Spatial Analysis on the Policy of Expansion of Premature Cities in Iran (Case Study: Semnan Province)

The policy of converting rural areas to towns despite their small populations has been a significant concern in the residential system of the country over the past three decades. This has resulted in the formation of the Premature cities class, situated at the base of the urban network pyramid. The objective of this study is to investigate the standing and composition of these cities within the municipal network of Semnan province. Additionally, it seeks to identify the determinants of their growth and determine the most effective model for the transformation of a village into a city.The present study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology and possesses a practical nature in terms of its type.The research findings indicate that premature cities are the most populous in Semnan province, accounting for only 3–4% of the urban classes, despite having the largest population. Furthermore, the transformation of district centers into cities through political intervention has significantly impacted the growth of the province’s premature cities. In order to achieve the same result with villages, the optimal strategy is to consider the settlement’s regional significance and ensure that it possesses the requisite potential to develop into a city.This study’s findings validate the notion that political interventions have contributed to the emergence of a substandard category of cities known as “premature cities” at the periphery of the provincial urban network. These cities failed to fulfill the essential function of fostering progress; rather, in order to elevate a village to the status of a city, one must take into account the region's potential