Rural-Urban Fringe - GCSE Geography Definition

The rural-urban fringe is the area where the city ends and the countryside begins. It is a zone of transition, where urban and rural features meet and often mix. Here, you might find a combination of land uses such as new housing estates, farms, golf courses, and shopping centres. Because it is located at the edge of cities, the rural-urban fringe often experiences competition and pressure for development as towns expand. This area is important in geography studies, as it helps to understand how cities grow and how land is used differently in urban and rural areas.