Atlas Historique De L'Urbanization De La France (1811-1975): Editions Du Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientefique

Details: dimensions: 17 3/4 x 23 5/8 x 1 inchesformat: text, maps and clear overlays bound in hard covers clamped together with metal pins
condition: very goodlanguage: French


Description:
Georges Dupeux, Professor at the University of Bordeaux, presents his mapping thesis that a historical review of France's population statistics expressed as the pattern of village, town and city growth will yield a missing portrait of the country. This atlas is mapping of data. This book provides the population statistics for France by town based on the census figures for 1809-1812. Using circles of different sizes to represent population size, Dupeux creates 19 maps for this atlas. Paris is dominant relative to all of the other settled areas in France with more than 5,000 inhabitants. Each map is bound with a clear plastic overly that also is printed in red with clusters of towns of from 3,000 to 4,999 inhabitants. Thus the Atlas demonstrates where and by what relative increases in population France has urbanized both in village settings and in towns that rank among France's largest municipalities.
The census figures continue in ten year intervals, with some exceptions, from 1812 to 1975. There are specific census figures in 1946 for the Communes, and Unites urbaines according to the map headings. The large format of each atlas map and the use of the clear overlays create an unaccustomed mode of mapping a country. There are no internal geographic boundaries and very little geographic aspect to these maps The urban stature of Paris throughout the entire historic period documented in this Atlas is visually apparent. The method of this Atlas compels the reader to consider what population growth is doing to the land, and what demands it is making on the governance of the country itself.