Betweencity

Betweencity is a term used in urban studies to describe a city that emerges as an intermediary between two or more larger urban centers. It is not a fixed place on a map but a typology of urban form and function that can appear in various regions.

Typical betweencities develop along transportation corridors such as rail, highways, or ports, where cross-regional flows concentrate. They often combine logistics activity, regional services, housing for commuters, and cultural or economic functions that bridge the neighboring metros. The city's identity is shaped by its role as both a feeder to larger cities and a destination in its own right.

Factors driving betweencities include infrastructure investments, zoning that encourages mixed-use development, and policy aims to relieve growth pressures from core cities. They can generate agglomeration benefits through shared markets, labor pools, and innovation networks while also bearing risks of fragmented governance and uneven growth between adjacent areas.

Planning implications emphasize cross-jurisdictional coordination, transit-oriented development, and investments in utilities, housing, and environmental management. Effective betweencity planning seeks to balance connectivity with livability, protect affordable housing, and maintain a distinct local character to avoid becoming merely a downstream suburb.

See also: polycentric city, edge city, corridor city, cross-border metropolis.