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Last edited 24 Feb 2022

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Twin cities

1 Introduction
2 Distinguishing characteristics
3 Boundaries
4 Twin cities around the world
5 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Introduction

The term twin cities (or metroplex) refers to a metropolitan area that is made up of two anchor cities in close proximity and of nearly equal size and significance. The term encompases their suburbs, which may merge into each other over time. Twin cities sometimes originate with the construction of an airport that serves both anchor cities and the surrounding suburbs.

Associated with American terminology (although used around the world), twin cities is similar to the international term, urban agglomeration, and the British term, conurbation. However, modern twin cities preserve their individual identities, unlike those associated with a conurbation, ‘which refers to a region comprising a number of cities, large towns and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area.'

Twin cities are not to be confused with twin towns or sister cities, which are agreements made between municipalities located in different parts of the world. These arrangements are made to encourage an understanding between cultures and sometimes serve as the basis for international economic cooperation.

[edit] Distinguishing characteristics

While twinned cities are joined by proximity and size, they may not share the same demographic or political characteristics. People who live in twin cities may prefer being identified as residents of their anchor city, although they may live in one anchor city and work in another.

There are some historic instances where the individual cities grew into each other and lost their separate identities. For instance, Buda and Pest were individual cities in Hungary that united in 1873 to become Budapest.

[edit] Boundaries

In the case of Buda and Pest, the Danube river separated the two original cities. Geographic elements (such as waterways) and political boundaries (such as state or international borders) are sometimes disregarded by twinning cities.

Examples of international twin cities include: