, I am more comfortable with big city living for more reasons than just one.

First of all, big city living offers its residents an exciting lifestyle. Each day is an adventure as the city continuously offers something new to discover. There is always a new place opening up where people are encouraged to be different and try something new. The city offers its inhabitants a the opportunity to dive head on into the world of the future. City living is best lived in by people whose imagination knows no boundaries and wants to soar above the city lights that give glimmer to an otherwise dark night. I believe that is the reason why most small town people dream of eventually living in the big city. The surprises that big city living offers is simply too vast to quantify.

For me, big city living adventure began the day I learned to differentiate sounds. Living here is more than an adventure, it is an educational and social learning experience. There is no better place to learn about life than the city. Where everyone seems to be living in a glass menagerie and we can freely observe people and their attitudes in a habitat that they create for themselves. It may not be as open and nature bound as town living, but that is the beauty of city living. One learns by mingling with their friends and allowing strangers into their lives on a need to know basis.

Education-wise, the city offers an educational system that cannot be equaled in the small towns. All aspects of city living simply screams education. From the advertising billboards on the side of the bus to the hot dog cart vendor, there is always something new to learn. City dwellers have more stories with moral lessons to turn than any school teacher can teach.

Others say that there is a superficiality to city living because of the fast paced lifestyle led by the people. It seems like nobody really knows anything about their neighbors because they just live in the same building and nothing more. The truth of the matter is that city dwellers do not need all that time for face to face socialization because city living is designed to actually allow a person to have a social life on a different level. Like I explained earlier, city dwellers have a more adventurous spirit.

Such is the adventurous spirit that even the socialization aspect of our lives are dealt with in the same manner. While small towns would probably rely on Friday night socials or bingo nights, we rely on the internet, text messaging, and blogging to stay in touch with people and make friends. These friendships are not superficial at all because city dwellers tend to create an extended family among strangers due to the distance between them and relatives.

I cannot imagine myself moving out of the city because city living has a different kind of energy that keeps a person pumped up and ready for action. In order to live and survive in the city, one must possess quick with and abilities. Let me put it this way, city living makes one feel alive. Nothing can beat waking up late in the morning and then rushing out the door to catch the bus in order to not miss the first appointment of the day.

Big city living is the trend of the future. Urbanization has taken over the country as more and more states become reliant on industries for their income. The slow paced lifestyle of the past is only a hindrance to the future of any community. the importance of urbanization can be seen in every aspect of small town living that is now becoming a thing of the past. Even the farmers now rely heavily on technology to keep their farms running more efficiently and productively. Something they learned from following the big city models of running a production output oriented business.

More importantly, the city if where everything of importance is coming to the fore. Advances in the field of medicine are concentrated within the city because of the experimental advantages. While small town people are known for their good health, city dwellers are known for the amazing anti-bodies that our bodies contain due to certain unknown toxins that surround us. We are actually a lot healthier than the small town dwellers because our bodies are constantly fighting off airborne viral infections and thereby developing the necessary anti-bodies. My mother grew up in a small town. She told me that the first time she moved to the city, she was constantly fighting off infections just to be able to make it to work. So she was amazed when I was born and was practically never sick since childhood save for the occasional cold.

City living requires a person to learn how to handle himself in various, unexpected situations. There is nothing rudimentary about city living because of the way city life is designed to constantly evolve over time. If you are a person who believes that man was meant to constantly evolve and learn new things, then city living is meant for you. After all, cities seem to have a life of its own. Constantly changing and evolving in looks while the people living within try their best to keep up with the times and interests of those who make the city work.

In the end, city living is probably best described as a way of life for the youth. City living keeps on constantly on their toes and feeling young because everything about the life is meant to be enjoyed to the hilt. It is a never ending adventure that cannot be compared to anything else in the world. It is a state of mind that does not pigeon hole anybody because of his surroundings. City dwelling is all about breaking free and discovering ones self.

Living in the city is like the travel bug. Once you have been bitten by it, you will never want to stop. It is so enjoyable that nobody seems to ever get tired or grow old. It is more than a state of mind, city living is a state of physical and mental personality. Go ahead, try living in the city, it will change your life.

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, September 23). Living In A Big City Essay: Lifestyle. https://ivypanda.com/essays/living-in-a-big-city-essay-lifestyle/

"Living In A Big City Essay: Lifestyle." IvyPanda , 23 Sept. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/living-in-a-big-city-essay-lifestyle/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Living In A Big City Essay: Lifestyle'. 23 September.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Living In A Big City Essay: Lifestyle." September 23, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/living-in-a-big-city-essay-lifestyle/.

1. IvyPanda . "Living In A Big City Essay: Lifestyle." September 23, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/living-in-a-big-city-essay-lifestyle/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Living In A Big City Essay: Lifestyle." September 23, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/living-in-a-big-city-essay-lifestyle/.

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Life in A Big City Paragraph - IELTS Essay Samples For Writing Task 2

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Updated on 17 April, 2024

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

For this IELTS essay writing topic, you can either agree or disagree with the statement. That being said, it is critical to remember that the paragraph must be at least 250 words.

However, the 40-minute time constraint often stresses students out, and they find it challenging to think of an answer and pick a side quickly. So, here are a few pointers to make 'life in a big city' paragraph writing easier.

Read the topic thoroughly.
Take the time to pick a stance.
Use varied vocabulary.
Structure the sentences correctly.
Maintain a formal tone and avoid casual phrases.
Divide the writing into paragraphs.
Check and re-check for any incorrect spellings or grammar.

Sample essay 1, download e-books for ielts preparation, sample essay 2, explore more resources related to ielts essays:, life in a big city paragraph.

Question: Many individuals think that living in a large metro city is harder, while others think it is a practical choice. Discuss both perspectives and share your own.

Are metro cities better or not? This has been an ongoing debate between city-dwellers and those living in towns. Rightfully so. Both have their advantages and drawbacks. A small town has better quality air and far less pollution than a city. Small town residents have the luxury of walking out of their homes to absolute tranquillity instead of the noise and bustle of a big city. Moreover, towns are much closer to nature and allow you to take a breather from the chaos of a concrete jungle.

However, with stores on every corner and excellent accessibility to entertainment and the arts, living in a city is much more exciting. Moreover, cities offer job opportunities that would not be available in smaller towns. This is often also the main reason people move to a metropolitan area. Further, with quality institutions, cities allow people access to better quality education. In addition, cities also have spaces that offer greenery and serenity in parks and gated communities. People do not have to go hunting for it in smaller towns. Nevertheless, if one still wishes to enjoy the peace of a town, they can always take one of the many available modes of transportation to the nearest town.

Like everything in this world, living in a city has pros and cons. However, the population in cities alone highlights its many advantages. Therefore, based on my personal analysis and experiences, it is much better to make a good living and enjoy the conveniences of a large metro city than to stay in a small town or hamlet.

Word Count: 261

Tentative Band Score: 6

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The essay for IELTS is part of Writing Task 2. It is the same for the General Training and Academic of the IELTS. You will get a topic and have to write an essay on the same.

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Essay on cities: short essay on origin of cities.

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Essay on Cities: Short Essay on Origin of Cities!

Origin of Cites:

City is a human settlement, a dominant characteristic of which is that unlike a little community, it is not self-sufficient. This is a basic characteristic of all kinds of cities – archaic or modern. Inhabitants of cities are not able to feed themselves entirely from the food produced within the bounds of the city area.

In the context of old cities, this feature had greater significance as the cities were mostly walled and thus the term ‘entirely’ refers to the food produced only within the boundary of the city. Today, with a considerable degree of urbanization, the quality of self-sufficiency holds no significance as not even villages, what to say of cities, are really self-sufficient. As the economy advances, the degree of self-sufficiency is reduced and interdependence is increased.

The history of the origin of cities may be traced back to the Neolithic period when human population started moving from nomadic hunting life to settle pastoral and agrarian village life. It is believed that in this age some small-size cities existed on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea in the south-west region of Europe.

Kingsley Davis is of the view that cities must have originated around 6000 to 5000 BC due to surplus agricultural production required for trade. The earliest cities of Indian subcontinent, Harappa in Punjab and Mohenjodaro in Sind – existed in the Indus Valley around 2350 BC. These places, as claimed by archeologists, present enough evidence to prove that there was a quite developed urban way of life.

Mesopotamia of Greece and Patliputra and Kashi in India are among the few very old cities of the world. Many historic and pre-historic cities, such as Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Nalanda, Taxila and Vijaynagar, are found today in the form of ruins. The other cities which survive today are Madurai, Patliputra, Kancheepuram, Varanasi, Delhi etc. The old cities were very small in size confining within walkable distance.

The Harappan civilization, which dates back to 2350 BC, continued till 1700 BC. The period after this is unknown as far as urbanization is concerned. It is from 600 BC that the evidences of the existence of towns and cities became apparent and two major civilizations – Aryan and Dravidian – came into being.

Urbanization, as we observe today, is closely linked with industrialization. Both the processes are complementary to each other. During the pre-industrial era, cities existed but their expansion by way of in-migration of rural population was not only minimal but also restrained. The concept of urbanization, therefore, does not apply much to the cities and their expansion, as they were, during that period.

The cities, during the pre-industrial era, were broadly of three types:

1. Political cities,

2. Economic cities and

3. Cultural cities.

1. Political Cities:

Political cities were the capitals of kingdoms. These cities were normally walled and inhabited by the state-related personnel, such as ministers and soldiers and persons with very special talents such as traders, singers, dancers, poets and intellectuals, jewellers and bankers etc. Entry into the city was not possible without prior the permission of the ruler, which could normally be granted only to extraordinarily talented persons.

Henri Pirenne calls such political cities ‘liege’ type. Until the 14th century, such cities existed in Europe which, according to Pirenne, was mainly copmprised of priests and a number of artisans to assist them. B.F. Hoselitz writes that the ‘liege’ was a town of a community consisting of administrators, bureaucrats, teachers and students to which were added a number of artisans and servants for supplying them finished goods and services.

2. Economic Cities :

As the name denotes, economic cities mainly performed economic functions. Pirenne calls them ‘flemish’ type of cities. These cities were commercial centres, where agricultural produce, artifacts, handicrafts material, non-agricultural articles and other finished consumer goods were traded.

Such cities were mostly established on the banks of rivers, may be because of the fact that most of trade was carried out through the water route. Some of these old cities, due to their geo-political situation, could grow into big cities and others declined or disappeared.

3. Cultural Cities :

The cultural cities came into existence mainly for their educational and religious significance. In India Patliputra, Kashi, Haridwar and Prayag are such cities. Most population in these cities was floating and, therefore, these could not be expanded much. The permanent settlers provided necessary services to the pilgrims and education seekers.

B.F. Hoselitz divides the post-industrial modern cities into two types: generative and parasitic. Though cities are responsible for both cultural change and economic development on one hand and social disorganization and criminality on the other, the term ‘generative’ must be used in the context of economic development.

The cities, which are characterized by a huge scale of heterogeneity, bring about cultural change and this, in turn, favours economic development. The cities which exert opposite impact are called parasitic ones. However, the orthogenetic cities do not necessarily impede economic development but lack of cultural change does discourage economic development.

Robert Redfield and Milton Singer have opined that the primary urbanization is characterized by the development of ‘great tradition’ whereas development of heterogeneity, according to Hoselitz, may help economic development.

At the primary stage of urbanization, there is always a change in rural society. In the secondary stage of urbanization not only cultural heterogeneity takes place, but it also exerts unfavourable impact on economic development.

Urbanization Essay : Short Essay on Urbanization
Short Essay on Great Cities (412 Words)

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Life in Big Cities Essay

India has many metropolitan cities. Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore, etc are some of them. But 80 per cent of our population lives in villages. A person from a rural area may find himself lost in a big city.

Life in a city looks attractive and glamorous. People are progressive. They are constantly keeping themselves abreast with the developments in the world and even the government takes care to see that our big cities develop like other big cities in the world.

This is a correct attitude as it would make India modern and any foreigner coming to this land would no more think that we are a country of only snake charmers and elephants, as was the impression in the West until a few years ago.

Cities provide job opportunities to people and we find thousands of villagers moving to cities to get employed. However, one finds that in comparison village life is more peaceful.

In cities most people live like strangers A city dweller works from morning till night. Distances are long and to an appointment in a big city is difficult. People get stuck traffic jams and have to also stand for long hours waiting for the bus to arrive.

Buses are fully packed with people and there is a lot of harassment. People become aggressive. Each man feels the need to satisfy his own need for comfort at the cost of others.

Facilities are limited everywhere and there are too many people to avail of them. This causes trouble at railway stations hospitals, trains, at cinema theaters, on buses and at petrol pumps.

The man has become materialistic and selfish in a big city. Nature is neglected and even if one wants to go near nature mother, he cannot. Pollution makes the air thick and city dwellers suffer from respiratory trouble.

A man of the city is a product of his artificial surrounding. He becomes insensitive to the needs of his fellow men. One cannot blame him because everyman has to look after his own family and has no time to look after his neighbour.

Children get neglected because both their parents work and have long office hours. Despite all these factors, the city still attracts us as it promises a life of action and progress. There are unlimited opportunities. Anyone can grab opportunities and improve his lot, if he wants to.

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Sample Essay Contrasting Two Cities (Comparison – Contrast Essay)

Published by gudwriter on November 23, 2017 November 23, 2017

Compare and contrast essays mean you have to examine the similarities and differences between two or more things. Below is a compare and contrast two cities essay example; New York and Los Angeles, in terms of climate, housing, population, and transportation. Enjoy!

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Comparing two Cities Essay Outline

Introduction.

Thesis: While the cities have some similarities and may be attractive to various people depending on their lifestyles and preferences, New York City and Los Angeles are vastly different, especially in their climate, housing, population, and transportation.

Paragraph 1:

New York City’s (NY) Climate significantly differs with that of Los Angeles (LA).

In New York, the winter is glistening and frosty.
As such, the atmosphere is classic in the Yuletide season thus making it possible to engage in such activities as snow man assembling and ice skating.
In contrast, Los Angeles has winters that are extremely mild and summers that are leisurely and warm.

Paragraph 2:

The cities are different in their housing markets.

One would not have a problem finding a good job in either city.
They would however have to put up with the expensive nature of the cities’ housing markets.
While in Los Angeles people prefer living in a home, New York mostly has apartment dwellers.

Paragraph 3:

NY and LA have populations that have significance differences.

“New York is 233% more densely populated than Los Angeles”.
New York City has a whopping population of 8,550,405 while that of Los Angles is 3,971,883.
It obviously follows that NY has a higher population density than LA. Compared to LA’s 8,475, NY has a population density of 28,259.

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Paragraph 4:

Another major difference between New York City and the city of Los Angeles is public transportation.

In LA, there is a huge car culture where almost everybody drives. Most people have their own cars. Although, there is public transportation in the city, few people use it.
In New York on the other hand, almost everybody takes some form of public transportation.
The most notable form of public transportation in New York is the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) or the “subway” through which one can access anywhere they would like to go within the city.

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Compare and Contrast Essay Between Two Cities: New York vs. Los Angeles

New York City (NY) and Los Angeles (LA) are two big cities found within the United States of America. Very large and populous, the cities are found in different states, New York City being in New York while Los Angeles in California. They both attract thousands of visitors in spite of being hugely crowded and costly to live in. While the cities have some similarities and may be attractive to various people depending on their lifestyles and preferences, New York City and Los Angeles are vastly different, especially in their climate, housing, population, and transportation.

New York City’s Climate significantly differs from that of Los Angeles. Halle & Beveridge (2013) note that in New York, the winter is glistening and frosty. As such, the atmosphere is classic in the Yuletide season thus making it possible to engage in such activities as snow man assembling and ice skating. In contrast, Los Angeles has winters that are extremely mild and summers that are leisurely and warm. In New York, the warmest temperatures are usually experienced in the southeastern lowlands. Noteworthy however, people who are conditioned to warm weather would still find the New York environment hospitable despite the snowfall. Los Angeles also has wet weather during winter. The rainy season occurs between November and January.

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Another difference between the two cities, related to cost of living, is the housing markets. One would not have a problem finding a good job in either city. They would however have to put up with the expensive nature of the cities’ housing markets. While in Los Angeles people prefer living in a home, New York mostly has apartment dwellers. On average, one needs $3,900 for rent and $1.4 million to buy a house in New York. Things are entirely different in Los Angeles. In this Californian city, one needs $4,150 per month as the average rent. This is one of the few areas Los Angeles may be more expensive than New York. The average for buying a home is however much less than in New York as one would part with $785,000 (“Major Differences,” 2018). So, it is an outrageous affair to rent in either city. One may however consider owning a home in Los Angeles.

Further, NY and LA have populations that have significance differences. The most essential difference in this respect is that “New York is 233% more densely populated than Los Angeles” (Bestplaces.com, 2017). The implication is that NY’s population is well over double that of LA. This has been the trend over the past two decades. Specifically, New York City has a whopping population of 8,550,405 while that of Los Angles is 3,971,883. It obviously follows that NY has a higher population density than LA. Compared to LA’s 8,475, NY has a population density of 28,259. The median age in LA is 1.1 years younger than that in NY. The median age is also higher in NY (35.7) in comparison to LA’s 34.6. In both the cities, the female population is higher than the male population. While NY has a female population of 52.40% and male population of 47.60%, LA has a female population of 50.39% and male population of 49.61% (Bestplaces.net, 2017).

Another major difference between New York City and the city of Los Angeles is public transportation. In LA, there is a huge car culture where almost everybody drives. Most people have their own cars. Although there is public transportation in the city, few people use it. However, there is still traffic snarl up majorly because of the many personal cars. In New York on the other hand, almost everybody takes some form of public transportation. The most notable form of public transportation in the city is the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) or the “subway” through which one can access most places within the city (Fung Bros, 2016). This means that transportation in NY is cheaper than that in LA. This is because unlike in LA where personal cars are the order of the day, one would not need regular fueling and parking fee in NY.

New York City and Los Angeles have many differences in spite of having some similarities as large cities within the US. The cities are attractive to people from all over the world owing to their different features and characteristics. However, the climate, housing characteristics, population and public transportation spell how vastly different the cities are. In terms of transportation, NY is cheaper due to the presence of the MTA. Additionally, the cities may both be densely populated but as has been seen, NY is far much more densely populated than LA. They also have distinct housing characteristics that may inform one’s decision to live in either city or acquire or buy a home in either of them. Read and get an in-depth analysis of Candide from our Candide analysis essay.

Bestplaces.net. (2017). “ Comparison: New York, New York – Los Angeles, California” . Bestplaces.net . Retrieved 20 November 2017, from http://www.bestplaces.net/compare-cities/los_angeles_ca/new_york_ny/housing

Fung Bros. (2016). Differences between LA & New York . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qA_tuWfLvY

Halle, D., & Beveridge, A. A. (2013). New York and Los Angeles: the uncertain future . New York City, NY: OUP USA.

Major Differences between Living in Los Angeles and New York. (2018). In Nortronics Moving and Storage . Retrieved July 10, 2020 from http://www.nortronics.com/major-differences-living-los-angeles-new-york/

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Essay on Life in a Big City in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Essay on Life in a Big City: Life in a big city can be described as fast, flowing and largely cut off from the nature. While it offers good opportunities and modern facilities, it can be quite exhaustive and stressful. Yet those who live in big cities are accustomed to the life there and find it hard to adjust in a small town or village.

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Long and Short Essay on Life in a Big City in English

Here are essay on Life in a Big City of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exam. You can select any Life in a Big City Essay as per your need:

Short Essay on Life in a Big City 200 words – Essay Sample 1

Life in a big city is mostly fast paced. There is a lot of competition all around. Everyone wants to do better than the other and they keep struggling day and night to further their aim.

A sense of competition is ingested in children from a very young age. Every parent wants his child to stay ahead of the competition. Schools in big cities do not just focus on studies but also on other activities. They boast of good infrastructure and highly-learned faculties to prepare the students for the life ahead.

Big cities also offer good job opportunities. Someone with good educational qualification can acquire a well paying job in a big city. The opportunities are endless if one is really aiming to work. Similarly, big cities have all the modern amities needed for a comfortable living. However, earning a comfortable life equipped with all the modern day facilities can actually be quite stressful.

While the city life can render comfort it does not guarantee peace. Several people relocate from villages to big cities in order to make a better living. While many of them are able to earn good and enhance their lifestyle they end up losing their peace of mind in the mad rush of the big cities.

Essay on Life in a Big City – Opportunity for Students 300 words – Essay Sample 2

Introduction

Life in a big city is full of competition and opportunities for the students. Big cities have better education opportunities. The schools and colleges here are equipped with a good infrastructure and all the modern facilities to offer a great learning experience.

These schools allow the students to explore their interest from the very beginning as they do not just focus on the academics but also on extracurricular activities. A number of activities are introduced for the proper growth and development of the students and also to help them identify their areas of interest.

Better Infrastructure; Better Education

Compared to small towns and villages, the quality of education provided in the big cities is quite high. The schools here are equipped with all kinds of facilities. From well equipped laboratories to state of the art sports complexes – they have it all. The faculties recruited for these schools are highly educated and well-versed in their subjects.

The management here is experienced and is driven to improve the standard of education. They are focused on building the future of the students and work hard to achieve this goal. The competition is high and students develop competitive spirit from an early age.

Variety of Courses

Unlike small towns and villages, there are various colleges in big cities. These colleges offer numerous courses specializing in different fields. In order to seek admission in a specialized course in a good college, the students are mostly required to clear entrance exam.

Big cities encompass good coaching centres that train the students to crack these entrance exams and get admission in the college of their choice. Students who get the opportunity of studying in big cities can thus choose from a wide variety of courses and pursue a career of their choice. They stand a better chance of building a bright career.

Big cities are especially good when it comes to higher studies because of the variety of courses available here. This is the reason why many students relocate to these cities to pursue higher education.

Essay on Life in a Big City – Personal, Professional and Economical Growth 400 words – Essay Sample 3

Life in a big city is exciting and ever-evolving. There are a lot of opportunities to learn and grow for people residing in a big city. These cities provide a chance to grow personally and professionally. People living in these cities turn out to be smarter than those living in the small towns and villages owing to the kind of exposure they get. Life in these cities is fast paced and only those who have a smart bent of mind can survive here.

Personal Growth in Big Cities

There is a good scope of personal growth and development in the big cities. Children living in such cities have access to good schools and colleges that do not just focus on the academics but on the all round development of the students. These educational institutes give the individuals a chance to participate in various kinds of activities and events to help them explore their interest. Besides, there are a number of activities one can involve in outside the school which help in personal growth.

Professional Growth in Big Cities

Big cities offer great career opportunities and lucrative business options unlike the villages and small towns where the scope is limited. Several industries and firms operate here and offer good job opportunities to people with different educational qualification. The prospects of setting business are also good in these cities. These cities are well-connected with other parts of the country which is a big advantage. It helps in expanding business and dealing with clients living in different cities.

Many institutes in big cities offer courses to working professionals to help them grow further and attain new professional heights. The prospects of setting up and expanding business in a big city are immense if a person is willing to work hard.

Economic Growth and Big Cities

Many new businesses are set up in the big cities each year. As these businesses grow and flourish they contribute towards the economic growth of the country.

While the big cities offer excellent opportunities to learn and grow, life here is busy. There is so much to do that there is just no time to sit and relax. People are so engrossed with their work that they do not even get time to spend with their family. Many people feel isolated in such atmosphere. While they become successful in life they hardly have anyone to celebrate their success with.

Essay on Life in a Big City Advantages and Disadvantages 500 words – Essay Sample 4

It is rightly said that nothing comes easy. Life in a big city may seem alluring but it comes at some price. There are many advantages of living in a big city however its disadvantages are no less. People planning to shift to a big city must analyse the advantages and disadvantages of city life before making the final move.

Advantages of Life in a Big City

Here are some of the advantages of life in a big city:

Infrastructure

Life in a big city is much better than that in villages because of the infrastructure it offers. The condition of the roads, parks, market areas and other public places in big cities are better. These are well-planned and well-maintained to ensure the comfort and convenience of the public.

Healthcare Facilities

Big cities encompass good hospitals that offer high end medical facilities. Special clinics and hospitals have been established here to treat patients suffering from different health conditions. These are equipped with the latest medical equipments. The team of doctors as well as support staff in these hospitals is well qualified to handle their duties.

Recreational Activities

There are many malls, shopping centres, amusement parks, restaurants, movie halls and other places of recreation in the big cities. Besides, a number of events such as live band performances, food festivals, concerts, cultural shows, plays, etc are organized every now and then for the entertainment of people.

Education and Career Opportunities

Big cities encompass primary and secondary schools with good infrastructure. The school staff and management of these schools are well educated and trained. They focus on the all round growth and development of the students. Several renowned colleges have also been set up in these cities. They offer specialized courses and train students to pursue career of their choice.

Disadvantages of Life in a Big City

Here are some of the disadvantages of life in a big city:

High Cost of Living

The cost of living in a big city is much higher compared to that in a village or small town. The house rent and commuting charges can especially dig a hole in your pocket. Maintaining a good lifestyle in a big city can be quite expensive.

Constant Hustle and Bustle

There is constant hustle and bustle in the big cities. People work twenty four-seven in these cities. The roads are always full of traffic as the people here are always on the move.

High Pollution Level

There is a lot of pollution in the big cities. There are thousands of cars on the roads and numerous industries in different parts of these cities. They do not only pollute the air making it difficult to breathe but also cause a lot of noise pollution.

High Competition

There is competition at every step in the big cities. This competition and urge to stay ahead of the others can be quite taxing and stressful.

Life in a big city is no doubt comfortable however it also has its set of drawbacks. While it offers good opportunities and facilities, it is not that easy to acquire all this. One needs to work hard to lead a respectful and comfortable life in a big city.

Long Essay on Life in a Big City 600 words – Essay Sample 5

Life in a big city looks attractive because of the kind of facilities it offers. Several people leave small towns and villages and move to big cities as they are enticed by the kind of lifestyle it offers. They toil hard in order to achieve the life of their dreams but not everyone is successful in their attempts. Many such people end up in misery and move back to their home towns or lead a wretched life in the big cities.

Endless Opportunities

There is no doubt about the fact that big cities offer endless opportunities. There are numerous job as well as business opportunities in the big cities unlike small towns where the scope is limited. Industrial sector is growing by the day and more and more work force is required to fill different positions.

So, people with different educational qualification and work experience are required here. Similarly, the service sector is also booming at a good pace. These operators mostly have their offices in big cities and thus the scope of work opportunities is higher here. Many of these work places hire people with basic knowledge about the respective field and train them on the job.

Big cities also encompass numerous educational institutes and training centres that educate and train people to work in different sectors. There is no dearth of opportunities for a person who is willing to learn and work hard.

Life of Isolation

There is a lot of competition in the big cities. Everyone wants to earn more, look better and attain a better lifestyle. Most people here are so blinded by power and money that they cannot look beyond it. They slog day and night to earn money and are busy competing with their friends, relatives, neighbours and even their own siblings. In this rush to attain things, they are often left isolated.

They may be able to make good money and have a great lifestyle but they are still not happy as they have no one to share their happiness with. Life in a big city may be equipped with all the modern day facilities but people here often suffer from loneliness and depression. This is quite unlike the life in towns and villages where people value relationships and are there for each other. They visit each other frequently, celebrate festivals and other special occasions together and help each other in the hour of need.

Comfort at the Cost of Peace

Life in big cities can be said to be chaotic. There is hustle and bustle everywhere. People live in a concrete jungle far from nature. Their life may be comfortable however they attain this comfort at the cost of their peace of mind. They may be equipped with better medical facilities however the chances of incurring health problems in big cities are also quite high.

This is because of the high level of pollution in these cities and also due to the increasing stress level among people living here. Similarly, there are better schools and colleges in big cities but the level of competition here is somehow robbing the children of their childhood.

The cost of living in the big cities is quite high. In order to maintain a good lifestyle and build a good social standing it is essential to work hard day in and day out. Most people in big cities take huge loans for purchasing different things such as house, car, etc. Paying these loans and maintaining their lifestyle can be stressful. So even as they lead a comfortable life they are never at peace.

Living in a big city offers many opportunities but also brings challenges like loneliness, stress, and high living costs. Even with the excitement and facilities a city provides, people often trade their peace and happiness for a busy, competitive lifestyle. In the end, city life can be hard and makes us wonder what’s truly important for a good life.

Frequently Asked Questions on Life in a Big City

How do you describe a city life.

City life is fast-paced and bustling with activity. It's all about crowded streets, tall buildings, and the constant hum of life. People in the city are always on the move, and there are plenty of opportunities for work, entertainment, and socializing.

Why you should live in a big city?

Living in a big city offers various advantages. You have access to better job opportunities, top-notch educational institutions, a wide range of cultural experiences, and a vibrant social scene. Big cities often provide better healthcare facilities and more diverse dining options too.

How does it feel to live in a big city?

Living in a big city can feel exciting and full of possibilities. You'll experience the thrill of urban life, with plenty of things to see and do. However, it can also be hectic and sometimes overwhelming due to the fast pace and high cost of living.

How would you describe a big city?

A big city is a bustling urban area with a large population. It's characterized by skyscrapers, busy streets, diverse cultures, and a wide range of amenities and services. Big cities are often economic and cultural hubs.

Is it healthy to live in a big city?

The health effects of living in a big city can vary. On one hand, cities offer access to advanced healthcare facilities, but on the other hand, they may have issues like pollution and stressful lifestyles. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial when living in a big city.

The 'magic bullet' driving post-pandemic population revival of major US urban centers

Major cities around the country are experiencing a post-pandemic population revival , with immigrants driving much of the growth, according to a report released this week.

The analysis by The Brookings Institution, gleaned from U.S. Census Bureau national, state, county and city data released earlier this year, shows pandemic-related population losses subsiding in places like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, while in some cases – such as in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. – turning into pre-pandemic-level gains.

“The new Census Bureau numbers make the case that major metro areas and cities are showing signs of coming back ,” Brookings senior fellow William Frey wrote in the report .

The results, he said, indicate that while a full post-pandemic recovery remains years away, improvement in some of the areas hit hardest by COVID-19 is fairly widespread.

Immigration most benefited urban centers

The analysis found that 40 of 56 metro areas with populations of more than 1 million grew more from July 2022 to July 2023 than in the two previous years. That included seven of the nation’s 10 largest metro areas – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Boston, Miami and Washington.

Births outnumbered deaths nearly everywhere, the report said, but it was changing domestic migration patterns, especially a rise in international immigration, that made the difference.

Immigration from abroad rose considerably over the past two years after nearly historically low levels in 2020-2021, with urban areas the greatest beneficiaries. The 20 metro areas with the most immigrants from 2021 to 2023 represented three fifths of total U.S. immigrant gains despite comprising just 36% of the overall U.S. population.

And 11 metro areas – including Seattle, Boston and Miami – would have lost population over that time had it not been for immigration.

“The rise in immigration from abroad was a unique and demographically welcome contributor,” the report read, noting that such growth will likely continue to drive urban economic vitality. “…. International migration appears to be the ‘magic bullet’ not previously foreseen.”

From 2020 to 2021, it said, the 56 metro areas with populations of 1 million or more saw their first loss as a group in 30 years, driven by a pandemic-related shift to virtual work. But those areas, the data showed, grew by a collective 527,000 residents in 2022 and another 870,000 in 2023.

COVID deaths, low fertility rates also fueled population loss

Ken Johnson, a professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, said other forces beyond out-migration contributed to the population decrease in urban centers in the early 2020s, including natural decrease – in other words, when the number of deaths exceed births.

“Some 75% of all U.S. counties experienced natural decrease between 2020-2023,” Johnson said. “This far exceeds any historical period.”

Though much of that was a result of COVID-19-related deaths, Johnson noted that fertility rates have also been historically low , particularly among women under 30.

“Without significant natural increase, the growth or decline of a place depends increasingly on migration – both domestic and international,” he said. “Whether these young women are delaying these births or will forgo them entirely remains to be seen, but many are reaching the end of their prime childbearing years.”

The 2010s saw cities and urban cores experience growth spurts in the wake of the Great Recession of 2007-2009 as economically strapped and jobless young adults moved to suburban and urban areas. That growth slowed as the economy and the suburban housing market picked up, prompting migration to the inner and then outer suburbs.

The trend was hastened by the pandemic and remote-work technologies, with San Francisco and New York as prime examples of emptying cities. But the data shows those cities bouncing back and places like Cook County (Chicago), Denver County, Milwaukee County and Washington, D.C., turning their losses into gains.

Immigration also key to Chinatowns' survival

Gary McDonogh, Helen Herrman Professor and Chair of the Growth and Structure of Cities program at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, said the Brookings analysis was important “because it focuses us on the 600,000 to 1 million legal immigrants who arrive each year who are highly vetted and bring skills, capital and often family ties that revitalize cities and suburbs.”

McDonogh, who studies Chinatowns, said such neighborhoods depend on immigrants to stay vital. They often absorb Latino immigrants as employees to stay afloat and also more easily absorb Chinese immigrants who arrive as refugees, he said.

“These new immigrants may settle in suburban areas or participate in the gentrification of older downtown Chinatowns,” McDonogh said. “Together, they revitalize Chinatowns as service hubs.”

Additionally, he said, they can attract domestic migrants by making big cities more cosmopolitan and global.

Migration to non-metropolitan areas drives growth

The Brookings report also found high levels of domestic migration contributing to positive demographic shifts in non-metropolitan areas – even more so than immigration from abroad. The growth reflected a sharp reversal of negative or minuscule gains for those areas in the 2010s, more than offsetting pandemic-related natural decrease.

Johnson, of the University of New Hampshire, said nonmetropolitan growth is heavily concentrated in recreational and retirement areas that have traditionally received migrants from urban ones, as well as nonmetro areas just beyond metropolitan outer edges.

“A key question to be resolved is how many domestic migrants from metro areas who might have been able to move there because of remote work will choose to stay in these areas,” he said.

Many once-modest California towns have become ‘million-dollar cities’

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The rise of million-dollar cities in California
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The list of million-dollar cities in California has grown

Do you live in Bonita, Tustin or San Gabriel? If so, congratulations! These once-modest towns have joined the list of California’s “million-dollar cities.”

A “million-dollar city” is any community, town or city where the median value of a home is at least $1 million. And California, as of February, has 210 of them, up 15 from the last count in 2023.

There are currently 550 “million-dollar cities” in the U.S., according to Zillow. California’s share includes cities you’d guess: Beverly Hills, Malibu, Newport Beach and Santa Monica.

But it now also includes cities that until recently were known for their humble working-class stature. California’s rookie “million-dollar cities” include: Bonita, Tustin, Brea, San Gabriel, Cerritos, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Placentia, Cambria, Thousand Oaks, Pala, Pleasant Hill, Arroyo Grande, Bonsall and Cypress.

That’s not the only way to see how housing costs across the state are skyrocketing. Five cities — La Cañada Flintridge, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills and Poway — already on the million-dollar-city list, have seen median housing costs increase 12% to 17% per year.

Times data reporter Terry Castleman created two maps that help decipher how California’s housing affordability crisis has transformed the state.

Map showing the 210 California cities where median home values exceed $1 million.

Almost all of California’s “million-dollar cities” are coastal. This isn’t surprising. Houses with an ocean view and close proximity to the beach have consistently been sought-after. A majority of California’s residents live in coastal cities.

In 2020, 26.8 million Californians were living in coastal counties, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management . That is 67.8% of the state’s total population that year .

Limited supply also heightens the issue. In San Diego County’s unincorporated community of Bonita, for example, surging demand, coupled with limits on construction, “may have also contributed to spiking home values,” Terry noted.

The list’s noncoastal towns are scarce and include Indian Wells ($1.3 million), Tahoe City ($1.1 million), Truckee ($1 million), Granite Bay ($1.1 million) and Homewood ($1.1 million).

Map showing housing values rose fastest in Southern California cities over past 5 years

Statewide, the median home price increased 33.5% over the last five years. Last year, California’s median home value shot up to $789,000 — a 3.1% increase over a year prior.

According to census data, California’s median household income rose from $71,805 in 2017 to $91,551 in 2022 — about a 27.5% increase. Although this is not the same time period as above, statewide median household earnings do not increase parallel to median house values.

Nationwide, homes are worth 5.6 times more than the median household income — a record high from the previous 4-1 ratio — as of 2022, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies . California, however, leads the pack as median home values across the state are at least 10 times more than median household earnings.

In Southern California, the unfortunate amalgamation of soaring housing prices, stagnant household incomes and high mortgage interest rates have created the most unaffordable housing market in recent years .

Many cities with the highest change in median home price (51% or more) over five years are in Southern California. The change is especially drastic in cities that used to be affordable for middle-income families.

Median home prices grew by 12% per year in Tustin and Bonita, according to Zillow. In Bonita, specifically, median home values have increased by 65% over the last five years.

Tustin’s median household income is over $100,000. So, according to census data, the average home in Tustin is “worth about 10 times what a household earns,” Terry wrote. The ratio is similar in Bonita.

Although more cities have vaulted into the seven-figure range, cities that were already on the “million-dollar cities” list continue skyrocketing. (Though there are some notable expectations, such as Palmdale, Sacramento and Bakersfield — all with median home values below $500,000.)

Read more about how California’s housing crisis is spreading to neighboring states and why California is still losing Californians.

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Unionizing and expansion at Disneyland

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Impeachment trial

Senate rejects impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas .
Impeached Homeland Security secretary navigates working with Republicans who want him out .
What to know about the Mayorkas impeachment and what comes next .

Commentary and opinions

Sammy Roth: Changing our lives is scary. But the climate crisis is way scarier.
Gustavo Arellano: What’s behind those ‘Shame on you’ billboards in the Coachella Valley.
Christopher Knight: Camille Claudel’s hand, not her trauma, is at the center of a magnificent Getty Museum show .
Jackie Calmes: The hush money trial has only just begun, but it’s not a good look for presidential candidate Trump .
Anita Chabria: Is Trump’s trial just a ‘strange campaign stop’?

Today’s great reads

Students play with bubbles on a playground

Preschool? Transitional kindergarten? Is there a difference? Parents are stressing out . California is in the midst of a $2.7-billion initiative to provide an additional year of free, high-quality education during the crucial early years. Yet although transitional kindergarten is a statewide program, the details that often matter most to parents — the balance of play and academics and how the program differs from preschool — vary greatly by district.

For your downtime

A transparent figure relaxes, surrounded by sound bowls and waves of sound.

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China’s Cities Are Sinking Below Sea Level, Study Finds

Development and groundwater pumping are causing land subsidence and heightening the risks of sea level rise.

A person in a red suit and hat stands in a trench in an empty lot with skyscrapers in the background.

By Delger Erdenesanaa

As China’s cities grow, they are also sinking.

An estimated 16 percent of the country’s major cities are losing more than 10 millimeters of elevation per year and nearly half are losing more than 3 millimeters per year, according to a new study published in the journal Science .

These amounts may seem small, but they accumulate quickly. In 100 years, a quarter of China’s urban coastal land could sit below sea level because of a combination of subsidence and sea level rise, according to the study.

“It’s a national problem,” said Robert Nicholls, a climate scientist and civil engineer at the University of East Anglia who reviewed the paper. Dr. Nicholls added that, to his knowledge, this study is the first to measure subsidence across many urban areas at once using state-of-the-art radar data from satellites.

Subsidence in these cities is caused in part by the sheer weight of buildings and infrastructure, the study found. Pumping water from aquifers underneath the cities also plays a role, as do oil drilling and coal mining, all activities that leave empty space underground where soil and rocks can compact or collapse.

Beijing is among the places in the country sinking the fastest. So is nearby Tianjin, where last year thousands of residents were evacuated from high-rise apartment buildings after the streets outside suddenly split apart. Within these cities, sinking is uneven. When pieces of land next to each other subside at different rates, whatever is built on top of that land is at risk of damage.

Other countries, including the United States , have similar problems.

“Land subsidence is an overlooked problem that almost exists everywhere,” said Manoochehr Shirzaei, a geophysicist at Virginia Tech who has studied subsidence in American coastal cities using similar methods. Dr. Shirzaei also reviewed the new study on Chinese cities by Zurui Ao of South China Normal University, Xiaomei Hu and Shengli Tao of Peking University, and their colleagues.

“I believe the majority of the adaptation strategies that we have, and resiliency plans to combat climate change, are inaccurate, just because they did not include land subsidence,” he said. “It hasn’t been studied the way, for example, sea level rise has been studied.”

The new study was based on satellite radar measurements of how much the ground surface in 82 major cities, accounting for three-quarters of China’s urban population, moved up or down between 2015 and 2022. The researchers compared these measurements to data on potential contributing factors, like the weight of buildings in these cities and changing groundwater levels underneath them.

The researchers also combined their subsidence measurements with projections of sea level rise to figure out which cities might end up below sea level. One caveat with these findings is that they assumed a constant rate of subsidence over the next 100 years, but these rates can change along with human activity.

About 6 percent of land in China’s coastal cities currently has a relative elevation below sea level. If the global average sea level rises by 0.87 meters, or a little less than 3 feet, by 2120 (the higher of two commonly used scenarios considered by the researchers) that proportion could rise to 26 percent, this study found.

Being below sea level doesn’t mean a city is automatically doomed. Much of the Netherlands is below sea level and sinking, but the country has been extensively engineered to prevent flooding in places and to accommodate it in others .

The key to minimizing damage is limiting groundwater extraction, the researchers wrote. Shanghai is already taking this approach and is sinking more slowly than other Chinese cities. In Japan, groundwater management over the years has proved successful at stabilizing subsidence in Tokyo and Osaka.

Some places are even combating subsidence by injecting water into depleted aquifers in a process called managed recharge.

It’s difficult to stop subsidence entirely, Dr. Nicholls said. “You’ve got to live with what’s left.” Mainly, he said, this means adapting to sea level rise in coastal areas; not just the sea level rise caused by climate change, but also the effects of sinking land.

Delger Erdenesanaa is a reporter covering climate and the environment and a member of the 2023-24 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers. More about Delger Erdenesanaa

Learn More About Climate Change

Have questions about climate change? Our F.A.Q. will tackle your climate questions, big and small .

“Buying Time,” a new series from The New York Times, looks at the risky ways humans are starting to manipulate nature to fight climate change.

Big brands like Procter & Gamble and Nestlé say a new generation of recycling plants will help them meet environmental goals, but the technology is struggling to deliver .

The Italian energy giant Eni sees future profits from collecting carbon dioxide and pumping it into natural gas fields that have been exhausted.

New satellite-based research reveals how land along the East Coast is slumping into the ocean, compounding the danger from global sea level rise . A major culprit: the overpumping of groundwater.

Did you know the ♻ symbol doesn’t mean something is actually recyclable ? Read on about how we got here, and what can be done.

Bad times for big cities

The fallout from the office apocalypse is just getting started

Boston has a bit of a budget problem. The rise in remote work has caused a slow and steady decline in commercial real-estate prices , and, as a result, property-tax revenue is falling, leaving the city facing a $1 billion tax deficit over the next five years. The same issue, coupled with a persistent decline in tourism, is weighing on San Francisco's finances . Across the country, from Denver and Seattle to Washington, DC , and New York , cities are deciphering whether to slash their budgets. Even some states, including California , Maryland , and Arizona , are facing financial woes.

Each place is dealing with its own set of circumstances, but at the root of all these woes is the struggle to figure out what the new normal is, budget-wise, and how to deliver the services and investments citizens depend on without breaking the bank.

"I wouldn't say that we are in a budget crisis at the state and local government level at the moment," Justin Marlowe, a research professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and the director of its Center for Municipal Finance, told me. "Where we are, I think, is at the very beginning of the probably three-to-five-year what we might call structural adjustment that's going to need to happen to state and local budgets in a post-pandemic, post-AI world."

States and cities struggling financially is a perennial problem. Unlike the federal government, local governments can't run large deficits for long stretches, and many places have balanced-budget amendments. States do have rainy-day funds — according to the Pew Charitable Trusts , a public-policy nonprofit, the funds hit all-time highs in 38 states at the end of fiscal 2023. (Most states' fiscal years run from July 1 to June 30.) But even that cash will only get them so far, in the near term and in the long run.

With expiring federal funds, the fiscal outlook looks really troublesome for many states and localities

The recent financial troubles are a bit of a turnaround from the past four years. When the pandemic hit, there was widespread concern that states and cities would run out of money. Instead, they started to see an increase in revenue . Stimulus from the federal government to individuals via unemployment insurance and stimulus checks kept households afloat, and many people started spending, which boosted sales-tax revenue. People's paychecks increased, along with their income taxes. The federal government also provided financial support to states and cities. Now those sources of cash are starting to dry up.

"With expiring federal funds, the fiscal outlook looks really troublesome for many states and localities," said Lucy Dadayan, a principal research associate with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute.

In some cases, states and cities used the extra federal money to start new programs and make investments they'd long wanted to make; now they need to figure out permanent funding sources. In other cases, funds helped temporarily paper over long-standing budgetary issues, or places took advantage of their surpluses to cut taxes.

"It certainly was the case in New York City that they spent one-time money on ongoing expenditures or even new programs," said Carol O'Cleireacain, an expert on fiscally troubled states and localities who has worked on budget and planning issues in New York, New Jersey, and Detroit. "There was a lot of money that came in from COVID. There was a lot of revenue volatility that happened, so nobody knew exactly how things were going to land, and it's taken a while for people to sort out where it's actually landing."

On the revenue side of the equation, some places have seen dips. Sales-tax revenues have declined, primarily in downtown areas that are still suffering the consequences of remote work . The same goes for lodging taxes and revenue related to the tourism economy, and it's not clear the extent to which the drivers of that — trade shows, conventions — will come back. Places that enacted tax cuts, like Arizona, are now having those policies come back to bite them. It's not clear what will happen with property taxes as office occupancy remains low and commercial real-estate falls in value . The office apocalypse has put cities in a doom loop that's hard to escape as they struggle to reinvent themselves and attract new interest and investment.

There are issues on the spending side, too. Inflation is hitting states and cities as it is people's budgets. Governments, like private businesses, are having to pay more for labor, healthcare, and even construction materials.

"What you had was just rising prices for all of the basic inputs into the things that local government does — into road salt, basic commodities," Marlowe said. "That's increasing costs generally. And so you're also then having to see pay increases as a result of that. And so that's a huge chunk of it."

In big cities, the migrant crisis has also been a financial drain. Places such as Denver and New York are spending millions of dollars to provide housing and social services for immigrants coming across the southern border, and with a border deal on ice in Congress, it's a problem seemingly without a solution on the horizon.

"This does not come cheap, and no one can see the end of it, so you don't know how much management adjustment you have to make programmatically," O'Cleireacain said.

Even if a state kind of feels like it's doing OK right now, the long-term picture is a little bit more concerning

Beyond more-immediate problems in specific places, broad warning signs are flashing. Josh Goodman, a senior officer with the Pew Charitable Trusts who focuses on state fiscal health, said most states that do long-term budget projections show shortfalls. And even states that don't anticipate shortfalls have some fairly pessimistic outlooks.

"Even if a state kind of feels like it's doing OK right now, the long-term picture is a little bit more concerning," he said.

States and cities are facing pressure from societal issues that will weigh on tax revenue and increase costs for years to come. Aging populations mean a smaller percentage of the population that's of working age, putting downward pressure on tax revenue. States and cities also have to contend with paying for those populations — their healthcare, their social services. Changes in how Americans get around could be an issue, too.

"If you look at transportation revenue, the gas tax is a big source of that," Goodman said. "And as vehicles become more fuel efficient or people switch to electric vehicles, that is creating problems for transportation budgets."

Often, costs that can't really be anticipated come up. Take Maryland. The state has been plagued by long-term structural deficits, said Liz Farmer, an officer with the Pew Charitable Trusts who focuses on states. Like many places, it did OK for a couple of years during the pandemic. But as federal funds have petered out, structural problems have resurfaced. In late March the state had another wrench thrown into its fiscal plans when Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a ship hit it. Though the federal government is promising to step in and help, reconstructing the bridge is likely to cost the state.

"While there's a lot of hope that federal funding will cover most of that, it's one more thing that Maryland is looking at," Farmer said. "They're looking at emergency legislation for economic relief for the workers in Maryland who are affected by this, and it appears as if the state is going to dip into the rainy-day fund."

It's not entirely doom and gloom on the state and local budgetary front. The United States is not in a recession, and the macroeconomy is strong — we're not in a 2008-esque situation where there are mass layoffs and the bottom falls out on tax revenue. States' rainy day funds are in decent shape. But there are clearly some stressors; no one knows how long the migrant crisis will last, and there's no obvious fix for the deterioration of in-office culture. Ultimately, what happens next will be a policy question. Deciding how to address the conflicting priorities that come with budgets is politics as usual — some people in government have one set of priorities, others have another, and there you go.

"Every budget season, people write budget-crisis stories," O'Cleireacain said. "Making a budget is political trouble."

Emily Stewart is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

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